Nov 25, 2021
Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past (Deuteronomy 32:7).
This will be my last devotion on Deuteronomy. There are a few chapters left, but next Monday, here on Wilderness Wanderings, we will begin an Advent series called, “Rejoice! the Lord has Come!” So, let’s finish with Moses’ farewell song to Israel, focussing on verse 7.
Highschool history class may not be every one’s cup of tea. Yet, history has much to teach us about life in the present. It is important for God’s people to know their history.
Four times in Deuteronomy Moses tells Israel to remember that once they were slaves (5:15; 16:12; 24:18; 24:22). Like many of us, they had selective memories and Moses knew it would be easy to forget where they came from. Israel was probably tempted to forget their shameful past. It was easier to turn their heads and ignore who they were. But remembering would teach Israel who they were.
Equally important, God’s people needed to know their history to know their God. Deuteronomy 5:15 says, "And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm."
Of course, telling this story makes for a great history lesson; Moses, the shepherd confronts Pharoah of Egypt; there are plagues; a nighttime escape, Israel caught between the roaring army and the roaring water. Hardly boring stuff. And of course, some one is going to ask, “how did they manage?” And then the storyteller gets to talk about Israel’s God, strong and mighty.
So, what are some of the lessons Israel was meant to learn?
First, they had no power of their own to free themselves from Egypt. They were caught in Egypt like a rat in a trap. Egypt was attempting to destroy Israel. And Israel was helpless to do anything about is.
Second, she was rescued. God had rescued her. God was great, strong, and mighty. Without God, Israel would be nothing, still enslaved in Egypt or already destroyed. God had heard her call for help and rescued her.
Like Moses, Jesus calls us to know our history. That is why he commanded us to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. By establishing this meal on the night of the Passover, Jesus caused Israel’s deliverance from Egypt to colour our understanding of our own deliverance from sin and evil. The parallels are quite clear in Colossians 2, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins…And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (cf. 13-15).
Why do we need to remember this? First, like Israel, we need to know our God and knowing him to continue worshipping him and him alone. The whole point of Deuteronomy is the fear that Israel will find other gods to worship. As we approach Advent, this is something to consider: which God of Advent will we worship? I think there are several choices.
Second, like Israel, we need to remember who we are. We are people who were helpless to redeem ourselves, but God has redeemed us. Like Israel, we are must never treat people like Egypt treated Israel. We must treat others like God treats us!