So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. (Deuteronomy 26:8)
In keeping with the theme developed in the previous devotions, in this verse Moses reminds us of what God did that allowed His people to stand before the LORD and offer the first fruits of the land. Let’s put it this way: those who had been pursued by the Aramean (Assyrian) and Pharaoh would be thankful to be in the land and to present a first fruits offering. The offering was emblematic of their deliverance from evil men and the provision given to them by God. In short, it was miraculous that a people who were “few in number” and persecuted with the intent of extinction, nevertheless, emerged as a “nation, great, mighty and populous.”
This did not happen because of their own strength but because the God of Israel brought them out with “signs and wonders.” In this statement there is a hint that, in the time of redemption, signs and wonders will be evident. This phenomena is not limited to events of long ago but we are to understand that this will be the case in the future redemption. Speaking of this time, the prophet Joel said, “I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Joel 2:31).
The Bible paints a very bleak picture of the last days in terms of how men behave and the ramifications of pervasive wickedness — it will be unlike anything the world has ever seen. At the same time, the Bible clearly states that the God of Heaven will demonstrate His power to all men — those who fear Him and those who resist Him. In the end, He will redeem His people yet again “with an outstretched arm and with signs and wonders.” And so let us remember what Messiah said of these times when the sea and the waves roar; when signs are appearing in the heavens and the earth is in distress: “Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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