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Deuteronomy 8: Good Times, Bad Times

Deuteronomy 8 reminds us of an important truth that, 8:3, because He loves us, God hungers us causing us to rely on Him but, 8:10-11, as we enter times of abundance we must give thanks to the Lord because, 8:19-20, forgetting the Lord will result in our destruction

As the Hebrews followed God around the desert, He provided for them. Even their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell during this time. God provided for them; when they had nothing God provided for them. Deuteronomy 8:15,16:

He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.

Even though one generation of Israelites was faithless upon leaving Egypt that did not nullify the faithfulness of God (Romans 3:3,4) who provided this desert experience as a means to their salvation. God, through Moses, reminded the people not to forget this: in the desert God and God alone provided for them, preparing them to receive this Promised Land. 

Alas, as God warned them, these times of relying on God passed when the people acquired stability, income, relative ease and apparent self-sufficiency. They didn't think they needed Him once they settled in their promised land so they left Him and then they didn't have Him. And so when life's hard hand dealt them their blows they turned to look for God's protection but they had turned their backs, walked away and left Him behind. God didn't leave them. They left Him. They exchanged the safety of God's love for the death of wealth and the myth of self-sufficiency. 

In our country too: Canada was founded on the Word of God (Psalm 72); we used to have the Lord's Prayer in Parliament and Gideon Bibles in the schools. Now we don't seem to think we need Him anymore.

This is sad but there is some good news. There is still time to return to our Lord. As long as we exist as a nation there is still the opportunity for our nation to return to God. We, as Christians, should do our best to help build God’s Kingdom here as it is in heaven. As long as we exist it is not too late: we can still return to the Lord.

We know that  Israel's Messiah did eventually come, even after all the unfaithfulness. Jesus is their and our Messiah. Jesus was born, died, and rose from the grave. And we know that Jesus will come back too and he will reign forever not only as King of the Jews but also as King of the whole world (cf. TSA doc. 6).

When he does, will he find that we are walking with him or that we have walked away from him and his Kingdom?
A Salvogesis original (February 01, 2018)
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