I have been reading through the Old Testament lately. It has been incredibly rewarding. The recent readings have been through Deuteronomy – mainly the beginnning. Can I just say, “wow!” It is amazing! I never really had sermons from the OT growing up. Diving into it now is incredible. The NT does not necessarily get all of the characteristics of God like the OT does. The chapters that have been the most intriguing/baffling/awesome are 8-10. I would post them on here, but I am afraid that all my readers (what few I have – lol) would quit reading right about…now. So, if you care to read it (which I encourage you greatly to do), click here.

Chapter 8 will blow you away if you read it really for what it is worth. The main theme is about remembering God. God LET the Israelites hunger so that man would know that he does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. What an incredible statement. You mean to tell me that God is so sovereign that He would let us even hunger? The point is not the well-being of the people; it is the glory of God. Even in this situation, He caused them to turn to Him and He did as a good father does and fed them. He would not let them starve – just hunger for a while so that we know that our dependance was on Him. The second part says that He did it so that we would know that we do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The common man would state, “Well, man NEEDS bread (food) to survive doesn’t he?” My answer – how do you explain Moses’ hike into the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights without food or water? When Moses got back, Moses saw the wickedness of the people and fasted for another 40 days and nights. Yeah, he should have died, but God sustained him. I am not saying that we should tempt God. I am saying that even with the manna, God spoke and it happened. God sustained Moses’ life while in his reliance on God.We come to today’s time. Why should it be any different for us (His chosen people) to rely on God’s words that it was for His chosen people in the OT? I don’t think it should. God provided life (through food) to the Israelites then and yet we “rely” on Him for salvation but forget Him in the rest of our lives. How about we change that and realize that all things are from Him…whether hunger or feasting. They are for us to remember the Lord our God.

This is just one part of the chapters. I am afraid that you would be sleeping if I started talking about the rest. Besides, God’s Word speaks for itself – it is us that have dull vision. The Word is radient! So, read the rest for yourself, and let God show you wonders of His Word.

jblaha