Devotional—God Carried Them

So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:
“Fellow Israelites and others who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.” Acts 13:16–18 NRSVUE

For as long as I can remember, I read and heard this passage as describing God enduring the wailing and lamenting Israelites as if they were a great burden for him.

In Luther’s German Bible translation (2017), it says: “And for forty years he bore them in the wilderness.” The MacDonald commentary explains: “he took care of their needs.” Of course, I knew that God wouldn’t let them starve — they had food, water, and shoes that didn’t wear out.

But after reading Deuteronomy 1:31, a light bulb went on for me. “Then you saw that the Lord your God bore you as a man carries his son, all over the path that you have walked until you came to this place.” I never realized how close and intimately he was connected to Isreal’s life.

It is so encouraging to read that God carried his people as a father carries his son. I can’t remember ever reading it that way!

Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for seeing us as your beloved children, never as a burden. Spirit, fill us with your compassionate love so that, through Christ, we may care for others with kindness and grace. Give us strength to bear with those who are weary, remembering that you faithfully carry us all in your loving arms. Amen.

Tammy Tkach, Assistant Pastor
River Road, Oregon, US

Adapted from an article, He Took Care of Them, on the GCI Germany blog.