Musing – Can Our Blessings Become a Problem?

Hebraic Musing – Can Our Blessings Become a Problem?

When discussing the challenges of evangelizing in the United States with a former missionary, he commented “We’ve got it too easy here.”    Having been to foreign soils and experienced the economic contrasts, his answer made immediate sense.   And it reminded me of something I heard Moses say to the people in Deuteronomy 8.  Here’s an outline of the essence of the chapter:

Deut. 8:1  (God wants to bless His people but gives a simple condition) “Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live … and possess the land that the Lord promised ….” NIV

Deut. 8:2-5  (But God also believes in tough love!)  “Remember … God led you … forty years, to humble you and to test you …your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.   He humbled you, … to teach you …  Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.”  

Deut. 8:6-9  (Our reward for obedience?)  “Observe the commands … God is bringing you into a good land … pools of water, with springs flowing … a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; … where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; ….”   Sounds great so far!

Deut. 8:10-11  (But be careful)  “When you have eaten and are satisfied, …Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands…” 

Deut. 8:12-15  (A dire prophetic warning -- notice the “When/Then” statement of fact)  “…, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out … of slavery.”   Notice that Moses said “when”; not “if”.  And “then”; not “maybe”.

And finally in Deut. 8:19 Moses testified against us saying “If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.”  Moses warned us about what happens when we become prosperous, satisfied, settled, rich, etc.  We become proud and forget the Lord.  Is that what has happened to our country?

Are we, and our nation, forgetting the Lord our God and following our own gods?

Points to ponder

Has our blessed life become too easy for us?

Have we forgotten Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider?

Have Americans become proud and
forgetful that our nation was founded “under God”?

♫  In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
      With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:

        As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
           While God is marching on. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      July 24, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”