Would you read Deut 7-9 with me? It should take less than 10 minutes to read these three chapters. Then, let us reflect on some major points.
Because God would send Jesus into the world and some nation needed to stay monotheistic, then Israel was commanded to destroy the seven nations that inhabited the Promised Land (7:1-2). One nation, Israel, needed to believe in only one true God so they would accept Jesus as the only, unique Son of the Living God (John 3:16). Israel was not to intermarry with the pagans; their hearts would be led away from God (7:3-4). Israel was to live a unique lifestyle because they were holy, chosen by God for His own possession (7:6).
They were not chosen because they were numerous but because of God’s love (7:7-8). Yet, God’s nature has two sides to it (7:9-10). Israel must obey God’s commands (7:11). If they do, then God would love them, bless them, and make them multiply in the land (7:13-15). They ought not to fear the pagan peoples of the land (7:17) because God would go before them as “the hornet” (7:21) and drive them out. Israel just needs to absolutely stay away from idolatry (7:26).
Israel must obey God’s commands if they wanted to live in the land and multiply (8:1). They should remember the forty years in the wilderness when God humbled them and tested them (8:2). The manna given them was to show Israel that they could not live just by bread; they had to live by the word of God (8:3). During those forty years, neither their clothes nor shoes wore out (8:4) – a testimony to God’s care for them.
When Israel enters the land, they will find provisions for them already (8:7-10). But in their prosperity, they must not forget God. They should not believe that they made themselves wealthy (8:17). It was God who made them wealthy (8:18).
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Consequently, Israel cannot forget the Lord God who brought them out of Egypt (9:7). In the midst of prosperity, it is tempting to forget God, to think that we pulled ourselves up by our own bootstraps. But that is dangerous thinking. Beginning at verse 8, Moses reviews the events at Mount Sinai and the sin of the golden calf which Israel compelled Aaron to make for them. They nearly brought destruction on their own nation and Aaron as well, except Moses interceded from them.
As Israel begins to invade the Promised Land, they should be reminded that they have had a hard time staying faithful to God. In fact, in 9:24, Moses tells them they have been “rebellious” since the day he met them!
We must depend on God and stay faithful to His word or we will suffer the same consequences as Israel did in the days of old.
Paul Holland
