I am a little bit familiar with our verse for today, having preached its context a number of times several years ago. It is incorporated into Moses’ final blessing on the Jewish Tribe of Asher.

As in: “And of Asher he (Moses) said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil ….” A pretty good list of “wishes, prayers, prophecies!” By the way, “Asher” means “happy” in Hebrew! A quiver full of boys and girls, an Old Testament blessing supreme! Love both to and from his fellow Jews, harmony in the camp! And “olive oil” galore, prosperous in his business life!

Wow!

But that is NOT the part of Asher’s heritage that I wish to emphasize this Friday morning. There’s more, one final line, one last verse … “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25

Shoes fit for the rocky land Asher was given, fertile but very hard to traverse!

And strength for all his days, no matter the circumstances!

Is God able to provide shoes and strength?

Deuteronomy 29:5 answers that first question? “And I (the Lord) have led you (Israel) forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.” Forty years, one pair of shoes!

Wow!

And the second question?

“I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.” Psalm 18:1

Or Paul’s belief: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Wow, again!

Now to you and me, dear readers!

Are you treading a HARD ROAD these days?

Rough, unpleasant, maybe (nearly) more than you can bear?

GOD CAN GIVE YOU SHOES FOR THAT ARDUOUS JOURNEY! SHOES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR FEET MORE COMFORTABLE. SHOES THAT WILL LAST AND LAST, NOT FAILING YOU ALONG THE WAY! “THY SHOES SHALL BE IRON AND BRASS!”

AND GOD CAN KEEP SUPPLYING YOU WITH STRENGTH. INEXPLICABLE STRENGTH! SEEMINLY UNENDING STRENGTH! DAY AFTER DAY (IF NOT HOUR AFTER HOUR) STRENGTH! NO MATTER HOW L-O-N-G YOUR ORDEAL LASTS! “AS THY DAYS, SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE!”

All I know to say today is this, and I say it lovingly:

With the right equipment (iron shoes, etc.) and with the right empowerment (the strength of the Lord God Almighty) … you CAN be an overcomer!

You already are, in fact!

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37, through Jesus our dear Lord and Saviour!

So, put on the right shoes, God-issued!

And tap into your Power-Pack … the Might of an eternal God, really the very same Power that raised Jesus from the dead … and face the day with new resolve!

Oh, I hope and trust and pray these few words will help someone today, encourage your heart!

Praise the good Lord for Who He is (Strength) and what He does (provide Shoes, etc.) for us all!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell