Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember that the Lord your God led you all the way . . .
REMEMBER THE LORD . . . IN YOUR FUTURE
The future had a very rosy look to it for the Israelites. Through Moses the Lord revealed to them what was ahead. "The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper" (Deuteronomy 8:7-9).
What a future! Everything they would need and more would be poured out into their laps -- all from their kind and gracious God.
They would indeed have much to be thankful for in those coming days and years. But there would be a temptation that would come with all this new-given wealth. God said, "Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God -- that in the days to come you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth'" (11, 17).
We live in a country that also abounds with material wealth and goods. Our God has seen fit to bless us personally with so much by way of possessions that even those who are below the poverty level live like kings compared to the poor in the third world countries.
Those words of warning need to ring in our ears: "do not forget the Lord your God . . ." As we approach our nation's Thanksgiving festival, remember that God is the one who has given us everything we have; that He is the One also who has promised His blessings on our future -- and then give Him the thanks due His most holy name!
