Wilderness Miracles Deuteronomy 8

Deuteronomy 8:4 "Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell these forty years."

Moses again uses the phrase 'observe to do' and expresses the necessity to follow the Lord's commands. He reminds the children of Israel of the miracles done in the wilderness: the raiment that did not wear out, their feet not swelling, the rock they drank from and how they were protected.

He also gave an explanation of why they had to endure the wilderness. We know that they were turned to the wilderness after they rebelled and would not go in to possess the land immediately after they left Egypt. Since they were in the wilderness they were taught some things.

The Bible says it best: v2 "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.

There is a verse here that Jesus referred to when the devil was trying to tempt him. v3 "...that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live."

Luke 4:4 "And Jesus answered him saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Also Matthew 4:4

Moses recaps the wilderness and how the Lord was with them and cared for them. Then he looks forward to the blessings of Canaan and the danger of loosing those blessings if the people turned from God.

What about the land:
-v7 it is a good land
a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills
(sounds good to people who had been in the wilderness for 40 years)
v8 a land of wheat barley and vines and fig trees and pomegranates
a land of oil olive and honey
(remember the children had lived on manna from heaven but they grew tired of it)
v9 a land of plenty of food,
a land of plenty of minerals

Then the danger he is building up to:

v11 "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments and his judgments and his statutes, which I command thee this day "

When you are full and have enjoyed the land and settled in, don't forget who brought you to this land.

v17 "And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth."

The nations being removed, so Israel can posses the land, are under God's judgment. Moses here tells Israel that it can happen to them in the same manner if they forget God.

v20 "As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish: because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God."

Israel received ample fair warning to remember the Lord and how he was the one who watched over them. Israel later was scattered but they knew why. There is also a promise that they will return but that is a lesson for later.

Just across the river is the promised land and Bethlehem. Just across the river a maiden will give birth to the Savior of the world and whosoever will may come to Him for salvation. Just across the river.

Psalm 122 "Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem."

keywords: Milton Southerland, Bible study, Old Testament, Israel