Aug 31, 2021
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 8:2).
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do Christians suffer?
These are questions that keep coming around. Many good Christians have written extensive books in an effort to answer them. Sometimes these writers offer helpful things, but not enough for us to forget the questions.
Our text gives, not ‘the’ answer, but an answer to such questions. It pertains to the situation of Israel travelling through the wilderness, and thus, ought not to be applied to all situations. However, it is worth our time to consider what Moses says here. It gives us a perspective on responding to the pandemic we have been travelling through.
Recall, Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell speech to Israel before he dies, and the people enter the promised land. As one reads the book, one cannot help but recognize that Moses is deeply troubled about Israel’s future. He is not convinced at all that the people will keep covenant with God. They will not do as he has commanded.
Of course, Moses’ desire is that Israel flourish in the land. It is, after all, a good land with much to offer. But for Israel to prosper, there is one essential quality she needs: humility before her Lord God. This humility has two dimensions to it. The first is that Israel remembers everything that the Lord has done for her. God took her out of Egypt; led her through the waterless and scorpion infested wilderness; God provided food and water and clothing and health on her travels.
The wilderness represents a place where the natural props and supports that people depend on are taken away, so they will turn to God. To some extent, the pandemic has been that kind of wilderness for us. Moses wants Israel to keep remembering this aspect of wilderness life. But also, that in their need, God provided.
This remembering will lead to a second aspect of humility: Israel will worship the Lord and be obedient to him. She will be careful to keep his commandments because she recognizes that these commandments are not punitive but rather life giving. Keeping them will cause her to flourish in the land. Following God’s commands as a means to flourishing is contrasted with self-dependence.
Looking back on the troubles she experienced on the journey, Israel needs to recognize in them the testing of God. This is not a test like in school so that God knows how much Israel has learned. Rather, it is for Israel’s benefit, for her to know how well she trusts this God who has covenanted with her.
This is a way that we can look back at the trials experienced during this pandemic. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow because our heavenly father will take care of us (Matthew 6). That all sounds fine when the sun is shining, but what about when the storm winds are blowing? As we journeyed through these many months has our eagerness to worship God and obey his words increased? If so, then we have benefitted from this time and we can truly say, “it is well with my soul.”
And if not, if we find ourselves rebelling against him, there is still time. As the Bible says, today is the day of salvation. As long as it is ‘today’, God calls us back to himself. He invites us to let go of our methods of self-dependency and to trust in him.
Jesus summed up this whole chapter when he said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).