March 14

Deuteronomy 6:1-9:29

God spoke through Moses to the people of Israel and offered some clear warnings before they entered into the Promised Land. They had come a long way with the Lord; yet, from the beginning, they had been prone to wander. God said to them, “You have been rebelling against the Lord as long as I have known you” (9:24).

His warnings boiled down to this — Israel needed a good memory. For God was about to bless them more than they could imagine, because of His love for them and their forefathers. However, sometimes the results of God’s favor can lead one to believe that he is responsible for his own success. “The Lord humbled you in the wilderness so that you would never think that it was your own strength and energy that made you wealthy. Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you power to become rich...” (8:17, 18).

In short, oftentimes with God’s blessings comes a short memory. “When you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, that is the time to be careful. Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God...” (8:12-14).

The consequences of forgetting the Lord’s goodness are not so good. “I assure you of this — if you ever forget the Lord your God and follow others gods (like the god of self), worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed” (8:19). These warnings were straight forward and serious. The people needed a good memory so as not to forget what the Lord had done for them. The word “remember” is used 227 times in the Bible. It seems that the Lord wants us not to forget.

Daily Reflection

When the Puritans escaped persecution in England and came to America (1630-1640), they experienced peace and prosperity. However, within two generations, their fervent faith had dissolved and, instead, self-reliance became common place. Pastor Cotton Mather wrote of them, “Religion begat prosperity, but the daughter devoured the mother.” Their obedience to God’s commands produced liberty and wealth, all of which they took for granted and credited their own strength and ingenuity.

Are we not the same today? When things are going well, we tend to forget the Lord and deceive ourselves in thinking that we are doing fine, that we’ve got everything under control. We too, like Israel, need a good memory, to remember that it is the Lord who is behind our success, granting His favor on all that we do.

What can you do to remember the Lord? What can you do to avoid forgetting all His benefits?

The answer for Israel was in these instructions: “Commit wholeheartedly these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house...” (6:6-9).

A forgetful memory reflects a proud heart.

BiAY.org | Day 73 — 292 Days to Go