I don’t want to weird you out, but regular visitors to this blog are accustomed to my sometimes bizarre way to see wild things in odd passages of scripture. Slugging my way through Deuteronomy recently, has provoked some reactions and I’ve been trying to share some of them. Here’s the passage for today.
All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Deuteronomy 8:1-5
Moses is delivering a stern warning to a new generation of Israelites about their need to trust and obey God. Their fathers had been severely lacking in character and faith. As a result, they have spent 40 years in the desert in less than ideal conditions. Moses clearly establishes that trials and suffering are permitted by God and used to mature us, prove us and reveal the reality of our hearts. Yet even with all their suffering, Moses reminds them that they never really lacked for anything. The real purpose of trials is to learn that daily needs are more than physical and more than daily bread could ever satisfy. They need to learn that true life, provision and protection is found by thoroughly digesting the truth of God’s words.
Following times of trial and tribulation, if it pleases God to bless us abundantly, Moses wants his people to remember that God is the one who gives us the power and strength to get wealth and not the result of our own hard work and effort (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Despite Israel’s frequent sin and rebellion, God never abandoned them, the manna continued to appear, they had clothes on the backs and shoes on their feet.
Now, taking this into account, I was wondering how we might apply this truth today. We share the same 
tendency to focus more on the gifts than on the Giver. We tend to chew on the bread and spit out God’s words. Here are some “bottom line” questions to provoke us to thought. Maybe you can think of others.
- Just how badly do we have to suffer for God to cease being God, or for us to not be able to trust him?
- Is there a point that is reached in a trial or crisis when God is no longer able to follow though on his promises and help us?
- As gasoline prices continue to slide upwards, at what price point is God unable to continue to provide for our needs?
- If the whole global economy collapses tomorrow and the stock market plummets, what is the point on the Dow Jones averages where God’s power runs out?
- Are we able to fellowship better with God in the good times, or in the bad times?
Bottom Line Questions
I don’t want to weird you out, but regular visitors to this blog are accustomed to my sometimes bizarre way to see wild things in odd passages of scripture. Slugging my way through Deuteronomy recently, has provoked some reactions and I’ve been trying to share some of them. Here’s the passage for today.
All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Deuteronomy 8:1-5
Moses is delivering a stern warning to a new generation of Israelites about their need to trust and obey God. Their fathers had been severely lacking in character and faith. As a result, they have spent 40 years in the desert in less than ideal conditions. Moses clearly establishes that trials and suffering are permitted by God and used to mature us, prove us and reveal the reality of our hearts. Yet even with all their suffering, Moses reminds them that they never really lacked for anything. The real purpose of trials is to learn that daily needs are more than physical and more than daily bread could ever satisfy. They need to learn that true life, provision and protection is found by thoroughly digesting the truth of God’s words.
Following times of trial and tribulation, if it pleases God to bless us abundantly, Moses wants his people to remember that God is the one who gives us the power and strength to get wealth and not the result of our own hard work and effort (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Despite Israel’s frequent sin and rebellion, God never abandoned them, the manna continued to appear, they had clothes on the backs and shoes on their feet.
Now, taking this into account, I was wondering how we might apply this truth today. We share the same
tendency to focus more on the gifts than on the Giver. We tend to chew on the bread and spit out God’s words. Here are some “bottom line” questions to provoke us to thought. Maybe you can think of others.