The theme of remembering/not forgetting runs through many biblical passages. As Israel approached the end of its 40 years of desert wandering, Moses knew he was prevented from entering the Promised Land with the people he had led to this point. He had asked God for permission and had received a firm "No" from God.
So he does his best to prepare Israel for what lies ahead. With Joshua as their new leader, they will soon enter the Promised Land and life will drastically change for them. The people to whom he is speaking have not had a house or home for the past 40 years. They have not owned property on which they could plant a garden; no fields on which they could raise crops; no vineyard; no pasture for their animals. They have depended on God to lead them, to protect them and to directly provide their daily food in the form of manna. They have had to actively trust God for each day; for their "daily bread."
Now things would change. They would settle in the cities they conquered. They would gain houses and land they could call their own. With this would come a degree of prosperity and comfort they had never known: not during 40 years in the desert nor during 400 years of captivity in Egypt. And with comfort and prosperity would come a danger they'd never faced before. So Moses, inspired by God, warns them:
Moses tells them they are about to gain comfort and prosperity which is not theirs - yet. But when by God's power, these things are theirs, they must be careful. With prosperity and comfort comes the strong tendency to feel independent and self sufficient. When great need disappears, then feelings of great dependence on God can easily disappear as well.
This is a warning for the ages. Always relevant to all people. Relevant for nations and for individuals. Applicable for all believers; for you and for me.
Read through chapter six and then on through the next several chapters to see how strongly their elderly leader is warning the Israelites. He repeats his warning not to forget; he warns them that they will easily become proud as God gives them victories and wealth; he tells them to remember that it is God who gives them the ability to produce wealth.
We know the rest of the story as it unfolds over the next decades and centuries. Israel often forgot and suffered the sad consequences. Thankfully we have both their example and these written, inspired words to act as warnings to us. Beware the danger that comes from success, comfort and prosperity. Stay focused on God, consciously dependent on Him, and live with eternal values.
So he does his best to prepare Israel for what lies ahead. With Joshua as their new leader, they will soon enter the Promised Land and life will drastically change for them. The people to whom he is speaking have not had a house or home for the past 40 years. They have not owned property on which they could plant a garden; no fields on which they could raise crops; no vineyard; no pasture for their animals. They have depended on God to lead them, to protect them and to directly provide their daily food in the form of manna. They have had to actively trust God for each day; for their "daily bread."
Now things would change. They would settle in the cities they conquered. They would gain houses and land they could call their own. With this would come a degree of prosperity and comfort they had never known: not during 40 years in the desert nor during 400 years of captivity in Egypt. And with comfort and prosperity would come a danger they'd never faced before. So Moses, inspired by God, warns them:
"When the Lordyour God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." Deuteronomy 6:10 - 12
Moses tells them they are about to gain comfort and prosperity which is not theirs - yet. But when by God's power, these things are theirs, they must be careful. With prosperity and comfort comes the strong tendency to feel independent and self sufficient. When great need disappears, then feelings of great dependence on God can easily disappear as well.
This is a warning for the ages. Always relevant to all people. Relevant for nations and for individuals. Applicable for all believers; for you and for me.
Read through chapter six and then on through the next several chapters to see how strongly their elderly leader is warning the Israelites. He repeats his warning not to forget; he warns them that they will easily become proud as God gives them victories and wealth; he tells them to remember that it is God who gives them the ability to produce wealth.
We know the rest of the story as it unfolds over the next decades and centuries. Israel often forgot and suffered the sad consequences. Thankfully we have both their example and these written, inspired words to act as warnings to us. Beware the danger that comes from success, comfort and prosperity. Stay focused on God, consciously dependent on Him, and live with eternal values.
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