Numbers 10:35–36: “So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: ‘Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.’ And when it rested, he said: ‘Return, O Lord, To the many thousands of Israel.'”

January 20th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

It is interesting that the Holy Spirit recorded for us the opening and closing prayer that Moses prayed for each day’s journey during the Israelites’ forty-year trek with God. The first verse is a great thing to pray before going on a trip or even just starting out the day. It causes us to stop, at least for a moment, and recognize that we need God in every step of every journey. The next verse is a good way to end a trip or day. When we get where we’re going, we are again made conscious of God’s involvement in our safe arrival, and our hope for rest in that place. We all need traveling mercies—or the blessings of God on us—to accompany us each day.

“Return, O LORD” can also be translated “give rest here, LORD.” At the close of each day, we need a safe and quiet place, free from enemies and dangers, to recharge our batteries. It is not a physical place of rest that we need so much as it is a mental and spiritual attitude of rest. We read a fantastic promise in the New Living Bible: “Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day” (Lam. 3:23). The promise found in this verse is that God’s incredible resources never run out, and He is faithful to make sure we have a fresh supply of them each day. We should wake with a song of praise on our lips like Psalm 143:8: “Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.”

“LORD, we give You this day; use us for Your kingdom we ask, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”