Day 14
Deuteronomy
Ha ha ha, leave it to my sarcastic-self to let that title of this day's reading be what stands out!
But seriously, the summary of this day's reading is to not forget the Lord. What he has done for the Israelites of yesterday, what he continues to do for us today.
Starting off in Deuteronomy 8 with, "Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers..." Continuing with, "....Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him...." And ".....Praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you....Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God...."
He is telling us to not forget that it was "the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery....He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land...."
"But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth..."
Deuteronomy 9 reminds that, "It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going tin to take possession of their land..." and "Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people...."
Ha ha ha, hence the title of this day's post.
I have to stop the quote here because I just love that word God uses to call us out in our stubbornness, conceit, pride, rebellion, and disbelief!
As if they, the Israelites, had any reason to think they would see the promised land because they were just so very faithful and never doubted!
As if we today could stand on the edge of any modern-day promised land thinking we deserved it because of our awesomeness and obedience all these years!
No... not that at all...
God continues, "...but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Well if that ain't a mood-killer, I don't know what is! You're not going there because you're that good, you're going across to the promised land to run them off because they're so bad!
Bwaaaaaa! I have to laugh only because I can relate to their pathetic thinking. I've fallen victim to it a time or two.
But in all seriousness, I get a sense God is trying to instill in them a sense of humility before they enter. To not think they will possess that land and defeat those enemies because of anything they did. Any of their ability. Any of their feeble faith! But that they will accomplish those things because of God's ability. In keeping with God's promise to those who were faithful.
It's important for me to embrace that for each step of my journey. Nothing I accomplish will have been by my might, but by God's. I didn't accomplish anything good because of my righteousness (stop laughing), but because of God's.
I like that reminder.
God has done so very much for the Israelites (and for us!) and all he asks in return is this, from Deuteronomy 10:12, "What does your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?"
"...the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing...Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God."
"Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always."
"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today -- to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul -- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains..."
I really think that last verse is why our country is experiencing such drought and hardship.
Disobedience.
As a nation, as a citizen, as a Christian, we have not honored those simple requests of God. To honor him. To honor his Sabbath. To not put anything before him. We haven't listened to a thing he has asked of us! Honor him? We just about spit on him!
We read the Bible if we have time after our Home & Garden or Trucking magazines. We make an appointment with him only if we have time in between our "other" appointments. We go to church if we're not too tired or if our lawn doesn't need mowing.
Honor him? With all our heart and with all our soul? Not even with a fingernail most times!
Reading just as little as I have so far about all the things God has already done for us and realizing I'm still in the first few books of the Bible -- it's just sickening how God has done all he has for us, (and by us I include a big ol' me) and we today, don't do a darn thing for him if it's not convenient.
I'm getting it drilled in my own head, that God. Is. First.
Humbling!
Deuteronomy 11:16 warns, "Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads."
I think that last sentence pretty much sums up how to get back on track.
