READING: Deuteronomy 3:21-5:33
- “Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great and mighty deeds as you do?” (Deut 3:24)
- “For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him? And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?” (Deut 4:7-8)
- “Now search all of history, from the time God created people on the earth until now, and search from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything as great as this ever been seen or heard before? Has any nation ever heard the voice of God speaking from fire—as you did—and survived?Has any other god dared to take a nation for himself out of another nation by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, a strong hand, a powerful arm, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the Lord your God did for you in Egypt, right before your eyes.” (Deut 4:32-34)
- “He showed you these things so you would know that the Lord is God and there is no other. He let you hear his voice from heaven so he could instruct you. He let you see his great fire here on earth so he could speak to you from it. Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants, and he personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power.He drove out nations far greater than you, so he could bring you in and give you their land as your special possession, as it is today.” (Deut 4:35-38)
Search all of history, and you will find there is only one God—transcendent but personal, holy yet forgiving, sovereign but gracious, terrifying but loving, judge who is also Redeemer. He shakes the mountains He created and writes on rock He formed. He loves His people and cares for them so the nations might know His name and see His glory.
Still, Moses warned the people multiple times that they must not forget God’s mighty acts and instead chase after idols; rather, they must remember what He had done (Deut 4:9-10, 20, 39). How striking it is to me that it’s possible to experience the power and the glory of God in magnificent ways, yet still be drawn into forgetfulness by the lure of idolatry. May God help us to remember well on this Lord’s Day; after all, there is no other like Him.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you ever tend to forget all that God has done for you?
TODAY’S PRAYER: “Father, give me a heart that clings to You and a memory that forgets You not.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Deuteronomy 6:1-9:29