SUNDAY January 22, 2017
Given Fair Warning
Then the Lordwill scatter you among all peoples… and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone. And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the Lordwill give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. - Deuteronomy 28:64-65
Moses was a prophet to the people of God; heled the Children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt towards the Promised Land. But because of Israel’s disobedience and lack of faith, a journey of a few weeks turned into forty years of wandering in a great and dreadful wilderness. After that time, another opportunity came to enter the Promised Land. Joshua was chosen to be the new leader of the people (Deuteronomy 34:9-10).
God did not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land but he was given the liberty to look at the land from a distance (Deuteronomy 34:1-4). Moses, before his death, warned Israel, not to fail to observe the law or fear God’s name. Otherwise the Lord would scatter them among the other nations. In a foreign land, they would find themselves spiritually destitute, trapped in servitude to false gods of idolatry. Israel would be without a place to call their own, physically weakened and in emotional anguish.
After Joshua’s leadership ended, Israel was led by judges, then came the period of the kings. God spoke to these kings and Israel through the prophets. The Lord in His kindness, continued to give fair warning to His people through the prophets, before chastening them. They had enough time to repent. In Exodus 34:6 God declared His character:
…the LordGod, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.
Are you testing God’s patience by continuing in a life of sin?
God's love for sinners is very wonderful, but God's patience with ill-natured saints is a deeper mystery.
~Henry Drummond~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!