Deuteronomy 8 – Deuteronomy 10

Some great warnings come out of these three chapters in Deuteronomy. One that gives a cautious warning for us today, as much as it did nearly 3500 years ago. One that provides some clarity on events to come. And, one that is just a bit of fun.

Cautions for today (as much as yesterday) . . .

Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 
Deut. 8:11-14

That’s rich! As much as we are blessed, as much as our sisters and brothers from Ancient Israel were blessed, how often we forget where those blessings come from. God indeed is good, gracious, and abundantly generous. Let us never forget where our abundance comes from. The true warning comes in verses 19 and 20. Essentially . . . if you forget this, you will perish. Holding true to that warning, Israel does forget and exile happens. Although we have several hundred years to read through before that happens.

Some clarity on what is about to happen next . . .

One of my faithful followers asked the question, “if one of the Commandments says, ‘thou shall not kill’, how is it that the Israelites are allowed to go in and destroy all these other nations?” Great question! Deuteronomy chapter 9 helps us to understand that just a bit more.

It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to occupy their land; but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is dispossessing them before you, in order to fulfill the promise that the Lord made on oath to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Know, then, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to occupy because of your righteousness; for you are a stubborn people.
Deut. 9:5-6

I wonder how much that stung when the people heard Moses speak it too them. Essentially saying, “you don’t deserve this, God knows it, you know it.” However, God is keeping the promises made, and cleansing the earth because of the wickedness of the other nations. If I remember right, God tried that once before, right? Oh, yes. Last time it was with a flood. This time its with people.

Does that make it right to kill. I still don’t think so, but it at least provides a bit of clarity on how we dodge the question around God’s Commandment.

Lastly something fun . . .

One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 
Deut. 8:3b

Great words, how ever, words that could be modified.
One does not live by bread alone, but with . . .

At least that’s what got me through most of my childhood! Good stuff, but the Word of God is so much better. So I think we should stay with the original text.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Deuteronomy 11 – 13