“Not Guilty!”
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
There were many Jewish scholars in the World War II concentration camp known as Auschwitz. One night ten of those learned men made up a Jewish court of law and put God on trial. The central premise of the trial: how could God, who is totally good, create such a living hell as Auschwitz? The debate raged all night. Finally, the court returned a verdict of “Guilty!” God was guilty of failing His people. However, upon adjourning the court, the entire barracks rose and began to pray their morning prayers. Even after finding God guilty, they prayed to Him! What an incredible statement of faith it was for these Jews to continue praying to God, even while the torture and systematic killing continued. Yet, I thought how tragic that they were now praying to a God they believed had left them all alone.
If we were honest with ourselves, each of us could point to a time when we felt as though God had left us. When Moses gathered the people to hear his final counsel, he was 120 years old. His life drawing to a close and the final opportunity looming before him, Moses spoke to the Israelites, reminding them that God does not leave His children. Think about it—they had just come from 400 years of generational slavery! They had not yet entered into the land which God had promised them!
Moses believed that God does not ever leave His children. This marvelous promise of security should serve to strengthen us in the face of any and all trials. Our trust is in the Lord and His promises. Do you cast your cares upon Jesus Christ, knowing that he loves you and is concerned for you? Do you trust and rest in God? Believe the words of Jesus: “. . lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).