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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for July 2023
August 1, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:9 – A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
Thought: Most individuals know what it is like to go without. We have had to scrimp in order to get by. We wondered where the next meal would come from. God promised Israel that this would not happen to them if they kept His covenant. They would “eat bread without scarceness” and would “not lack any thing.” Too, the land would produce beneficial products for them. Iron and brass served many purposes. It could also be sold for a profit. The thought was simple: Blessings to the obedient.”
Psalm 37:25
August 2, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:10 – When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
Thought: Appreciation for one’s blessings is something God expects from His people. Blessings make life enjoyable. Blessings make life easier. Blessings make life much more comfortable. Thus, when we are blessed, we should bless the one who provides those blessings. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Thus, we should bow our heads and praise Him and thank Him for all He has done for us. One would think that thanksgiving would be automatic. Sadly, it must be commanded.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
August 3, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:11 – Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his command-ments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day.
Thought: Moses warns Israel about forgetting God’s commandments. There are two ways man can forget. One can forget unintentionally. All of us have done this. We have had an appointment scheduled, but we did not make the appointment. We unintentionally forgot and expressed our deepest regret. The second type of forgetting is intentional in nature. The person simply puts the duty or obligation out of his mind. He intends to disobey. Either way, Moses warns: “Beware!”
Psalm 119:109
August 4, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:12, 13 – Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and has built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied.
Thought: These verses once again remind the children of Israel of the blessings they will experience when they enter the land of Canaan. They would have plenty of food to eat. Their houses would be becoming and valuable. Their flocks and herds would produce abundantly. Silver and gold would be in abundant supply as well. To summarize their prosperity, Moses wrote: “…and all thou hast is multiplied.” It’s wonderful to be blessed, but there are dangers in abundance as Moses will note.
James 1:17
August 5, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:14 – Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Thought: Great wealth has a tendency to cause individuals to have memory loss. The one who is blessed becomes lifted up with pride and forgets God’s redemption. God had fought valiantly in order to obtain Israel’s freedom. He had completely destroyed the nation of Egypt. Israel’s freedom was not obtained because of anything they had done. This should have caused her to be grateful and obedient. But, God knew that fortunes cause forgetfulness. Thus, He warns Israel lest they forget Him.
Jeremiah 2:5-7
August 6, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:15, 16 – Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.
Thought: In the wilderness, God taught the children of Israel about their dependence on Him. The experiences they had were trying and difficult. However, God always provided for them. They were given water out of the rock of flint. They were fed with manna from heaven. God wanted His people to know they were not self-sufficient. They needed God to care for them and to provide for them. This was a difficult lesson for them. It is humbling. It is a lesson needed today, and it is still humbling.
Psalm 78:13-16
August 7, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:17 – And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
Thought: The words in this verse explain why God humbled Israel in the wilderness. For some reason, man believes that he is the one solely responsible for his wealth, his success, his victories, and all of his accomplishments. He fails to realize that he is dependent upon God for all of these things until God shows him just how weak and frail he really is. To say: “My power and the might of mind hand hath gotten me this wealth,” is arrogant. We are only instruments in God’s hands. He does great things!
Daniel 4:30
August 8, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:18 – But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Thought: Instead of forgetting God, Israel was encouraged to remember God. It was God who provided them the power to get wealth. It was God who established His covenant with their forefathers. It was God who selected them to be His people. Sometimes it is good to remember the hand that feeds us. Sometimes it is good to keep in mind who it is that “butters our bread.” This is especially true when that hand is God. His plans, His agenda, and His law are in our best interest.
Psalm 20:7
August 9, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:19 – And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
Thought: God often presents choices to His people that involve only two options: live or perish. Such is the case presented to Israel on this occasion. They could enter the land of Canaan, worship God, and abide in His law and live. Or, they could forget God and His law and worship other gods and perish. Live or perish. One would think that the choice would be simple. No one wants to perish. Everyone wants to live. Yet, Israel and the people of God today still make choices that lead to their destruction.
Matthew 7:13-14
August 10, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:20 – As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.
Thought: These words should have caused Israel to really take note about their need to be faithful to God. They had seen the destruction of their enemies time after time. Not one of the enemy nations was victorious over the Almighty. Not one! “As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish…” The little word “so” means “in like manner.” Is this what Israel wanted? The choice belonged to the Israelites. They could obey and live. Or, they could disobey and perish.
Daniel 9:11-12
August 11, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:1, 2 – Hear O Israel: Thou art to pass over this Jordan this day, to go into possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, a people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard, say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!
Thought: God never kept back the truth from Israel when it came to conquering the land. The seven nations that were there were “greater and mightier” than Israel. Their cities were well fortified having fences that reached up to heaven. The people were “great and tall.” These giants had a reputation of always being victorious. Their enemies were known to say: “Who can stand before the children of Anak!” Were these words spoken to create fear in the hearts of the Israelites? Not hardly, dear reader.
