Scripture:
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 ESV
[11] “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, [12] lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, [13] and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, [14] then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, [15] who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, [16] who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. [17] Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ [18] You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may confirm His covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Observation:
Deuteronomy is an awesome book. The reason I say that is because it reminds GOD’s chosen people the Israelites (and us) what has happened so far. Moses is retelling how GOD has brought HIS people out of the bondage of slavery and sin. I think the first part of this passage clears the whole thing up. GOD wants HIS people to remember that the reason they are no longer making bricks for food is because HE brought them out of Egypt. HE was preparing them to go into the promised land. Where they would no longer have to gather manna. Because they would have more than enough milk, honey, wheat, and barley, and their cattle would be in abundance. It would be easy to forget how they got there or to think they got there on their own. Without the LORD they would still be bound in slavery.
Application:
When things start going well in our lives, it is easy to forget how we got there. Another temptation is to think we did something to get us there. It’s so very important to remember that everything good that is in our lives is because of GOD. All the way down to the set of skills we use to make a living. It’s all GOD-given. HE pulled us out of Egypt where we and no hope and brought us to the promised land. Where we would have more than we need. Can I tell you something? it’s easy to seek GOD when your stomach hurts from hunger and you’re not sure if there will be manna on the ground in the morning. However, when your pocket starts getting full and you have more than enough, it’s also easy to forget what you did when the hunger pains were so intense you thought your body was eating itself. Pride is dangerous. I never want to forget where I came from because honestly I never want to go back. I never want to forget how I got to where I’m at because I know for a fact I did NOT get me here. Not that I have arrived anywhere. But I am definitely not where I used to be. I am one of those guys who keeps a prayer Journal and about 5 years ago I wrote in it a prayer I will never forget. It was simple. All it said was…GOD, I see you rebuilding my life and you are doing it in a way that I can not take credit for it…thank you. You see if I do something I can surely mess it up…but when GOD does something it is for real.
Prayer:
Father, thank you. You brought us out of Egypt. You brought us to a place where we would have all our needs and then some. Let us not forget how we got here. We know the journey is not over. We just want to keep our eyes fixed on you. We are not here because we are good…we are here because you are GOD…and you ARE GOOD. You bring my mind to Peter and him getting out of the boat again. When his eyes were on Jesus he was able. You give us what we need when our eyes are fixed on you. Let our vision not fail to see that. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.