As Thy Days, So Shall Thy Strength Be
DEUTERONOMY 33:25 “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.”
In Deuteronomy 33:25, a promise is given to the tribe of Asher, which is a universal promise to all the children of God. This principle is for us, as we face life day by day, “as thy days, so shall thy strength be.”
Note the promise is not, “as thy strength, so shall thy days be.” The promise is, in effect, no matter what occurs in any given day, He will give us His strength to meet its trials, its temptations, its persecutions. Anything that comes in the day.
And, there are no “chance” happenings. “chance” meetings. “chance” delays, “chance” losses or gains, no “chance” anything. All things are by Divine appointment, which does not mean God brings evil things into our lives, for much of what happens to us is self-inflicted. Some are God-ordained and some are just a part of fallen mankind’s curse. God rules and overrules in our lives and in one sense, He allows whatever comes. He is in control, is a fundamental truth.
No one knows what a day may bring forth. So we must say, “if God will,” we will do this or that, or go here or there.
To illustrate, Daniel did not know in a day long ago that a lion’s den was on his “agenda,” but it was. Was his strength able to meet that trial? Indeed, it was! And he came through that trial with a glowing testimony for God.
Stephen, the deacon, was also given God’s strength in a great trial of persecution. God did not deliver him from death, but honored His faithful servant in death. By God’s grace, he was able to pray thusly for his persecutors, “lay not this sin to their charge.”
We are in God’s Hands, “the eternal God is our refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms” (27). Paul said, ”whether we live or die we are the Lord’s.” What a comfort that is! And what a promise to rest in! So, whether He delivers us from the trial or sustains us through it, we are His, and He is with us to strengthen us.
In His Amazing Grace,
Pastor Ed Bowen
