Read Deuteronomy
8-10 & Mark
12:28-44
To discover:
As you read note what God wants to remind Israel
of.
To ponder:
We are to remember to remember. God tested his people in the
desert to know their “heart” – whether they would keep his commands. He
“humbled” them by causing hunger so he could then provide manna if they
followed his instructions. This taught that his provision depended on obedient
faith. In this sense Israel
learnt “man” lives “on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” So God was
lovingly teaching Israel
in her wanderings as an act of fatherly discipline. And hers was a critical
lesson to remember. God provided so fully that her clothes didn’t even wear out
nor feet swell. And so, if she will only “observe” his commands, “walk in his
ways and revere him” she will be abundantly provided for in the land (8v7-9).
In the
light of this Moses urges the Israelites against pride so they don’t “forget”
the LORD when all goes well. Rather they should remember it is God who “gives
you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant.” Indeed, to
forget him and follow false gods will inevitably lead to destruction.
Christians
are always more reliant on God in times of difficulty. So every believer is in
danger of this same temptation. We must remember we have nothing that we did
not receive (1 Cor 4v7). And so to turn from God endangers what we have in this
life, not to mention the next.
Israel
therefore need God as the Canaanites are greater and stronger. And so when God
gives the land, Israel
mustn’t say he has done it because they are somehow more righteous. Again, that’s
to forget how reliant they are on him, and on his grace. No, Israel
are “stiff-necked.” They have the land only because of God’s promise to the
patriarchs and in order to bring judgement on the wickedness of those there. So
Israel must
remain humble. They must remember how utterly in need of God they constantly
are.
Moses
recounts Israel’s
sin to cement this: They must “remember” God was angry enough to “destroy” them
(and Aaron) over the golden calf. They were “corrupt” and “stiff-necked,”
quickly turning aside from the commands God proclaimed himself and wrote with
his own finger. And this continued when they “rebelled” by not trusting and obeying
God by entering the land at Kadesh Barnea. In fact, they were saved at Sinai, only
because Moses intervened, fasting for forty days, and prostrating himself in
prayer before God, appealing to God’s promise to the patriarchs and his own
honour in the eyes of Egypt.
So it was by grace that God gave
the commandments a second time. It is therefore in awareness that despite
owning the universe God has chosen them, that Israel
are to “circumcise” their hearts. The image implies being set-apart from the
nations by cutting sin away in their inner attitude to God, so that they fear,
love and serve him, “walking in his ways” and “holding fast to him.” Israel
must do this because the LORD is her God, and because he is worthy of it, impartial
in his justice, providing for the needy just as he had for her.
Biblical religion has always been
of the heart and in response to grace. And in grace God would eventually
circumcise the hearts of his people by his Spirit, so that they would display the
love he called them to. This is our experience (Rom 2v29). But we still need to
remember our sin, so we remember God’s grace, and so cherish and hold fast to
him all the more.
Praying it home:
Thank God that even in hardship he lovingly teaches us. Pray
that you would never forget how reliant you are on him for grace and provision.
Thinking further:
None today.
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