The Bible allows us to see the history of God and his salvation through the eyes of those who witnessed firsthand the great events of the past. The Old Testament is our foundation for knowing God. The ancients never saw anything like the coming of the only begotten Son, but they saw things we need to see today.
Moses said to the people of Israel at the end of their 40 years in the wilderness:
“And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm” Deuteronomy 11.2 ESV.
No matter how much we see God’s greatness in creation, nothing compares to the manifestation of his greatness in his acts of justice, judgment, and redemption. Through these, we can understand God’s intentions for us. We perceive the patience of Yahweh with human weaknesses. And we feel the weight of sin when the Most Holy destroys enemies and rebels, Deuteronomy 11.3-7.
Moses held the Israelites accountable for what they had witnessed. They were to be motivated to obey God’s commandments. In the first verse, Moses commands them to love God. It is not a paradox that God’s greatness should inspire love.
But what about the children who did not witness these great acts of God? Where did they stand in God’s plan? Did they miss out on the blessing of their parents’ experiences?
The children were well-positioned. They would hear from their parents about the past events. They would be taught about God’s greatness and his salvation. And the story was not over yet. They were on the verge of receiving Yahweh’s promise. They would participate in the conquest of the land of Canaan. They would see other wonders performed by the hand of the Lord. They would still experience the care of the one true God as they were led by the Shepherd of Israel.
The people were at a moment of transition. Moses would soon die, Joshua would assume leadership of the nation, their wanderings in the wilderness were over, and they would now fight against pagan peoples. This new stage still required faith—a tested faith, a faith that gladly faces new challenges.
What does this ancient text indicate to us?
1- We must consider and think deeply about the greatness of God. Our troubled world would leave us distressed if not for the God who controls everything according to his will. We have the advantage of having far more history than the Israelites at the edge of the Jordan River. We have Jesus, who showed us divine glory as never seen before, John 1.14, 18.
2- Our responsibility is great, perhaps even greater than that of the people who lived before Christ. We have more history to consider. Read the book of Hebrews for perspective: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” Hebrews 2:3.
3- We must teach our children about the greatness of God. His love is paramount, and we need to explain him in detail, as the hymn says: “The Lord is great! Hallelujah!” We are no longer a people defined by the flesh, but by the decision and determination of each individual. We want everyone, especially our children, to be disciples of Christ. It is the greatest gift we can give them: the knowledge of God’s greatness.
4- The story of salvation is not yet finished. Jesus came and will come again. We live after the events of the Cross but before the end of all earthly things. Join this story. Be part of this journey of faith. Unite with the chosen people, for Christ invites and calls.
5- Like the Israelites in that moment of transition, we stand at a crossroads. Will we do all of God’s will, or will we pick and choose the parts we like best? Will our obedience be constant and complete? See Deuteronomy 11.1, 26-32. We need faith—not just any faith, but a robust, complete faith that believes, trusts, and knows the facts and deeds of God.
You and I are also at the edge of the river. Will we enter the promised land? Will we do what is necessary to receive the inheritance reserved in Heaven? Will we abandon the idolatry of this world to serve and love the great God who revealed himself in the past and, definitively, in the death of his Son?
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