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A CALL TO ISRAEL TO REMAIN FAITHFUL
MONDAY, AUGUST 16
Deuteronomy 6:16-25

Psalm 24:1-6

 

“This is the generation
of them that seek him,

that seek thy face…”

 

A CALL TO ISRAEL TO REMAIN FAITHFUL
 
Moses assured Israel that God was faithful and that He would fulfil what He had promised them. This assurance should stir their heart to follow the Lord. Moses reminded them of God’s deliverance from Egypt so that they might teach it to their children.
 
Israel was told not to tempt the Lord their God. They were to recognise that God is all powerful and is able to do all things. Moses recalled the incident in the wilderness at Massah as recorded in Exodus 17:2-7. They had chided Moses and told him to give them water. Then Moses protested and told them not to tempt the Lord. In other words, the murmuring of Israel against Moses was actually against God. They were almost at the point of stoning Moses. He cried to the Lord and asked what he should do to them. God is the Creator and there is nothing that He cannot do. He told Moses to take with him the elders of Israel and go to the people. He was also told to take with him the rod that he had used in Egypt to smite the sea. God told him to smite the rock with it and water would come out of it and the people and their animals would have water to drink.
 
Moses did as he was commanded in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah meaning proving and chiding. Israel knew that the Lord was able to do all those things, but they were impatient and insisted on their demands. Moses used that earlier experience to warn them not to repeat that old error. God forbids man to tempt Him. When the devil tempted Jesus, He quoted the same command that forbids tempting the Lord (Matt 4:7).
 
Moses told Israel to keep the commandments of the Lord diligently.
 
THOUGHT: Faithfulness is the key to conformity with God’s will.

PRAYER: Father, may I ever strive to be faithful to Thee.

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