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APOSTACY IN A FOREIGN LAND
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Deuteronomy 28:36-46

2 Kings 17:10-18

 

“For they served idols, whereof
the LORD had said unto them,

Ye shall not do this thing.”

 

APOSTACY IN A FOREIGN LAND
 
The Lord multiplied Israel during the four hundred years in Egypt to prepare them to become a nation. When Moses led them out of Egypt, they were large enough a population for nationhood. The Lord did not make Moses their king. Moses was a spiritual leader, while God led them as their King. In Deuteronomy 28:36-46, Moses predicted that Israel would have a king. The nation and their sovereign would one day be carried to a foreign land, just like how the children of God were in Egypt.
 
In that land there would be no knowledge of God and they would serve the idol gods of wood and stone. This prophecy was fulfilled in 2 Kings 17:5- 6: “Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.” The king of Assyria brought idol worshippers to live in this land, as well as Israel. This idolatry was around since the time of Jeroboam the first king of the divided kingdom. The narrative in 2 Kings continues to reveal how the Lord sent lions that killed those people and this compelled the king of Assyria to ask Israel for a priest who would teach them about the God of Israel. Israel never returned from the Assyrian captivity and the words of Moses were fulfilled.
 
Other calamities that Moses predicted was the invasion of locusts and worms: “Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it. Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them” (Deut 28:38-39). Also, olive trees would cast their fruits before they ripened and the nation would be deprived of their necessary food. Captivity of their sons and daughters was also repeated. In Deuteronomy 28:45, Moses stressed the certainty of his words.
 
THOUGHT: Punitive measures from God are a sign and wonder.

PRAYER: Father, grant Thy people grace to flee idolatry.

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