RPG Adults
GOD’S PROVISION OF SAFETY AND FOOD (2)
LORD’S DAY, NOVEMBER 28
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Matthew 14:13-21
“They need not depart;
give ye them to eat.”
GOD’S PROVISION OF SAFETY AND FOOD (2)
The subsequent history of Israel illustrates what the Lord promised them here. A case in point here is that of Elijah who had to escape from King Ahab after announcing the drought that would come to the land for three and a half years. There would then be no water and food. For a time, Elijah sheltered in Brook Cherith and the Lord commanded ravens to bring him bread and flesh every day. When the brook dried up, the Lord told him to go to Zarephath of Zidon. Here the Lord sustained him in another miracle in the house of a widow. They were provided for until the Lord brought rain (1 Kings 17:2-16).
The greatness of the nation rested on obedience, a point that Moses repeatedly stressed. The Lord promised to establish them as a holy people. This means that they would be a people who worshipped the true God and were blessed with salvation. They were to keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in His ways. The ways of the Canaanites and their worship were an abomination to the Lord because they went after idols and in effect denied God as the Creator. As for Israel, all the people of the earth would recognise the Lord’s presence and fear. This was the testimony of Rahab as Israel was set to capture the first city, Jericho, in the land of Canaan. She testified that the hearts of the inhabitants of the city had melted because of Israel and were greatly fearful (Josh 2:9-11). The blessings are well described in Deuteronomy 28:11: “And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.”
Moses repeated these words because the people needed assurance so that they would go to the land with confidence.
THOUGHT: God’s promises never failed then, and will never fail now.
PRAYER: Father, may I trust Thee at all times, good or bad.