Our Temptation to Forget  (Deuteronomy 8)                                              2009.11.01                                 Pastor Edward Cheng 

We’ve been learning over and over again how beautiful it is that the Lord remembers us – that He remembers us in our calamity, that He acts on our behalf, that He remembers the promises He’s made to us, and that He does not remember the sins we’ve committed against Him.  What more could we possibly ask for in this relationship with Him, a relationship that is completely undeserved?

This morning we want to continue looking at our theme of “remembering” (remember, Zachary?), but this time from the angle of our response to Him in light of all these things.  Interestingly, just as He remembers us, our response to all this is for us to remember Him as well.

We look to Deuteronomy 8, a chapter in which Moses is preparing the second generation of Israelites who escaped captivity in Egypt to enter the Promised Land.  The first generation failed in their attempt at entering the land because of their lack of faith.  As a result, they were led through the wilderness for another 40 years at which time all of the adults of the previous generation died.  With a new group of leaders, Israel was once again poised to take possession of the land promised to their forefathers centuries ago.  In this chapter, Moses warns them against forgetting the Lord when they enter that land.

As we read Deuteronomy 8, Moses tells them that one of the reasons they will be tempted to forget about the Lord while in the Promised Land is because of the contrast between where they have been (how difficult it was through the desert) and where they will go (how abundant the Promised Land will be).  We see through the description of the harshness of the desert (the hunger and strange, unappealing food) in vv. 2-3 compared with how plentiful things will be in the Promised Land (abundance of water, abundance of produce/crops and precious metals) that these sudden changes will tempt them to forget about the Lord and instead focus on the material things ahead.  We also see through the repetition of the words, “eat and be satisfied” (vv. 10, 12), that this satisfaction can have two possible effects.  On the one hand it may lead to them praising the Lord, which is the proper attitude (v. 10).  However, if they’re not careful and watchful of their own emotions, once satisfied they may also respond negatively by becoming proud and thinking that they have achieved the abundance on their own (vv. 12-14).  The warning from Moses, then, is to keep watch of themselves so that they don’t neglect the worship of God and the giving of thanks when they come into that abundance. 

Like the Israelites, we also look toward a “Promised Land.”  For us, though, that Promised Land can take on many shapes and sizes.  It might be something monetary that we are seeking after; it might be occupational, perhaps a job that we’re seeking after; it might be a relationship that we desire.  In each of these cases the same warning applies as we lift up to the Lord our desires and needs.  Like the Israelites, we may find ourselves also at the cusp of a major change.  And like them, we are encouraged not to forget about the Lord once we get there.  The temptation for them is the same for us, that once we arrive at the “Promised Land” and receive from His hand what is on our hearts we may forget that it was the Lord that provided for us those good things and instead think that they were obtained by the work of our own hands.  We are encouraged to remember Him in the midst of that wonderful “land.”

        Like the Israelites, we are also encouraged to think through just how God has provided for us.  He reminds them in v. 2 (and following) that He brought them through the desert and provided for them the entire time.  His hand of provision gave them sustenance, some of which was obvious to them and some of which was unknown to them.  They knew He provided food each morning and water when they needed.  However, His provision also extended to areas they probably didn’t recognize (clothes not wearing out and feet not swelling).  Did it occur to them that God was protecting their clothes and their feet?  Probably not.  In the same way, God provides for us as well in obvious and subtle ways.  We can take comfort in knowing that there are certain ways the Lord takes care of us that we certainly are unaware of.

        As we find ourselves on the cusp of the Promised Land, like the Israelites we are encouraged to remain faithful to the Lord prior to entering.  We should be aware that when our needs are met and we are satisfied we will be tempted to forget about Him.  We would do well to give thanks to the Lord for the obvious and the subtle things He does for us.  And by doing all of these things, we remember Him just as He always remembers us.