We shall have some hard climbing in our upward journey

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(J.R. Miller, "Evening Thoughts" 1907)

"And of Asher he said: Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be." Deuteronomy 33:24-25

Asher's portion would be rough and hilly. Common shoes of leather would not last. The promise meant that Asher would have shoes that would endure the wear and tear.

For us, the promise suggests that we shall have some hard climbing in our upward journey--or we would not need iron shoes. It assures us also that we need not dread any hardness we may find in our life for the future, for it will be provided for. We shall have shoes of iron to wear, and then we shall not mind the steep and rugged paths.

God leads us nowhere, without providing for the special difficulties in the way.

We have the same assurance in the words that follow, "As your days--so shall your strength be." For easy days, we need less divine help and receive less. Then when the hard days come, the help will increase accordingly. There is not a step in all our journey for which God will not give us help, when we come to the place where we need it.

"Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be."

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