Deuteronomy
chapter 7 contains some very direct warnings to the nation of Israel
and to you and me about settling for less than God’s best. The
chapter begins with Moses exhorting the nation of Israel, “When
the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to
possess and drives out from before you many nations… you must
destroy them totally“.
To clarify the point, God says, “Make
no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry…
for they will turn your sons away from following Me“.
God’s instruction continues, “Break
down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah
poles and burn their idols with fire“.
It is important to understand these carved images and idols were
more than just artwork, they were used for horrific and degrading
acts during the worship of the pagan gods. The obvious message to
believers today is a warning against tolerating our past sins to hang
around after we accept Christ. There is to be no compromising with
anything that might turn your heart away from keeping God first.
Listen to the tender words of affection God uses, “You
are a people holy to the Lord… God has chosen you… to be His
people, His treasured possession“.
In a world that struggles with self-esteem, I am always encouraged
to remember God considers me valuable.
Next,
Moses reminds all of us that we didn’t earn our way into God’s
affection by being good or by our religious piety; no, quite the
opposite. “The
Lord did not set His affection on you… because you were more
numerous than other people… the Lord loved you and kept the oath He
swore to your forefathers… He is the faithful God, keeping His
covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him“.
We put our confidence in the faithfulness of God! Moses continues,
“God
will keep His covenant of love with you, as He swore to your
forefathers… He will love you and bless you and increase your
numbers… you will be blessed more than any other people“.
But listen to how God promises to drive out the enemy from the
Promised Land, “God
will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will
not be able to eliminate them all at once“.
Another fantastic reminder to us when we struggle and fall short of
perfection, It’s OK– we are being changed from the inside out,
little by little. The rest of the verse seems to indicate a danger
when we try to change everything all at once. “You
will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the animals
will multiply around you“.
Don’t get frustrated when you stumble; you are a work in progress.
The
chapter ends with another challenge: “Do
not be afraid… you saw with your own eyes the… miraculous signs
and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm with which the Lord
your God brought you out“.
Most of us came to salvation after seeing God work in the life of a
faithful believer. God uses others to reveal His love to us, but it
is up to us individually to accept salvation. But what a reward to
those that accept Christ! “Once
you were alienated from God and were enemies in your own minds
because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by
Christ’s physical body through death to present you as holy in His
sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
(Colossians 1:21) As hard as it may be for us to believe, God uses
us to give confidence to others to believe! Moses concludes urging
confidence in God, “The
Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God“.
Amen!