A BLESSED EULOGY

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Deuteronomy 34

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As the Book of Deuteronomy ends, so too does the life of Moses.

After wishing blessings on Israel and its tribes, Moses climbed Mount Nebo where the Lord “showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar”. Once on the mountain and in sight of the vista, God told Moses, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

And with that, Moses died as “the Lord had said” but we should note that he didn’t pass on without some acclaim for we see that all his many years of faithful service didn’t go for naught. And while it was true that he had sinned against God in a big way, in the end this shouldn’t have completely blotted out all the good he had done in the Lord’s name and for His sake.

This is why we find the Word of God underscoring the positive things about Moses, things that serve as a blessed eulogy and tribute…things that I pray others might say about us as well when that time comes when we die.

Let’s look at some of the specific reasons that Moses was praised:

1. He was a servant of the Lord.

When it comes right down to it, service is central to what God expects from His people. He wants all of us to submit fully to His will, Word and way, just as He expected the Israelites to do more than 3,400 years ago.

Indeed, God commanded and demanded obedience from His people who were expected to follow His direction and instruction without compromise. Carrying this out would naturally lead the Israelites into an attitude of service, willingly and willfully doing what God wanted them to do.

To that end, Moses was definitely a strong servant of the Lord, a Lord who favored him for his faithful devotion.

We should be like him.

2. He set himself apart for God.

Moses could have just lived a normal life, going through the motions every day without seeking distinction but that isn’t what God expects from His servants.

“To serve” is an action verb, one that requires a person to do something for another. It requires proactivity.

With this, Moses definitely distinguished himself through his service, so much so that the scriptures tell us this:

“…no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses…for no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”

In the end translation, Moses was able to do what he did because he placed his full heart and soul into the Lord’s service and this set him apart from everyone else. Likewise, believers today can only live with distinction and set themselves apart for the Lord when they give Him their full heart and soul…just like Moses.

3. He had a very personal relationship with the Lord, one where he was with Him face-to-face.

God first met Moses at the burning bush near Mount Horeb (Exodus 3) and commissioned him to lead the Israelites to freedom from their Egyptian bondage and oppression. After that, the Lord continued to meet with the Israelite leader on many occasions, the most significant of which being their meeting on Mount Sinai where God directly gave Moses His commandments to be passed onto His people.  

Why did God choose to meet with Moses face-to-face?

Because Moses was an obedient, devout believer who strived to set himself apart by serving God with all his heart and soul.

Today, the same God is just as available to us as He was to Moses and how well we distinguish ourselves before Him in obedience and heartfelt devotion…not just with part of who we are but all of ourselves…will dictate just how closely He relates to us. Our hope should be that the Lord desires to be as intimately involved with us as He did Moses.

4. God used him in powerful ways.

The scriptures we looked at prior affirm this point as well.

“…no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses…who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land.”

Indeed, the Lord did use Moses to perform many miracles in and through His power. Moses’ key failure only happened because he broke a cardinal rule and tried to take credit for God’s amazing, miraculous work himself instead of giving Him the honor, glory, and praise.

We need to learn from the mistake of Moses and always give glory and praise to the One who is always worthy of it. If we do so, we will live our lives under His blessing and favor as He uses us in powerful ways to carry out His will and fulfill His purposes.

As I close, some though-provoking questions about how you might be remembered in life…

If you were to die today, what would your eulogy read like?

What would people say about you and your relationship with the Lord?

Would they say you were a faithful, dedicated servant? Would they say you worked very hard to set yourself apart from the world for the Lord’s cause? Would they see you as having a special, intimate, personal relationship with God in your life? And would they have seen God use you in powerful ways?

My friends, only you can answer those questions but my prayer is that you will do an honest assessment, carefully considering where you are and making any changes in areas that need addressed. For when our time here on earth is done, I pray that we will be blessed in the way others remember us like Moses was.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. He said:

“The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from His mountain slopes.”

"Surely it is You who love the people; all the holy ones are in Your hand. At Your feet, they all bow down, and from You receive instruction, the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.”

“He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.”

“Let Reuben live and not die, nor his men be few.”

And this he said about Judah: “Hear, O Lord, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!"

About Levi, he said: “Your Thummim and Urim belong to the man you favored. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah. He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over Your Word and guarded Your covenant.”

“He teaches Your precepts to Jacob and Your law to Israel. He offers incense before You and whole burnt offerings on Your altar. Bless all his skills, O Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Smite the loins of those who rise up against him; strike his foes till they rise no more."

About Benjamin he said: “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”

About Joseph he said: “May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from Heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.”

