The Israelites had stayed about a year at Horeb (or Sinai), receiving and learning the Law that would nourish and guide their lives. After that time of building their foundations, God told the people through Moses, ″You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites.″ Then He described the vast extent of land they were to conquer (Deuteronomy 1:6-7).

The challenge before the people was formidable. It required firm resolve to get started. ″Break camp″ translates a Hebrew expression that includes the idea of deciding to leave old things behind and setting one's face towards a new destination. These words from the Lord stirred the people to rise.

We, too, will experience seasons in our lives when God will call us to ″break camp″. We could either procrastinate when faced with the difficult assignment, or launch out in obedience into fresh exploits.

And we, too, can be encouraged by knowing who sends us on this difficult assignment. Moses referred to God as ″the Lord our God″ (v. 6). The word ″LORD″ (in small caps) is a translation of the Hebrew word probably pronounced as ″Yahweh″, which is the covenant name of God. Evoking this name would have reminded the Israelites that they belonged to Him, and He belonged to them in a covenant relationship. He pledged himself to them and would remain faithful. Moreover, the expressions ″Lord our God″ or ″Lord your God″ appear 260 times in Deuteronomy. Such repetition emphasises that the Lord of the universe was their God.

Some of us who have faced tough experiences and failures in life may lose hope when the going gets tough. We fear that we won't make it through our challenge. But whether we have been called to tackle an upcoming exam or a difficult ministry task, or convicted to reconcile with a friend after a conflict, we can count on God to see us through it and fulfil what is best for us. As our God, He has been with us before and has seen us through, and we can trust Him to see us through again.

When we know that our covenant-keeping God goes with us, we will have courage to move forward and trust Him despite the obstacles. The apostle Paul encourages us: ″The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it″ (1 Thessalonians 5:24).