July 8, 2002                                Don't Forget God

Deu 8:6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
Deu 8:7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
Deu 8:8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
Deu 8:9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
Deu 8:10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
Deu 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
Deu 8:12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
Deu 8:13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
Deu 8:14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Deu 8:15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
Deu 8:16 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;
Deu 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
Deu 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

After all the magnificent displays of God’s power, which Israel had seen poured out on Egypt, through Moses, God gave Israel a clear and exact warning: when you have possessed the land, and eaten your fill and are satisfied, don’t forget God. He said “ Don’t forget me.” Don’t forget who blessed you, who gave you all that you have. Don’t become proud, or conceited, taking credit for what he did. Don’t forget how God delivered you from bondage. Don’t forget how each time you were in trouble, God was there to help, and deliver you. When it seemed like there was no way you could survive, he made a way. When you were hungry, how he fed you. Don’t ever get so satisfied and deceive yourself into thinking just because you work 40 hours and earn a big paycheck that it was all you. God watched over you, keeping you safe and healthy to and from work, and while you were there, and held back the evil that would have loved dearly to destroy you. He blessed you with sight and sound, and opportunity, sound mind and strength, ability, and intelligence. Even the wealthiest of people are destitute without God.

Deu 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Deu 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD swore unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Deu 9:6 Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

It wasn’t because of Israel’s righteousness that God gave them the land, or because of their might, for they were neither righteous or mighty, in Deut. 9:3, he said he would go before them as a consuming fire, destroying their enemies, clearing the way for Israel, because of the nations he was removing were very wicked. In other words, He made it plain they were getting this land not because they were better than the occupants, but because these nations were wicked, and refused to repent or acknowledge God, and they forfeited that which they had, and he warned Israel not to follow in their footsteps or the land would vomit them out as well.

For such a magnificent God, who gives us so much, and asks so little, how awesome that he would acknowledge us, do so much for us, and we who are as grasshoppers to such a powerful Deity. How could someone like you love someone like me, Lord? It hurts myheart to hink after pouring out such goodness on us he has to command people to love him. Oh, that it come naturally to the human heart to love the Lord...our Creator...

 I believe this is a clear warning to every believer. When we come to salvation, and have been scarred and wounded by sin, and at first are so happy in the Lord, but over time, as we are prospered and blessed and raised up, and get comfortable in this new life, it would be a snare, a trap to get too comfortable, and start taking God and his blessings forgranted. What a betrayal of such a wonderful love God has for his people. Let us not be found guilty of this.