Deuteronomy 8:5-9:22
There were not only things to remember about the wilderness journey, but there were things to consider, too. There was a loving purpose in all God’s ways, for just as a parent has to punish his children (or should!), so the Lord had dealt with His people. In God’s dealings with us it is well to remember these things, for there are three ways we can look at the chastening God sends. We can despise it, or perhaps we might faint under it, but the right way is to be exercised by the trial, so that we learn the needed lessons through it (Hebrews 12:5-11).
After “remembering” and “considering” these things, it then says, “Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him” (verse 6). This is the proper result, but sometimes when reminded of what God says, and having even spent a little time considering it, we then fail to walk in it. May the Lord make the truth we know more practical in our lives!
All Comes From Him
These exhortations are all in view of the good things the Lord had in store for them in the land of Canaan. It was a place of plenty, where there was no lack of anything, for the land was good, and it was rich in minerals too. But even in this there was a danger, for they might begin to boast that it was their own wisdom and strength that made them wealthy, forgetting that they were once only slaves in Egypt when the Lord delivered them. Then, too, it was He who gave them the strength to work the land, and harvest the crops. All came from Him, so they had nothing to boast of in themselves. The chapter closes with a solemn warning that if they did not obey His voice, but went after other gods, He would cause them to lose the good land He gave them. Indeed this is what happened to Israel in God’s government.
In the ninth chapter the people are told that they should always remember that the Lord had not given them the land of Canaan because they were better and more righteous than those nations who were dwelling there, but because He had promised it to their fathers, and He is ever faithful to His Word. They did not need to be afraid of the power of their enemies, for even though there were giants in the land, God was going to give it to them.
Moses’ Intercession
Moses then, by God’s Word, reminds them that he had interceded for them when they had fallen into idolatry at the time the law was given. He had received the tables of stone on which the ten commandments were written, but when he found them worshipping a molten image, he had broken the tables at the foot of the mount. If he had brought them into the camp it would have meant certain judgment upon all because of their sin. He therefore interceded for the people for forty days, having neither meat nor drink, and God graciously came in on their behalf. In what could they boast then? Their very existence was a monument to God’s grace, for they had deserved only judgment. And as we look back over our own past, must we not say it has been grace all the way too? Must we not exclaim with the apostle Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10), for His grace excludes all boasting on our part. God’s grace and love will be our endless theme in heaven, and Israel’s theme on earth, to the ages of ages.
Further Meditations
1. Why did the Lord give the land of Canaan to Israel?
2. Intercession for the Lord’s people is one of our great privileges as Christians. Where do we read of Christ’s intercession for us? Under what circumstances are we to intercede for other believers.
3. As you consider the subject of intercession you would no doubt be encouraged to listen to the Audio CD Christ’s Intercession as High Priest and as Advocate by R. Thonney.