By Rev. J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv.
Deuteronomy 8:1-20 (1-2) NKJV
“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”
Moses wrote his farewell book, Deuteronomy, to remind the children of Israel of their willful disobedience to the Lord, His faithfulness to them as they wandered through the wilderness for 40 years, and the Lord’s expectation of them when they moved forward to enter The Promised Land. In our text, they are instructed to observe every commandment and command the Lord gave them so that they could multiply and prosper. Moses tells them to think back to their best and their worst times in the wilderness and recognize that the Lord was testing them. It was the Lord who gave them the ability to be victorious and the one who carried them through the difficult times.
In life, we face many challenges and obstacles. They can be psychological, physical or spiritual, but they all present opportunities for great triumphs and devestating failures. Like the Israelites, the Lord wants us to think back over our lives and recognize that all of our experiences were designed to humble and to test us also. But whether we are victorious or not, when we think back, we will see that it is not because of our power, our strength, or our might that has determined the outcome. Verse 18 sums it all up; “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
So, whether we are about to bask in the glory of our successes, wallow in self-pity, or face a new and challenging obstacle, the Lord invites us to think back and remember where we come from. He has empowered us for every victory and sustained us through every defeat. He hasn’t bought us a mighty long way, He bought us all of the way!
To move forward, look back!
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio, Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen here or by phone at 626-226-1448. Be sure to friend “Matters of Faith” on Facebook and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. You can also use the email or call (718) 328-8096 to order Matters of Faith: The Book.
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