Feet Like Deer's Feet

 

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” Habbakuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

This passage of Scripture is particularly special to me. God gave it to me a few years ago during a particularly difficult season and I spent a bit of time thinking about it. As I examined Creation for an example of the deer to which the author might be referring, I came across the alpine ibex goat. These cute little potbelly goats are known for climbing a near vertical dam in the Italian alps in search of minerals they need to survive. The reason that they are able to do so is because God designed them with feet that are uniquely suited to the task. Each foot has two toes. Each toe is parabola-shaped with a soft pad surrounded by a hard exterior. The firm exterior gives structure and support while the soft portion conforms to the rock's surface allowing the goats to stand on just one toe. My takeaway from this? Even though they don't look like climbers, God gave them everything they need to do the impossible on the day they were born. The video shows a mom teaching her kid how to climb the dam. At first the kid is hesitant and cautious. It does not know that it was created to do great things. But the circumstances in which it finds itself, the need for minerals from the dam's surface, reveal that it was created with everything it needs in order to thrive. Perhaps this situation with COVID-19 is revealing the same to God's people. It is a reminder that He has already given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). I praise the Lord for the provision, mercy and faithfulness that He offers to us every day of our lives.

 
Christa Jewett