INTERESTING FACTS : "Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like trying to eat without swallowing." --Anonymous

DAILY READING : [DEUTERONOMY 8 - 10]

TEXT : Deu 8:1 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. Deu 8:2 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. Deu 8:3 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. Deu 8:4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Deu 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

THEME : TRIALS

As we read Deuteronomy chapter eight, we find relevance to our American culture. The children of Israel are warned of the future. In particular, they are told once they are prosperous and wealthy they must remember God gave them this power [as well the strength to drive out the nations they conquered]. Again, looking to the future, Moses tells Israel to never forget God is the source of their many blessings. Interestingly, God speaks of their conquering Canaan as though it had already occurred and of their departure from the Lord in the same prophetic way.

God knows all there is to know - past, present and future. Here in Deuteronomy eight, God through Moses tells Israel they will be tempted to believe in the course of time that their own wisdom, strength, and power obtained their [yet future] blessings. Of course, this is what occurred many years later, and here we find relevance to our United States of America.

We know the early settlers of New England [the Puritans] had trials of faith in Europe, but faced even more trials on the mainland of New England.

"For seventeenth century New Englanders, death was a grim and terrifying reality. Of the first 102 Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth in 1620, half died during the first winter. Death rates soon fell sharply, until they were about a third below those in England, France, or the colonial Chesapeake, but death still remained an omnipresent part of life. The tolling of church bells on the day of funerals was so common that it was legislated against as a public nuisance. It was customary in colonial New England to send a pair of gloves to friends and relatives to invite them to funerals. Andrew Eliot, minister of Boston's North Church, saved the gloves that people sent to him. In 32 years he collected 3,000 pairs. Death reached into all corners of life, striking people of all ages, not just the old. In the healthiest regions, one child in ten died during the first year of life. In less healthy areas, like Boston, the figure was three in ten. Cotton Mather, the famous Boston minister, had 14 children. Seven died in infancy and just one lived to the age of thirty. Bacterial stomach infections, intestinal worms, epidemic diseases, contaminated food and water, and neglect and carelessness all contributed to a society in which 40 percent of children failed to reached adulthood in the seventeenth century."[1]

Yet, in time, God prospered our country through these settlers and others who were in almost all cases Christians. In the 17th century the charters of the colonies had ample references to Christ and the Holy Scriptures. In places like Virginia, one could not hold political office unless they adhered to the main tenets of the Christian faith. The Sabbath was binding in every state of the new colonies. In short, our forefathers trusted, taught, and appealed to the Word of God for their authority in all manner of conduct - from civil government to business and finances. The great nation we see today is the direct result of the "faith of our fathers."

However, as we see our nation now, we hear of "American Know-How," and "American Ingenuity," etc. This is exactly what Israel was told to avoid. They did not, and it seems neither are we. This is why prayer to God on behalf of our country is critical. Perhaps God will send us another great revival as we have seen twice before in our history. Yet, if He does "awaken" us again, it will have to be by His commands found in the Word of God, not by the machinations of men.

In chapter nine, we have another warning to Israel - "don think it was because of your righteousness that you conquered the nations of Canaan." Again, the temptation of religious men is to think their success in life is because of their own goodness. God tells Israel through Moses that they are stiff necked and rebellious. Further, the nations were destroyed by Him due to their exceeding wickedness, not Israel's righteousness. Again, we find relevance to America.

Across the country we see evidence of [our] mistaken belief that we are righteous other nations are not. This unfortunately is seen even in the Church. This is particularly true as we hear leaders and preachers of various Church bodies compare themselves to each other and extol the virtues of their own ministry, fellowship, or institution. The comparison of one Church or Christian is always of a negative nature from the point of view of the one making the comparison. Obviously, departures from the orthodox teachings of the Bible must be made known. Yet, when one Christian pits his or her self against another Christian, or one denomination against another denomination, there is the tendency to believe- "I'm ok. You're not." It is evidence of self-righteousness that obviously takes away from the glory of God and His mercy and grace. As we know, our righteousness is as filthy rags. [Isa. 64:6]

TRUTH FOR TODAY : GOD TRIES OUR HEARTS TO DO US GOOD!

In the first few verses of chapter eight, we observe the reason God fed Israel with manna and tested them frequently. It was to see what was in their heart. That is, God wanted to "prove" whether they loved Him with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength. Sadly, they failed the test. More than that, they failed miserably and were not permitted to go into the land promised to their Fathers.

In verse three, we read the Scriptural reference that Jesus used when tempted of the Devil. Namely, the true believer lives by God's Word and not by food only. In Israel's case, the essence of God's Word was to serve Him and Love Him and He would always take care of the children of Israel. This fact, they did not believe. Therefore, they wandered for forty years. Now, the children of the first generation to leave Egypt are told the same truth.

We also learn that God's "chastening" is an act of His love. It is odd that we as parent do not have a hard time realizing this concept. Yet, as Christians we frequently do. That is, God allows hardships and trials to come into our life to prove us and see if we love and trust Him. We apply this principle freely to our children but balk when God does the same to us. Yet, the trial of our faith is designed that God can bless us in the end, like Job. Verse sixteen of chapter eight says - " Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;" [Deut 8:16]

In the New Testament we read that chastening or trials are a sign that we are truly God's children. We also see, as we do in Deuteronomy 8:16 that God's intention is to bless us at the end of the trial.

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Therefore, let us learn a lesson from the children of Israel and submit ourselves to God's chastening when it comes, so we will remember it is He who drives out the evil from our lives, gives us the gift of eternal life, forgives us of all sin, and will take us to His kingdom in the end.