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God Gives The Power – Deut. 8:18
God Gives The Power – Deut. 8:18
God brought Israel into the wilderness where there was no means of living. There was no fertile land to cultivate. There was no grocery store to procure food. There was no shopping mall to buy clothes and shoes. He allowed them to be without food and water in order that they would learn to trust in Him.
“You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord" (Deut. 8:2–3).
God would now bring them into a land where they COULD grow crops, they could produce clothing, they could sustain themselves (vs. 7f). The danger for them would be to begin thinking of themselves as self-sufficient and without need of God.
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;" (Deut. 8:11).
Their own 'power'? Their own strength? Their own ability? That too comes from God.
“But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day" (Deut. 8:18).
This foolishness has played out generation after generation. Worldly ease often causes people to forget God. It is God that sends the rain. It is God that causes the seed to grow. It is God that provides the sunshine. We live in God's world and by God's gracious gifts of life. Such prosperity does test our hearts! Such prosperity causes many to become proud and forget the LORD.
Look around you, observe all the things that we have. Paul warned: "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (1 Cor. 4:7)." It all comes from God.
Such abilities and riches, while they are a blessing, are also a test. We are tested, as was Israel, to see if we will remember the Lord, acknowledge our dependence upon Him, and be thankful for all He has provided. While you enjoy the things of this life, do you remember to give thanks? Do you remember the Lord?
Hugh DeLong
