A theme that continues to present itself as Moses speaks to this second generation of freed slaves about to enter the promised land is to REMEMBER. The inverse obviously is not to forget. The importance of looking back, considering the Lord in the present, and remembering that He will still work cannot be overstated. For the Israelites of old, this was particularly important, because their intimacy with God (right standing of a sinful person before a holy God) was at stake. As they obeyed, i.e. remembered the Law and applied it to their lives, they would be blessed (materially, financially, agriculturally, and on and on). And so, Moses’ words should not ring hollow.
Why?
For many reasons, but most importantly if his words would not be heeded, they would force the hand of their God.
Thus, the warning below:
“It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 8:19-20
In so many words, the warning to these people is that God would look at and deal with them as He dealt with the sinful pagan nations around them. Thus, remembering God’s covenant with them through His Law would both maintain intimacy and prevent judgment.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Moses had to keep reminding the Israelites of old to remember, because the natural inclination of all humans is to forget…
- What may seem like needless repetition and pointless redundancy is actually critical to every human. The reason is, we are all so apt to forget. The Israelites forget, were judged like the nations, and so would we have been (and are still today). In other words, because we all have an inclination to evil (consider your thoughts just this morning), we are therefore inclined to forgetting. Thus, the consistent drum beat to not forget is appropriate–even if it seems over emphasized.
- The consequences for forgetting are not trivial, but catastrophic…
- To remember is to continue in right standing with God, but to forget is to face God’s judgment. The problem we all face, as did the Israelites of old is that (as has been previously mentioned) they forget and so do we. The result is judgment. Not just some trivial slap on the hand or a wink from the eye of kind and soft grandfather, but the response of a perfectly consistent to His character God. In other words, God must respond in judgment otherwise He would not be the perfect and holy God the Bible proclaims Him to be. Moreover, He would not be just, and would take on the reputation of every other pagan deity–fickle, unsteady, and dubious.
- Because God is not changing, but rather the great I AM, then He must act swiftly, violently, and consistently.
- God’s voice continues to echo today…
- If we were to stop at point 2, then there would be no hope. But thanks be to God, He did act swiftly, violently, and consistently. He did respond to our forgetfulness, and the forgetfulness of His people from the beginning of time. His response was to send His Son to live the life we couldn’t live (Christ never forgot), to face the judgment reserved for every forgetful human by dying the death we wouldn’t die (He sacrificed His life for ours), and was raised from the grave (conquering death and sin–the reason why we forget), so that we would be able to hear His voice leading to our salvation.
- In other words, because Christ lived, died, and was raised, so that humanity could enter into a right relationship with God despite their forgetfulness.
- God poured out His judgment on Christ so that we wouldn’t have to face His judgment eternally.
- Do you believe this? Transfer your trust from yourself to Him…even in the face of your forgetfulness. He stands ready to welcome you home, and to make you one with Him.
And so, by grace through faith in Christ you are no longer a slave…don’t forget! Take a listen to this song below:
— October 12, 2018