The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
This verse offers Christians a source of encouragement and reassurance of God’s presence in their lives. The Deuteronomy 31:8 meaning reminds us that God walks with us and we need not be afraid.
The reality is in this life we will each face trials and uncertainties. But we can find hope in God’s constant presence in our lives. This verse promises us that God goes before us and we need not be afraid. Whatever you are facing in your life this verse has a powerful message that will offer you hope and encouragement.
Let’s take a closer look at what it means and how it applies to our lives today.
The Context Of Deuteronomy 31:8
Understanding the context will help us better learn the Deuteronomy 31:8 meaning and see how it applies to our lives today.
The book of Deuteronomy was written by Moses to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The book gives a review of the laws given in the previous books (Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers), reminds its readers of God’s faithfulness, challenges them to obey God, and promises blessings if they are faithful.
As we get to Deuteronomy 31 we see Moses transferring his leadership to Joshua and preparing them for the challenges that lie ahead. Moses had already given several major addresses to the nation and was now making a few final arrangements. This is a crucial moment in the history of Israel, and the overarching theme is to have courage, trust God, and know that God is with them.
The promise that we see in Deuteronomy 31:8 is that God is with them through it all. As they enter a new land and face a new set of challenges Moses is encouraging them with God’s presence. This verse is a reassurance and encouragement for the Israelites and still has some powerful truth for us today.
The Deuteronomy 31:8 Meaning
Now that we know the context, let’s look a little closer at the meaning of Deuteronomy 31:8.
The Lord Himself Goes Before You And Will Be With You
The nation of Israel is on the verge of stepping into the Promised Land. It’s an exciting moment, but also one that can be a little scary. They are leaving behind everything they know and stepping into the unknown.
Deuteronomy 31:8 offers encouragement as they take this step of faith, that God has gone before them. What is unknown to the Israelites is not unknown to God. He’s not only with them, he will prepare a way for them.
This verse not only offers encouragement for the Israelites but for us today. We will all face uncertainties in this life, but God is with us through it all. Not only is he with us, he will go before us.
He Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You
Moses adds emphasis to the promise, that not only is God with us but he will never forsake us. In other words, God is with them today, and he will be with them tomorrow. The Israelites might not know what tomorrow holds, but they can be assured that God will be with them through it all.
Deuteronomy 31:8 offers us hope today. God will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us today, and he will be there tomorrow. We might not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know that he will be there to lead us through it all.
Do Not Be Afraid Do Not Be Discouraged
Moses draws this verse to a conclusion; because God is with us and that he will not forsake us we need not be afraid. The assurance that God will never leave or forsake them is meant to instill courage and confidence, even in the face of the challenges and uncertainties they will face.
For us today this verse is a source of encouragement and comfort that reminds us of God’s presence in our lives. We will face trials and hardships, but we will not face them alone. God will lead us through whatever we face, therefore we need not be afraid.
How Deuteronomy 31:8 Applies To Your Life Today
I want to end by looking at how we can apply the Deuteronomy 31:8 meaning to our lives today. Here are two lessons this verse teaches us.
1. Remind Yourself Of God’s Presence
When we face uncertainties in our lives it’s easy to forget that God is with us. We tend to focus solely on the storm and not the one who is bigger than the storm. This can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless.
Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us that God is with us at all times. This verse challenges us to shift our eyes from the storm to God. Much like Peter who sank in the waves when he took his eyes off Jesus, we too will sink if we try to face life alone.
This means that we should daily remind ourselves that God is with us. Dig into God’s Word, carve out time for prayer, and allow others to encourage us. In order to make it through the storms of life we must keep our eyes on God.
2. Give Your Worries To God
God never promised his followers an easy life; he promised to be with them through it all. That means we will face trials and hardships, and it’s normal in those times to worry. But rather than focusing on those worries, we should give them to God.
This isn’t a one-time practice, but something that we continually need to do. Whenever a worry arises we turn and give it to God and ask him for strength. Each day presents a new set of challenges; when those challenges come don’t face them alone. Go to God.
God will sustain you and provide for you when you turn to him. Never stop giving your worries to God so that you can live in the peace that he has for you.
Now check out: The Powerful Meaning Of Proverbs 3:5-6 (and 5 ways you can trust in God)
BA in Biblical Studies - Ozark Christian College (2012)
MA in Theology - Regent University (2019)
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