Bottom Line Questions
Posted by: Jeff Adams in Scriptural Application for Everyday Life, Social Commentary, UncategorizedI 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?
Join me each day as I share what's bouncing around in my head and heart. I wish I had time to sit down with each of you over a good cup of coffee, but at least we can thank God for blogs! Oh! I'll take the coffee, too, whenever I can!
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Sam Shockley filled in for Jeff Cox’s Crossover class this past Sunday. He did a great job. I had never heard him speak and I was glad to get the opportunity to do so. One thing that he said really stuck with me and I have been chewing on it for the last few days and it ties in with some of your questions, Jeff. Sam said “The true test of your relationship with God is what it takes to stop you or slow you down”. He was talking about presenting yourself as a living sacrifice and I find similarities in the passage you quoted as far as examples of some of the things one might face if they submit themselves for service.
Verse 2 explains why God did what he did: to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. The other verses in this passage reveal what was done. I read this passage not too long ago and remember chewing on it then as well. God wants to know what we’re really made of, especially when he, in his infinite wisdom, puts the squeeze on. The part that always gets me is the “whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” Following God is not a game to him. I have been learning this more and more since this past January when God blessed me by taking my executive level job from me and making me a stay at home Dad. As my wife and I stood back after the dust had settled and we took stock of how things had gone, we realized that God had provided for every one of our needs, but it looked nothing like what we thought it should have. We had never had to lean on God like we did then and I think that suits him just fine. Nowhere in this passage is there even a hint that God was not in control or that he wasn’t right there walking with the Israelites. They were walking in blessings and having their needs met, but couldn’t see it. I have additional blessings now that I never dreamed of and have since realized ones that I already had and am so thankful for. I had never really aligned my priorities correctly (read: kept his commandments), but when I did, it didn’t seem like it right at the time, but the blessings rained down like manna. What I initially saw as something slowing me down, I came to realize later was really just stirring me up.
How sad that our natural tendency as fleshly humans is to walk closer to God in times of trial rather than blessing. If we could maintain the same intensity all the time, our lives would be indelibly marked forever. It’s what God asks of us. All that we have came from him, so why is it so hard to return the favor by returning the gift to the Giver?
To God be the glory.
Hola, estuve escuchando esta mañana en la radio una prédica acerca de las visiones que tuvo en Panamá. Realmente es una bendición. Que Dios le siga bendiciendo.
Ana Gabriela
Is there any THING in this life that we can hold as promised or guaranteed?
I think we trust God for things, for the circumstances, instead we should be trusting Him and giving him the things and the circumstances.
It does not matter what happens, how bad or good it is, or it seems. Getting through doesn’t matter, how it comes together doesn’t matter, when it’s all said and done doesn’t matter, what matters is; Jesus Christ my Lord, my Savior and my friend is here going through life with me – No Matter what, wherever here is. Psalm 139, Psalm 56:8