As we read today's chapters, we begin to get an "inside" look at the subjects of salvation and the Christian lifestyle. As Moses begins chapter 7, he offers the people of Israel some very valuable lessons about God and how to please Him.For example: In chapter 7, we learn:
1) What God promises, He delivers! God promised Israel's ancestor, Abraham, that he would give his descendants the land of Canaan (or what we call the Promised Land). Today, in 7;1, Moses reminds Israel of that promise and explains to them just how God's going to fulfill His promise to them - "he will clear away many nations ahead of you" who are "greater and more numerous than you." Hey listen...what God promises He keeps! If He has called you to something, even though it may seem to be an impossible task to accomplish, He will clear the way somehow!
2) God doesn't what us to be "immersed" with non-believers! In 7:2-6, Moses warns Israel of God's command to avoid dwelling in the land of these unbelievers and having an intimate relationship with them. In fact, He demands that they "drive them out!" God's reason for this is found in verses 4 and 6 and is threefold:
- "for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods."
- "the Lord's anger will burn against you and he will quickly destroy YOU."
- "you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God."
Listen, God is a jealous God when it comes to protecting His own children! He knows very well that we end up becoming like those we hang around with! He knew that these pagan Canaanites would weaken the Israelites spiritually and eventually turn their hearts toward other gods and ultimately away from the Lord - which eventually happened later on into the Old Testament! Therefore, that's why God sternly warned them that when they were to go into the land to conquer it, if the inhabitants didn't voluntarily leave on their own cognizance, then the Israelite army was to do these 6 incredible things:
- Complety destroy them!
- Make no treaties with them!
- Show them no mercy!
- Don't intermarry with them!
- Break down their pagan altars!
- Destroy any and every idol!
2) Salvation is NOT based on anything we've done to deserve it! In Chapter 7:7, Moses explains the purpose of Israel's salvation and relationship with the Lord. Notice that it had NOTHING to do with what Israel did to deserve God's affection! Moses explains, "The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you..." In fact, later in Chapter 9:4, Moses warns them from saying, "don't say in your hearts, 'The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people.' No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way." God wanted Israel to know that only by His GRACE did Israel receive this incredible opportunity to know and experience God and His power! And, that it's only through FAITH in Him that will sustain them!
It's the same way for all of us who are believers in Jesus Christ today! God saves us by His GRACE and through putting our FAITH in Him! Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." God saves us strictly out of His infinite and unconditional love, and out of His promise to the world a long time ago! God didn't save us from our sins because we deserve it, we didn't deserve it! The truth is, God "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should NOT perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)." God gave His Son, Jesus Christ, as an outpouring of His love on His creation! We did NOT do anything to deserve his gift of eternal life. It is only when we recognize that fact and turn from our sin and to God that God gives us the gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus!
3) God's blesses those who trust and obey Him! In Chapter 7:12-15, God promises 7 incredible blessings for those who are obedient to Him. Listen to what He says:
- I'll keep my promises to you!
- I will love you!
- I will bless you!
- I'll make you productive in all you do!
- You'll be blessed above all other nations!
- I'll make your women fertile with children!
- I'll protect you from all diseases!
Wow! That sounds like a good deal to me, doesn't it you? And, do you know what? These promises are just as good today for us as it was for the Israelites way back then! God hasn't changed! He's immutable! What He felt then, He feels today. His promises to bless Israel are yours too... if you'll simply trust and obey!
4) Desert experiences teach us humility and proves our character! Have you ever had a "desert experience?" I have! They can strip you of all your confidence. In Chapter 8:2-3, Moses reminds Israel of the purpose of the desert experience, "Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove our character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, He humbled you by letting you go hungry...he did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." God is always in the business of growing up His children. At times, He will take us through our own desert experience so that we will learn that He is everything - our source and our provider! He will use those experiences to humble us to the point that we must rely on Him.
Here's some advice! Learn to rely on Him NOW! If not, you might find yourself in the desert for a while!
Attend a bible-teaching church and enjoy the Lord's day!
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