Deuteronomy 8
Scripture
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
“He did this all so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”
Observation-What does it say?
God continues to speak to Moses so that Moses can relay God’s commands to the Israelites. God wants Moses to remind the Israelites of all the struggles that they have been through, and how God has always been faithful for rescuing them, providing for their every need, and guiding them. God wants Moses and the Israelites to always remember Him and obey His commandments. God will be bringing them into a land flowing with milk and honey and does not want the people to forget how and WHO got them there. God warns them not to get too prideful from their success, but rather remain faithful to obey His commands.
Understanding-What does it mean?
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.””-Job 1:21b NIV
One thing that keeps me humble in life is knowing that as hard and as long as it may have taken me to accumulate my success’-(job, money, health, family, etc), God is able to take it away from me in an instant. Now although God may not want to take away His blessings from me, I understand that I must remember that it is because of God that I am where I am. It is God who blesses me with the physical strength, mental capacity, work ethic, and discipline to achieve what I have. So, I must make sure to never think that I did it on my own strength, but rather God’s. I must make sure to thank God and give Him all the glory and praise every single day because as soon as I try to fool myself and think I can do it on my own and make it without Him, I’m certain troubles will come my way. It’s like how God warns the people of Israel in this passage:
““But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.” -Deuteronomy 8:19
Life Application
Be thankful and remember all that God has done for me.
Spend some time in prayer today. Reflect on all the things God has done for you and brought you through. Thank God for all He has done. Give Him all your worship and praise. God deserves it! 🙏🏽🙌🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽
-Moses Gaddi