“In majesty, he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

About Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.”

About Gad he said: “Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself; the leader's portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.”

About Dan he said: “Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan.”

About Naphtali he said: “Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of His blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake.”

About Asher he said: “Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil. The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days. There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!'”

“So Israel will live in safety alone; Jacob's spring is secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew. Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places.”

Deuteronomy 33

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As the Book of Deuteronomy is coming to an end, Moses is about to pass away and would not get to cross the Jordan River into Canaan with his fellow Israelites. Given this, he could have easily just gone to Mount Nebo and died but he didn’t. Instead, as we see in today’s passage, he gathered the people of Israel together with him for one final time, proclaiming God’s blessings on them as a whole as well by tribe.

Hopefully, as we read these blessings that were imparted on Israel, I hope we can see how we too are equally blessed today. And just as Moses was reminding the Israelites, we too need to be spurred on to remember just how much goodness the Lord imparts on His children, the ones He cares for so dearly and deeply.

Let’s look at some of the specific blessings mentioned in these verses:

1. God loves us. (“Surely it is You who love the people…”)

Everything that God does for us (and that includes His correction) comes out of the love He has for us. This love is perfect and whole and uncompromising. In its highest form, it was a love that led Him to give up His one and only Son, Jesus, so that we might not perish but have everlasting life if we simply just believe in Him (John 3:16). Truly, our God loves us to where He wants the best for us and wants us to become the best we can be in Him.

2. We are in God’s hands. (“…all the holy ones are in Your hand”)

How often do we feel confused or lost or helpless?

How often are we in need, not knowing who we can turn to for assistance?

How often do we forget to call on God when we need guidance or aid?

Friends, life is hard. It comes at us fast and places challenges before us constantly. In those times, we have the blessed assurance of knowing that God has us in His hands. He has a plan and purpose for each of us and all we need to do is trust Him, submitting to His will and allowing it to be done.

When we do this, we can be certain that the Lord won’t lead us wrong. He also will never forsake us but rather be ever near because He is indeed Emmanuel…God with us…now and forever.

3. God grants us instruction. (“…and from You receive instruction”)

God had given the Israelites all His laws and commandments, and Moses made sure they knew them all. And we need to remember that they didn’t just listen to Moses and hear God’s direction and expectations that way. Moses also made sure the Law was written down to be read and referred to, especially by the leaders of Israel. You’ll recall that this printed Word was presented it to the priests who were required to carry it with the Ark of the Covenant. The people of Israel would not travel and worship without having the scriptures.

In present times, we too have God’s word, much more than the Israelites had, for sure. Nonetheless, the Lord’s expectations are the same for us as they were for ancient Israel. For we are to stay obedient to His Word and will, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us toward righteousness and holiness….toward living like Jesus did in every way during every day.

4. God grants us rest. (“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”)

There have been many times in my life when I have felt overwhelmed by the weight of the world.

Maybe you can relate?

You see, life’s circumstances can indeed leave a person tired and weary… exhausted and on empty…often despaired and depressed.

Thank goodness that we have the Lord during these times. For we need only turn to Him and see that He’s willing to help us through the tough times…to shield us all day long…granting us relief and release while leading us to a peace and rest that is beyond understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

5. God grants us the best gifts. (“…with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness”)

Our God doesn’t provide low quality blessings. Rather, He grants good and perfect gifts to His people (James 1:17).

Given this truth, we need to remember and give thanks for every good and perfect gift we receive because it is from Him and Him alone. We need to then use the gifts He has given to satisfy His will as we use them to His glory.

6. God desires to help us. (“…who rides on the heavens to help you”)

We serve a caring, compassionate God who always stands ready to assist us in our times of trouble. All we need to do is trust Him and believe that He can do all things for after all, He is God!

I pray that all believers would learn to let go and let God be the Lord of our lives, relinquishing their will for His. For if they do this, then they can always rest assured that He will help them get through anything they’re going through.

7. God is our Protector. (“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms”…”He will drive out your enemy before you”…”He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword.”)

The people of Israel were about to enter a foreign land (Canaan) and enter into sure conflict with its inhabitants. In advance of this, God promised the Israelites over and over that He would be with them and would deliver them to victory. Indeed, He was their protector and would continue to be so as long as His people remained obedient, something they would unfortunately fail to do as the Lord well knew.

In present times, God stands ever ready to protect us as well, placing a covering over us as we walk through life and its daily perils. What a blessing it is to know we have such a Great Protector and so we need never fear because He is with us.

