Deuteronomy 7
Today’s reading begins with Moses reminding the Israelites that they are to devote the nations that God gives into their hands to complete destruction, showing them no mercy at all. Intermarrying with the enemy was forbidden, and all altars dedicated to foreign gods were to be burned with fire (vv. 1-5). Then Moses encourages the hearts of those hearing his message with the following statement: “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth…it is because the LORD loves you…” (vv. 6, 8; emphasis added).
Friend, can I remind you again how much God cares for you? Think for a moment about an individual for whom you hold great affection. You assuredly want to know all you can about that person, including their innermost thoughts. Well, did you know God knows every detail of your life before you were even born (Psalm 139:16)? He also knows your most private feelings and emotions (Psalm 139:2). Although that may seem a bit scary, you must know that He loves you anyway. He loves you like He loves His Son, Jesus (John 17:23). In fact, He loves you so much He was willing to sacrifice His Son so that you could be called His child (John 3:16). You have been chosen by the Creator of the universe to be His treasured possession…what a thought to meditate on!!
Following a section emphasizing blessings on the faithful (vv. 12-16), Moses proactively reorients any faulty thinking regarding the intimidating foes that Israel was to encounter onto the One who is greater than any enemy. Therefore (and this is a message we need to hear as well), “You shall not be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God” (v. 21). Oh, how the fear of man crumbles when we fix our eyes on He who is in us!
How will God grant His people victory? Most certainly not how they would have drawn up a strategy. Read the following:
Moreover, the LORD your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. You shall not be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you. But the LORD your God will give them over to you andthrow them into great confusion, until they are destroyed (vv. 20-23; emphasis added).
Victory was assured because God was leading the effort, but the people had to recognize that God’s way of handling these looming crises would very likely vary from their own battle plans. I mean, who would opt to drive out the inhabitants at a snail’s pace instead of wiping them out in one fell swoop? God declares, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, …For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Do you need to come to that realization today?
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Journal responses to the following prompts:
· Have you embraced the fact that God’s love for you is like the love He has for His Son? Do you consider yourself to be part of His chosen, treasured possession?
· How have you seen that God’s way of handling crises in your life often varies from your own methods?