Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Deuteronomy 6:10-12
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks are to God.
Our scripture passage from Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, has just three verses but they are verses we all need to focus on because they direct our attention to God as our Great Provider and Creator.
As we have seen throughout Deuteronomy, Moses has been priming Israel for their entry into Canaan. He is still their leader in the short term but we already know he will not be their leader as they cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. That privilege will go to Joshua. Moses knew this yet never stopped caring for the people he had led from bondage in Egypt. He took dedicated time to remind them about what God had commanded, recap the sinful mistakes of their past and also share new words of wisdom with them. It is in today’s passage that he not only gives Israel something new to consider but us as well.
On the surface, this passage might be seen as being centered on remembrance. After all, Moses exhorts Israel to “be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery”. But I think we are missing the bigger message here if we focus on just not forgetting. For this message has a larger message to share…that of appreciation for the Lord and all He has done.
Moses begins these verse by reminding Israel of several important matters:
1. The Lord is bringing them into the Promised Land. Joshua might be designated by God as their leader as they cross the Jordan but rest assured that it is God, and God alone, who is bringing Israel into Canaan.
It is God and God alone who brings us to where He wants us to be as well. We should never take credit for it ourselves or give credit to others. I’ve firmly believed that God will always put us where He wants us. We need only trust and believe in Him, then be obedient to go wherever He leads.
2. They are receiving this Promised Land because of a covenant promise made with their ancestors. Canaan was land “swore to…Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”, Israel’s fathers. Israel was gaining it as an inheritance…as a fulfillment of God’s covenant promise. Truly, Israel served a God who kept His promises.
And so do we. As we walk through each day of our lives, we should remember that as God places us where He wants us to be that He is ever with us. We know this because He promised us that it was so. Remember God told us He would never leave us nor forsake us…that where we would be, He would be there also. Remember as we face hardships in life as we go where He leads, that He promised we would never receive a burden from Him that we couldn’t bear…that through His strength and help, we could make it through anything and everything. Remember that we serve a God who keeps His promises.
3. Everything they would inherit did not come from them. Canaan was a land with “large, flourishing cities” that Israel would get to have for their own. But they did not build those cities. They would take possession of “houses filled with all kinds of good things”. But they didn’t provide any of it. They would enjoy fresh water to quench their thirst from wells. But they didn’t dig them. And they would be able to “eat and are satisfied” from the “vineyards and olive groves”. But they didn’t have any part in planting them. No, Israel didn’t play any part in producing anything that they would inherit. But God did. He, the Great Provider, was the One and only One who made the way for cities and houses to be built, wells to be dug, houses to be filled with the richest provisions and vineyards and olive groves to be planted and harvested. It all came from God and Israel was being encouraged by Moses to not forget that and give God the credit where credit was due.
How do you see the things that you have? Do you see them as the works of your hands or the hands of others? Or do you ascribe all credit to the Almighty Maker of all things, in heaven and here on earth.
Friends, our scripture is calling Israel and us into a state of appreciation for a God who truly does bring down every good and perfect gift from above. My prayer is that we would never lose sight of God in any and every situation and circumstance we’re in, realizing that He has brought us there, is there with us and is ready to bless us abundantly. All glory, honor and praise be unto Him forever and ever. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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