8. God saves us. (“Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?”)

As we look at the blessings in this Old Testament passage, isn’t it awesome that the last blessing we come to is centered on the matter of salvation. For surely there is no greater blessing He gives us than that.

Through the crucifixion and resurrection of His Son, God made the way clear for all people to live in Heaven forever if they would just believe in Jesus as Savior (John 3:16). opened the gates of Heaven for everyone who would simply believe in His Son as Savior…and He did so out of love.

For those who accepted His terms for salvation, God promised that they wouldn’t perish but instead gain eternal life. Therefore, death would never be the end for any Christ believer but rather the remarkable beginning of a new life free of all the world’s trappings and afflictions…a life where they will reside with God and Jesus every single day.

And so there’s a good reason why this eighth blessing is last because it is the best one of all.

Brothers and sisters, as we look at all these blessings in sum, we realize quickly that while the list is strong, it is far from being all inclusive. In fact, if we tried to account for every single blessing the Lord has given, we wouldn’t have enough space to do so. This is how exponentially good He has been throughout the history of mankind.

This truth should buoy us up with praise and gratitude toward our Lord and the great Provider He is. We should keep in mind that we have no good reason to sit around and complain about life because the truth of the matter is, we are blessed beyond belief…and we can thank God for that!

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

FALLING SHORT

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

On that same day the Lord told Moses, "Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. There on the mountain that you have climbed, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold My holiness among the Israelites. Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel."

Deuteronomy 32:48-52

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As Deuteronomy, chapter 32 draws to a close, we find God giving Moses the following command:

"Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession”.

Note here that God said He was giving the land to the Israelites and that wouldn’t include Moses because he wouldn’t be going with them.

You see, Moses had sinned against God, falling into the sin of disobedience and, as a result, forfeited his chance to enter the Promised Land. His denial of entry was God’s choice…but only after Moses had made a fateful choice of his own…a choice to take credit away from God and break faith with Him “in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin” (refer back to Numbers 20:9-12). And so Moses would die on Mount Nebo not long after his brother Aaron had passed on Mount Hor. Both had failed to “uphold the (Lord’s) holiness among the Israelites” and so both fell short of enjoying the blessing of Canaan, the land that was filled with an abundance of riches and resources, the land God was giving to His chosen people.

Today, God offers all people a Promised Land as well, a promise of eternal life in an eternal land where one can live free from everything that afflicts them in this world. This heavenly land overflows with every good and perfect thing as it is the domain of our Father God and His Son Jesus Christ.

Unlike Canaan which was reserved for Israel, our present day Promised Land is available to anyone who will simply choose to believe in Jesus as their Savior (John 3:16). Unfortunately, not everyone will choose to do this and, like Moses and Aaron, their choice will lead to them falling short of entering the eternal holy land God has promised through His Son.

Given this truth, where do you stand today?

Have you placed your belief and trust in the salvation God offers through Jesus?

If so, then your eternal future is set and the promise of Heaven is sure for you.

If not, then you are opting for another eternal destiny, one that is in a place of darkness, a place called Hell that is filled with pain and suffering and anguish.

The good news is that if you’re in that place and are reading this today, you’re still alive and have the chance to change your everlasting future dwelling place. I pray you will decide right now to believe in Jesus and make the day of your salvation so when the day comes when you die, you won’t fall short of the land God wants you to inhabit like Moses did.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

WORDS OF LIFE

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“They have acted corruptly toward Him; to their shame, they are no longer His children, but a warped and crooked generation.”

“Is this the way you repay the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?”

“Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you. When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided all mankind, He set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.”

“For the Lord's portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance. In a desert land, He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions. The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him. He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag, with curds and milk from herd and flock and with fattened lambs and goats, with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat. You drank the foaming blood of the grape.”

“Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior. They made Him jealous with their foreign gods and angered Him with their detestable idols. They sacrificed to demons, which are not God — gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear. You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.”

“The Lord saw this and rejected them because He was angered by His sons and daughters. ‘I will hide My face from them,’ He said, "and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful. They made Me jealous by what is no god and angered Me with their worthless idols.”

“I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding. For a fire has been kindled by My wrath, one that burns to the realm of death below. It will devour the earth and its harvests and set afire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap calamities upon them and spend My arrows against them. I will send wasting famine against them, consuming pestilence and deadly plague; I will send against them the fangs of wild beasts, the venom of vipers that glide in the dust. In the street, the sword will make them childless; in their homes terror will reign. Young men and young women will perish, infants and gray-haired men. I said I would scatter them and blot out their memory from mankind, but I dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest the adversary misunderstand and say, 'Our hand has triumphed; the Lord has not done all this.'”

