lest I forget

“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…”

Deuteronomy 8:11-14

This is a real warning that Moses, both as leader and as prophet, gives to Israel as they prepare to receive the blessing of obedience by conquering Canaan. Once they settled in and lived under blessings that God was giving to them, the temptation would be to drift spiritually. And the things that would turn them to forget were all good things: good food and secure housing (Deuteronomy 8:12), provisions and wealth to insure the future (Deuteronomy 8:13), and a life marked by an exclusive history of God’s deliverance (Deuteronomy 8:14). These could all turn their focus from God to selfish pride leading to spiritual disaster.

It is how I handle the blessings and the good stuff of life the most demonstrates authentic faith. It can be easier to trust God in hard times, when we feel we have no other recourse, than to live for Him in the easier times. Will I live by faith when all seems fine, or will I drift into complacency? Moses’ warning to Israel is as powerful to me as it was when he originally gave it.

Now that the most intense experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic are fading (at least in America), and though there are still some rough patches ahead, in all likelihood an economic rebound will occur, as the housing market seems to already indicate. Will these coming “good news” days fade our memories and lead to drift? They very well could.

Lord,

Thank You for this reminder. Keep me on my toes, on guard against the dangers of drift! I want to stay worshiping You in both good times and hard times. Both in the blessings and the burdens may You be made much of… by me… for Your glory!

Amen