Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 8
Helpful thoughts:
- Israel had been tested in the wilderness. In their times of need, they were to trust and obey the Lord, learning that they didn’t “live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
- Now, they were going to be tested in the Promised Land. Instead of a testing of want and lack, they would be tested by abundance. Moses’ warning or concern for Israel was that they would forget their need for the words of God once they had the bread the longed for.
- Jesus quoted this verse (Verse 3) when being tempted (tested) by Satan in Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4.
- When Israel had little, they could turn to the Lord for help in time of need. When Israel had much, they could turn to the Lord in praise for His abundant provision. At all times, Israel was to enjoy their relationship with God and His revelation of Himself to them. He was their God and they were His people. This covenant relationship was always a better gift than all the bread, copper, sunshine, rain, money or anything else the people may have wanted.
Questions to consider:
- In what ways does man live by bread? In what ways does man live by the words of God? In what way is it right to separate the physical from the spiritual? Why is it right to never separate the physical from the spiritual? From where does every good and perfect gift come (James 1:17)?
- For what needs are you currently praying? For what abundance could you be currently praising the Lord? How can both aspects of life be used as tests of our love for Christ? How do these tests reveal how highly we value our relationship with the Lord?
- How can recounting the gospel (preaching the gospel to ourselves) help us to maintain a high appraisal of our standing in the family of God? How blessed are we? How does this perspective help us to pray better and enjoy life more richly in times of plenty and times of greater want?