We continue to work our way through Deuteronomy in a series focusing on Faithfulness for the Next Generation. In the previous chapter, Moses highlighted that faithfulness to the Lord meant no covenant compromise with the Canaanite nations or their gods. If God’s people were faithful in this, then the Lord would radically bless them. Covenant compromise remains a danger. That’s a danger. Another danger is that once the Lord has established Israel in this abundant land, they would grow comfortable and complacent and so forget their God who was the source of all the blessings.
Cotton Matter a New England minister in the 1700’s accurately stated, “Faithfulness begot Prosperity, and the daughter devoured the mother.” In whatever circumstance whether barrenness or blessing, God’s people must remember the Lord’s provision and faithfully obey the Lord. This was a lesson Israel was repeated taught in the wilderness and they must not forget in the prosperity of the Promise Land. And, this is a lesson that we must learn today in our own lives and our church community.
Maybe: In the wilderness, Israel needed to learn the lesson that they were completely dependent on the Lord and so must obey Him fully. And that was a pretty obvious conclusion. Only God is capable of bringing water gushing out of bolder. God provides in the wilderness. Soon Israel will move into a land with abundant water, abundant bread and all the good stuff they’ve been longing for in wilderness. Will they remember their lesson? Or will they Forget the Lord their God?