Lest You Forget

Deuteronomy 8:11-20
Before entering the Promised Land,God gives his people a caution.  He warns them of the tendencies of their own hearts,the deceptive practices within that they are unaware of.  God is about to fulfill his promise to Abraham and lead his people into the inheritance, into prosperity and ease of life.  They will inhabit houses they did not build, eat food they did not work for or plant, enjoy the fruits of the land they did not cultivate or strive over (Deut. 6:10-12).  They will be blessed beyond measure and then temptation will come quickly, in the very same forms that make up the blessings.  Their blessings will turn to curses and what they have enjoyed as an inheritance will become their very downfall.  God's gift of prosperity will consume and overcome them, and what they have looked forward to and longed for will prove fatal.  They have received what they have sought for and will pay the price, as will their children and grandchildren.  Why this turnabout?  Because as things begin to grow easy, God is forgotten (Deut. 8:12-14).  There is no longer a need for his provision or his leading, they have all they want and need, why consult God?  We are hungry, then let us go pluck from the garden and eat.  We are thirsty.  Then let us go to our cisterns and drink.  We are cold, hot, tired, soaked, then let us find shelter in the houses we possess.  What does God offer them any longer?  They have not intentionally forsaken him or ignored him or rejected him, they have simply forgotten.  And as they lose sight of God, an even more terrible lie creeps in: the thought that they have provided all this (8:17).  And following that will then be the lie that not only have they provided this, but that God has helped them because of their righteousness (9:4-6).  They feel that due to their righteousness God has rewarded their self-efforts.  This is so dangerous because not only have they strayed and forgotten God, but now they have forgotten the truth about themselves (9:7).  Have we not done the same?  We thank God for his provision and credit him with all that we have, just as these people did, but in our hearts we credit and applaud ourselves for our own righteousness and all that we have earned, just as they did.  Our lives have grown easy and we have forgotten that we are a stubborn and rebellious people.  God has not rewarded our righteous efforts, but overlooked our rebellion.  It is his for name's sake that he has done this (Ezekiel 20:40-45; Isaiah 48:9), not because of what is due us.  Proof?  Where do the first-fruits of your time, energy and money go?  Where does your abundance go?  Where does your free-time go?  Have we not forgotten?  David wrote that he did not trust in his sword or horses or army for victory but in the Lord (Psalm 33:16-17).  We would "amen" this all day and yet look at what we rely on and turn to for victory: politicians, pastors, money, knowledge, technology, self-discipline and resolve, etc.  We are warned to take care, lest our hearts, not our lips or head-knowledge, be deceived and turn to other sources of provision (11:16).  Examine your heart, not your head or speech.  Perhaps we have not outright rejected him or intentionally turned from him, but have we forgotten?  Has our ease and abundance proved fatal to us as well?  Have our hearts also been deceived?  If we would but turn and repent he will restore.  God grant us eyes to see through our deception.