Remember the Lord God

Moses, the author of the last book of the Pentateuch, shares his enthusiastic request with the nation of Israel. Do not forget the God who has blessed you and walked you through Egypt and through forty years of wilderness wandering. In verses 1-2, the lawgiver pleads with the Hebrew people to observe all the commandments and teachings they had received. Bruce Oberst writes, “And so it was that in every way they were dependent on God’s direction and help.” In verse 3, Moses reminds Israel God had humbled them and forced them to be dependent on Him for everything from bread to water to sufficient clothing for their journey through the wilderness. Jesus uses the same quotation in His rebuke of Satan in His own wilderness experience when He reminded Satan, “Man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (NKJV throughout).  

Here is a question to ponder: Do we consider the bountiful blessings that come in the form of the temporal as essential to our maturity and development as the blessings that come from dwelling on the riches of God’s Word? In other words, in America we often contribute our wealth and blessings to how much money, education, or power we possess. Yet Moses reminds the nation of Israel the “words of the Lord” make one strong. Moses even reminds the people that while they traveled in the wilderness for forty years, He provided enough supplies to keep shoes on their feet and clothes on their backs. Exodus 12:35-36 says, Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus, they plundered the Egyptians.” Couple that with the bounty they received after defeating the Amalekites and you can see how that would come in handy over the years. Again, we see Moses driving the point home over and over in this chapter to praise God from whom all blessings flow. 

Forgive me if I read too much into this passage, but I see many similarities to how the young vulnerable nation of Israel got on their feet to how the young impressionable colonies got on their feet. Both faced many obstacles yet found much favor from God. I realize some might think the comparison makes me out to be a full-fledged “Nationalist,” but think about this: For about seven or so years after the Promised Land was fully taken over, the nation of Israel was at the top of their game. By that I mean seven nations, thirty-one foreign kings were defeated, and approximately ten thousand square miles of the choicest real estate in the middle east was now in the hands of the Hebrew people (Joshua 21:43-45). Now as we reflect on the bountiful blessings that God has showered upon America, is there any nation on planet earth that has been blessed like we have here in the United States? In the book Re-Birth of America, the author writes: 

God has showered upon America 246 years of blessing. As she acknowledged and obeyed her Creator, God elevated her from infancy to a place of world leadership. He has allowed her to enjoy unprecedented wealth, freedom, and influence. America has led the world in medical and technological advancement. With grateful and humble hearts, Americans once honored the God who granted her blessings and freedoms.  

God pleads with Israel in verse 11, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your Go by not keeping His commandments. His judgments, and His statues which I command you today.” I feel the same point could be made to our nation. Look at verses 12,14,17: 

Lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them … when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage … then you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.” 

God forewarned the people of Israel that pride and self-centeredness would corrupt the land. If they had only realized God was the source of their blessings! When they took their eyes off God and failed to follow His precepts, their fate was sealed. America could learn a lot from the people of Israel. The book, Re-Birth of America, goes on to say: 

Forgetting to acknowledge the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation, her citizens began to congratulate themselves on their own achievements—to celebrate man, while relegating God to the back seat. The god of secular humanism began to infiltrate all her institutions. Wallowing in materialism, self-centeredness and pride, many Americans decided that they really did not need God. Some began to tamper with God’s absolute standards, and to tolerate what they would never have allowed before—in their own lives or in society around them. America once legislated against those things that God said to be wrong. But gradually we begin to tolerate. 

As Israel, over time, begin to absorb more and more of the evil customs and practices of the pagan nations that surrounded them, it would seem we in America have forgotten the God who so richly poured out His blessings on us. We now have found ways to compromise the lives of babies in the womb. We, as a society, have given credence for every form of sexuality. God is mocked. Law and order have become almost extinct in many of our major cities. Government schools have become centers of leftist indoctrination and even the church has watered down the truth. Verse 18 needs to be on the hearts of all believers: “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” It is God who giveth and taketh away! America, “Remember the Lord you God.” My fear is if we do not see a real change in direction, we will collapse as assuredly as did the nation of Israel. 

James C. Book is the Associate Director of the CRA and serves on the board of directors for Advance Center for Ministry Training. He is a former minister with Kissimmee Christian Church, Kissimmee, FL. Contact him at jim@thecra.com.