It's Never Random

Deuteronomy 8 to 11

I love how you sometimes read along a random rambling passage and stumble over a verse you know very well. It’s like finding something in its natural context or habitat. 

Up until now

We have become familiar

with Israel’s established pattern of rebellion.

This section repeats

many times,

so many instances,

of Moses spending

40 days

and 40 nights

on the mountain

on his knees.

Over and over

God reminds

Moses reminds

Don’t forget the LORD your God

Remember

Tell your children

Obey

Teach

Hold fast

Walk

But isn’t that my pattern sometimes?

That I forget?

That I trip up?

Even while my hands are full of manna?

As much as this story assures and affirms

It simultaneously convicts.

And yet I Hope

I always have Hope.

Ch8:2 “Remember how

The LORD your God led you

All the way in the desert

These 40 years

To humble you

and to test you

in order to know

what was in your heart

whether or not

you would keep his commands.

3 He humbled you

Causing you to hunger

And then feeding you with manna,

Which neither you

Nor your fathers had known,

To teach you

That man does not live

On bread alone

But on every Word

That comes from the mouth of God.”

Observe His commands

Walk in His ways

And revere His Name.

So I read

And back track

Because I don’t want to forget

I reread

I write out these words

On my journal pages

With my pencil

These Words from God’s mouth

Like manna.

And I have to believe

That it is feeding

Something deep and hungering in me

That sustains my heart and my soul.

Water from the fountain

In a vast and dreadful desert

This thirsty and waterless land

That we come through sometimes

On our way to a good, good place.

Into God’s abundance

Because He promised.

Ch 10:12 “And now,

O Israel,

What does the LORD your God ask of you

But to FEAR

The LORD your God

To WALK in all His ways,

To LOVE Him

To SERVE Him

With all your heart

And with all your soul.

Ch11:18 To FIX these Words in your hearts and minds.

CH 10:20 and to HOLD FAST to Him.

21 He is your God.

He is your praise.”

Ch 10:15 “He has set His affection on you

And He chose you.”