Deuteronomy 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. 26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms"
This passage of scripture teaches us that strength and endurance will be provided each day to those who put their trust in God, and the symbols used shed great light on the meaning and depth of the passage. The two metals used should be understood in their proper context, for iron represents strength and ruggedness, meaning that the Christian who trusts in God will not be easily overthrown, nor be made the sport of circumstances, for iron is among the sturdiest metals available. But the verses also mention brass, whose main feature is the ability to adjust to varying blows that it receives or gives. The next time we use a brass hammer, we should observe carefully what takes place when we strike something hard with it, for we will notice that it absorbs the force of impact by making the necessary adjustments in itself.
The same is true of the Christian, for although the power of God makes us strong and sturdy, yet there are times in our experiences when we receive "Blows", and then if we continue to trust in God He will enable us like brass to make the necessary adjustments so that we would not wear ourselves out prematurely. Now there are different types of blows that as Christians we are called upon to deal with from time to time. There are spiritual blows which come in the form of disappointed hopes and dreams, or even fierce temptations which threaten our resolve and our sanity. Then there are social blows, in which the problems in the family with unruly children, or an unfaithful spouse may seem to drive us to desperation. Then again there are financial blows, in which the bills can't be paid in a timely manner, or the creditor may threaten us with eviction or repossession. Let's read:
Nehemiah 5:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives"... 2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. 3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
In all of these varying situations which come across our pathway, sometimes unexpectedly, our passage for today tells us that trusting in God will make us both sturdy and pliable, so that the needed strength or adjustments in our lives will be granted in proportion to our varying needs. When the Bible speaks of God as our refuge, it means that we are to run to Him, especially in times of difficulty or grave danger, instead of turning to mortal, finite man as our first and primary resource. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should give us courage in the face of daunting circumstances, and it is the will of God that in all of the varying experiences of life, we should be more than conquerors, for God is well able to strengthen and uphold the weakest saint who puts their trust in Him. Let's read:
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!