Numbers 13:31-33
August 12, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:3 – Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee.
Thought: God told Israel that they were about to fight against a people greater and mightier than they. Most of the time, this would cause fear in the minds of the ones who are inferior. Not this time. God continues to inform His people that He would go before them “as a consuming fire” to destroy the enemy nations. He would “bring them down,” “drive them out,” and “destroy them quickly.” He had done it to Egypt, to the Amorites, and to Bashan. He could easily destroy the seven nations of Canaan.
Isaiah 41:10-13
August 13, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:4 – Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee.
Thought: When God blesses an individual, it is possible for him to make certain assumptions about himself. He might think that God is blessing him because he is so good. God plainly told Israel that this was not why God cast out the seven nations of Canaan. It had nothing to do with Israel’s goodness. Instead, God was focused on the sinfulness of the nations dwelling in the land. It was their punishment. It was the retribution of a holy God toward people who rejected Him and were in sin.
Leviticus 18:24-25
August 14, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:5 – Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Thought: God assures Israel that they have not inherited the land because of their righteousness. Too, He has not given them the land because of their uprightness of heart. No, the land was given to Israel for two reasons. First, God was going to drive out the present inhabitants because of the iniquity they committed. Second, God was going to give them the land in order to be faithful to the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Note: The “why” was extremely important to Israel’s faithfulness.
Titus 3:4-7
August 15, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:6 – Understand therefore that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
Thought: Moses again affirms that the Lord was not giving Israel Canaan because of their righteous-ness. He then asserts “for thou art a stiffnecked people.” As an agricultural people, they understood the meaning of the word stiffnecked. It applied to an ox who would not give heed to the prodding of his master’s control. He was stubborn and obstinate. He did has he pleased. Israel had manifested these same qualities many times. Stubbornness and obstinance are the opposite of righteousness.
Psalm 78:6-8
August 16, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:7 – Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord.
Thought: Shortly after Israel left Egypt she began to murmur and complain. They were hungry. They were thirsty. They disliked their leader. They should have never left Egypt. God led them in the wilderness so they could die. The blessings in Egypt were better than what the wilderness offered them. Their rebellion against God was constant. There was no gratitude. There was no manifestation of a wonderful hope for Canaan. God wanted them to remember their sin and to forget not.
Exodus 14:10-12
August 17, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:8 – Also in Horeb ye provoked the Lord to wrath, so that the Lord was angry with you to have destroyed you.
Thought: Sometimes it is difficult for individuals to accurately describe their beliefs or feelings. Many people cannot accurately describe a certain pain they are feeling. In like manner, many cannot describe their concept of God. God is a being. He is a person. He has a personality. In some ways, He is like man. Here, we learn that it is possible for man to provoke God to wrath and anger. When Israel came to Mount Sinai in Horeb, their actions triggered God’s anger. We will soon learn why.
Romans 2:5
August 18, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:9 – When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water.
Thought: Because Moses went up into Mount Sinai and received the tables of stone written by the finger of God, he holds the title, “The Law-Giver of Israel.” It is difficult for us to comprehend the experience of Moses while there. He was there forty days and fasted the entire time. These facts help us to comprehend the event. Moses was in the majestic presence of God and witnessed the wonderful power of God. This experience stressed to Moses the seriousness of his leadership position.
Exodus 24:12
August 19, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:10, 11 – And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the Lord spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. And it came to pass at the end of forty days and nights, that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.
Thought: At the foot of Sinai, God initially addressed all of the Israelites. They heard the “Ten Words,” that is, “The Ten Commandments.” They then asked Moses to speak to the Lord for them. When Moses climbed the mountain and entered into the presence of God, the Lord gave him “two tables of stone written with the finger of God.” They contained the Ten Commandments. These were symbolic of the entire law. They would be kept in the ark of the covenant. They were Israel’s law.
Exodus 31:18
August 20, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:12 – And the Lord said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I have commanded them; they have made them a molten image.
Thought: It only took forty days. God spoke to all of Israel while they were gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai. Out of fear they asked Moses to go up into the mount and speak with God for them. He was there forty days. This was all that it took for the children of Israel to reject Jehovah and begin to worship a golden image fashioned for them by Aaron. Truly, they were “quickly turned aside out of the way.” God also said that they “corrupted themselves.” They were marred, spoiled, and rotten.
Exodus 32:7-8
August 21, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:13 – Furthermore the Lord spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiffnecked people.
Thought: We learn two major lessons from this verse. First, the Lord observes His people. There is never a time when His eyes are off of them. He knows their attitudes. He knows their beliefs. He hears their words. He watches their actions. Second, the Lord assesses the things that He sees. When God assessed Israel, He found them to be “a stiffnecked people.” They were stubborn. They were rebellious. They yearned to do their will rather than the will of God. This hurt and angered the Lord.
