No, it sure doesn't look like God is into compromising. He gives us an ultimatum of either life or death, blessings or curses. Deuteronomy 28's first 14 verses describe the incredible blessings for those who obey Him while the remaining 54 verses describe the curses for those who don't. And the difference between blessings and curses are on opposite extremes.
We don't like black and white extremes today. We like compromises and take pride in creating win-win situations. Conventional wisdom tells us it's all about making both sides happy. But God isn't happy when we choose to disobey him; there is no half-way obedience with Him.
The fact is, as black and white as God may seem, He has been incredibly patient with His people. His warnings are stern but notice that His punishments typically are slow to come. For example, the Assyrian overthrow of Israel was essentially the fullest curse outlined in Deuteronomy, but only occurred in 721 B.C., over 500 years after the events of Deuteronomy and after centuries of Israelite moral failures.
Can God be blamed for the cruel misfortune of His people after He had given them ample opportunity to change their course time and time again?
Can we blame God for the existence of Hell when we have been given ample opportunity to avoid it?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Where is your Egypt?
Listen to Moses' words to the Israelites just before they finally entered the promised land (Canaan).
"The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." Deuteronomy 11:10-12
Egypt was a known entity to them. While they were ruled by cruel masters, they were nevertheless able to depend on the Nile River to provide steady, dependable, regular water for the crops they needed to produce. In contrast, the land God promised them was full of unknowns. And here Moses tells them that Canaan will not be like Egypt with its river. They will need to depend on the Lord to bring rain; it will require faith and trust in Him.
It is obvious that whether on the way to the promised land or living in the promised land, God wants His people to rely on Him. There is no way around this simple requirement. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God.
If our lives do not require us to rely on God right now we're probably living in Egypt. Apparently, the 'promised land' is not a place where we 'live happily ever after' or 'have not a care in the world'. It is a place where we absolutely rely upon Him.
"The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." Deuteronomy 11:10-12
Egypt was a known entity to them. While they were ruled by cruel masters, they were nevertheless able to depend on the Nile River to provide steady, dependable, regular water for the crops they needed to produce. In contrast, the land God promised them was full of unknowns. And here Moses tells them that Canaan will not be like Egypt with its river. They will need to depend on the Lord to bring rain; it will require faith and trust in Him.
It is obvious that whether on the way to the promised land or living in the promised land, God wants His people to rely on Him. There is no way around this simple requirement. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God.
If our lives do not require us to rely on God right now we're probably living in Egypt. Apparently, the 'promised land' is not a place where we 'live happily ever after' or 'have not a care in the world'. It is a place where we absolutely rely upon Him.
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