“They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them. If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!”

“How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up? For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede. Their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are filled with poison, and their clusters with bitterness. Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras. ‘Have I not kept this in reserve and sealed it in my vaults?’”

“’It is Mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time, their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.’ The Lord will judge His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free. He will say: ‘Now where are their gods, the rock they took refuge in, the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up to help you! Let them give you shelter!’”

"See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides Me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of My hand. I lift My hand to Heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever, when I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, while My sword devours flesh: the blood of the slain and the captives, the heads of the enemy leaders."

“Rejoice, O nations, with His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants; He will take vengeance on His enemies and make atonement for His land and people.”

Moses came with Joshua, son of Nun, and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

Deuteronomy 32:5-47

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The first forty-three verses of Deuteronomy, chapter 32, make up the song that God gave to Moses to pass on to Israel. And while the first four verses offer positive words about God’s greatness and Moses’ desire that Israel would heed his teaching, the remainder of the song is a firm and stern indictment about what Israel would soon do after entering the Promised Land. For the Lord makes it clear that they would become a “warped and crooked generation”…a “perverse generation” of “children who (were) unfaithful”… “a nation without sense”…with “no discernment in them”. Specifically, their transgressions would include:

1. Corruption (“They have acted corruptly toward him.”)

2. Abandonment (“…abandoned the God who made him”)

3. Rejection (“…rejected the Rock his Savior.”)

4. Improper worship (“They made Him jealous with their foreign gods and angered Him with their detestable idols. They sacrificed to demons, which are not God—gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear.”)

5. Desertion (“You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.”)

As a penalty for these sins, Israel would find themselves without their God, the One who watched over them and provided for their needs. As they turned from Him, He would then turn from them and this would lead the nation of Israel to learn the hard way about trying to live without their Lord, an existence that would be rough and dangerous minus His presence, strength, and power.

What would God’s wrath look like?

He detailed it for Him as His acts of judgment would include:

1. Devouring the earth and its harvests.

2. Setting fire to the foundations of the mountains.

3. Heaping calamities on His people.

4. Spending His arrows against Israel.

5. Causing a wasting famine.

6. Sending consuming pestilence and deadly plague.

7. Making His people vulnerable to fangs of wild beasts and venom of vipers.

8. Bringing sword against them and their children.

9. Terrorizing them in their own homes.

Note here that the Lord didn’t say He would completely wipe His people off the face of the earth, even though they probably deserved it.

Why?

Because He didn’t want Israel’s enemies to claim some kind of ultimate victory saying:

“Our hand has triumphed; the Lord has not done all this.”

God wasn’t interested in that happening, but He did want it to be clear that He and He alone would be the One who would correct His people for their iniquities.

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay.”

The bottom line was Israel’s punishment would come from no one else but Him. Further, no one else would be able to restore them except Him. If the Israelites tried to call on a false god, their efforts would be wasted and result in silence and inaction. God even mocks the idea of calling on anyone but Him saying:

"Now where are their gods, the rock they took refuge in, the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up to help you! Let them give you shelter!”

God said this already knowing the answer to His question. The false gods couldn’t be found because they didn’t exist. There was only one God (capital “G”) and He was it, the Lord of all who had no rival. If Israel hoped to get back to being the kind of people who pleased the Lord, they would first have to come back to Him and recommit their loyalty and faithfulness.

This leads us to some thought-provoking questions to help us tie our lives to this Old Testament passage.

First, where would you stand if God assessed you and your life right now?

What would His list of your sins look like? Would they match any that the Israelites would soon commit and, indeed, had already committed?

Friends, we had better take note of the penalties that God was going to bring on His people in response to their sinful disobedience. For sometimes, I think we fail to fully realize and appreciate the true power of God…the very power that created everything, including you and me. This leads us to underestimate the potential for Him to correct and punish us as He did Israel.

In Old Testament times, the Israelites were expected to take all of God’s words to heart and teach them to their children so they could carefully obey God’s Word, will, and way themselves. Nothing has changed some 3,400 years later. The Lord tells us just as He did the people of Israel that His words are not “just idle words” but are central to life. A person’s very existence depends on how well they know and follow God’s guidance.

As I close, let us all show the highest level of honor, respect, and reverence to our Almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing God. To that end, let’s make sure we assess ourselves with absolute honesty then be dedicated to fix anything that’s spiritually broken, knowing that our Lord stands ready to hear our prayers of repentance and restore us from the inside out. Then through His Word and Holy Spirit, He will work to keep us on the narrow path of righteousness, now and forevermore.

We can absolutely trust in that.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.