Don’t Forget the Lord Brought You All the Way

Deuteronomy 8:1-2

God never does anything haphazardly. Everything has a purpose. He allowed the children of Israel to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Now that they are about to enter the promise land, Moses urged them to look back over their wilderness experience and remember how God had brought them all the way. Also they were to remember God’s past acts of redemption – how He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They were warned to “Be careful to obey all the commandments I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord promised to give your ancestors” (v.1). Like the children of Israel, we too must never forget how the Father redeemed us from the bondage of sin.

The journey through the wilderness was to humble God’s chosen people. The humble child tastes the grace. He tested them to “prove their character” (“to know what was in their heart,” KJV), and to find out whether or not they would obey his commands (v.2). Our all-knowing Father knew their heart, but His children must be tested. God cannot use us when we are stubborn and full of pride. However, He can use us when we are broken. Several Sundays ago Pastor Gregory Clayton (my pastor) preached “Broken and Blessed.” One thing he said was that sometime God has something for you, but He has to move something out of your life first.” God had to move pride out of the heart of the children of Israel. He broke their spirit of pride, and they were still blessed. Pride can hinder your remembrance of how God brought you. They would enter the promise land, receiving all God had promised if they were completely obedient to His word and kept all His commandments. Moses commanded them to remember how the Lord had brought them all the way these forty years through the wilderness. Do not forget! The Lord has brought you all the way.