II Kings 17:13-15
August 22, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:14 – Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
Thought: When Israel made the molten calf, God was angry. His anger was righteous and justified. God said He could do three things on that occasion. First, He could destroy Israel. The power of God could have easily taken the lives of every Israelite. Second, He could blot out their name from under heaven. God could have easily caused all humanity to forget this rebellious people. Third, He could create another nation mightier and greater than Israel. How quickly we forget, God is in control.
Exodus 32:10
August 23, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:15 – So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.
Thought: Moses had been told by God that Israel had corrupted themselves and made a molten image. Now, Moses comes down from Sinai with God’s blessings in his hands into the presence of a rebellious people. That statement is somewhat ironic. God desired to bless His people, but they aligned themselves with a molten calf. God brought them His law while Israel was in the act of violating God’s law. God freed the children of Israel from Egypt, but they were bowing their knees to Egypt’s gods.
Exodus 32:19-20
August 24, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:16 – And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the Lord your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the Lord had commanded you.
Thought: There are several words and phrases in this verse that speak of Israel’s actions: “sinned,” “made you a molten calf,” turned aside,”, and “out of the way.” All of these actions involve Israel’s departure from God. Another word found in the verse is the term “quickly.” Man does not remain loyal to God very long. He quickly turns aside from the Lord’s commands. In the blink of an eye, man turns from God and yields to the lusts of the flesh. With speed, man leaves God to indulge in sin.
Galatians 1:6-7
August 25, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:17 – And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my hands, and broke them before your eyes.
Thought: The Law of Moses was a covenant between God and Israel. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. Each party has obligations to fulfill. If one party violates the terms of the agree-ment, the other party is no longer obligated to his responsibilities in the covenant. The two tables of stone symbolized the Old Covenant. When Israel sinned at Sinai, the covenant was no longer binding upon God. The breaking of the tables symbolized the end of the agreement between God and Israel.
Colossians 2:14
August 26, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:18 – And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
Thought: Some individuals can participate in sin, without having even the sting of conscience to trouble them. There are others who are deeply impacted by sin, filth, and rebellion against God. Moses was one of those individuals. The sins of Israel caused him to fast forty days and forty nights while he fell before the presence of God. He knew God was angered because of the wickedness of the Israelites. Only the righteous, that is, those who are close to God understand the enormity of all sin.
Psalm 106:23
August 27, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:19 – For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you. But the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also.
Thought: There are some things of which men should be deeply afraid. One of them is the anger and hot displeasure of God. God’s wrath can destroy lands, take lives, conquer armies, and devastate nations. It must be remembered that this anger is not evil in nature. To the contrary, it is righteous indignation meted out against wicked and evil individuals. Moses understood God’s anger. Thus, he was afraid. His fear drove him to his knees on Israel’s behalf. And, “the Lord hearkened” unto him.
Exodus 32:10-11
August 28, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:20 – And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.
Thought: Aaron was Moses’ brother. At the foot of Sinai, he failed miserably. He yielded to the people and formed the molten calf worshiped by Israel. As a spiritual leader, he should have opposed the desires of the people. Instead, he caved and was an accomplice to their sin. Because of his involve-ment, “the Lord was very angry with Aaron.” He was so angry that He desired to destroy him. Moses, however, intervened. He offered up an intercessory prayer on Aaron’s behalf and saved his life.
Exodus 32:2-5
August 29, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:21 – And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even unto it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.
Thought: Moses wanted the Israelites to understand the worthless nature of the god they had chosen to serve, the golden calf. Therefore, he destroyed it. He burned it and melted it into fine leaves. These leaves were then ground to a very find power. This golden power was cast into the brook where it would float on the top of the water. Israel was then made to drink the water. Their god would be ingested, digested, and eventually expelled from their bodies. Their god was powerless against Moses.
Exodus 32:20
August 30, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:22 – And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattavah, ye provoked the Lord to wrath.
Thought: The foot of Sinai was not the only place wherein Israel rebelled against God. Moses notes several other places in this verse where Israel murmured and disobeyed God. At Massah, the Israelites complained about a lack of water. At Taberah, the children of God complained also. God’s anger was so ignited that fire went out from the Lord and consumed many in the camp. Kibroth-hattavah means “graves of lust.” It was at this place, Israels lusted over the quails God sent into the camp.
1 Corinthians 10:5-11
August 31, 2023
Deuteronomy 9:23 - Likewise when the Lord sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and ye believed not, nor hearkened to his voice.
Thought: God’s people arrived at Kadesh-barnea about two years after they left Egypt. Much of that two-year period was spent at Mount Sinai while God gave them His law. At Kadesh, they were commanded to enter Canaan and take it for their possession. Instead of obeying God, Israel rebelled. They hearkened unto the voice of the ten spies who brought a negative report of land. Instead of believing God, they believed these fearful men. Forty years of wilderness wandering was the result.
Numbers 14:1-4
Read devotionals for September 2023