S) "2 Know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of the Lord your God—His greatness, His mighty hand and His outstretched arm,"
Deuteronomy 11:2 (NASB)
O) Moses was about to lay out a chapter full of blessings that God has in store for His obedient children. Moses did not leave any room to claim ignorance about te ways of God. This generation saw the power of the LORD at work firsthand. They knew His standard, His holiness, and His wrath. God was not trying to trick anyone. He was, and has always been, the one to reach out to His children first. He desired relationship and made the way. He put it all out on the table, defining all of the terms. While Moses does eventually get to the curses for disobedienc, this chapter is still about God's blessings. So, this warning is also a matter of remembering God's grace, love, and mercy. There would be many imposters who would come to deceive and mislead Israel, but Moses is warning them not to be fooled. They have seen the goodness of their Lord, and should not be fooled by counterfeits.
A) Ignorance is not an excuse in God's eyes. I cannot live my life under self-deluding lies about God's standard, holiness, or wrath. Not only should I be careful to protect my reverence toward my Maker, I also need to remember His goodness. There are a lot of supposed answers that the world wants to feed me, to rob God of His glory. There are many shiny things to be found and had, that would usurp His place on the throne of my heart. But, not only is the Bible clear about God's rightful place as the most desirable heart-treasure, I have also seen the goodness of God firsthand. I am without excuse.
P) Father, it is a humbling gift of grace to know Your blessings firsthand. You have been so good to me, that I cannot rightly express sufficient thanks. Please forgive my ungrateful heart. Be glorified, Lord. Be magnified and let me sing Your praises for the mighty works You have done for me, God. Help me to reflect often, on both the truth of Your Word and Your power in my testimony. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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