Deuteronomy 7:12-26 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 7:12-26. Let’s go!
Deuteronomy 7:12-15 (NIV)
12 If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers.
13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land–your grain, new wine and oil–the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.
14 You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor any of your livestock without young.
15 The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.
On verses 12-15: Through verses 13-14 I am reminded that whether it’s family and children, material and financial wealth, or physical health, every good thing we have in life is a blessing from God. As James 1:17 says, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father”. So when we experience any good gift, let’s be sure to thank God.
Also, these verses show God’s clear desire to bless His people. That has always God’s plan: to bless people. The problem, however, is that our sin got in the way, cutting us from God and from much of His blessings. The great news is that in Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of sins and full restoration to the blessings God has for us. Much of that restoration and blessing we can experience in our lives today, even in a world still broken by sin. The totality of that restoration and blessing we will know when we get to heaven.
16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
17 You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?”
18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.
19 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.
20 Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.
21 Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.
On verses 16-21: One the big themes of Deuteronomy is: don’t be afraid of those who are bigger and stronger than you. The truly great one in your midst is not them, but God. As verse 21 says, “Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.”
Deuteronomy 7:22-24 (NIV)
22 The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.
23 But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.
24 He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them.
On verses 22-24: God promises the Israelites that they will conquer the nations surrounding them and that God will drive them out, but notice how: “little by little” (v22). In fact, God emphasizes it in verse 22: “You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.”
If God wanted to, God could have driven out the nations occupying the promised land all in an instant. He could have given His people the Israelites vacant possession of the promised land “all at once” if He so pleased. So why didn’t He? Why did God instead decide to drive out the nations “little by little”? God gives His reason in verse 22: “You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.” In other words, if God emptied out the promised land too quickly, the Israelites would not have enough time to properly take control of it. They would have no idea how to manage it all. Wild animals and possibly bandits would begin to settle in those areas where they did not have proper control.
In the same way, many of us crave overnight success. We want to get big, rich and famous fast. But if God let you have every blessing He planned for you all at once, we would not have the time or the wisdom to manage everything. For with every blessing comes responsibilities and challenges too.
Also, if God gave all of His promised blessings to us at once, we would not appreciate it as much. We would take it for granted, living with a sense of entitlement and never knowing what it means to fight for God’s destiny for our lives. God gives us success little by little so that we would cherish every victory a little more and learn more along the way.
Maybe the reason God hasn’t given you more yet is because He’s still teaching you to appreciate and use what you already have. Rather than simply craving more, focus on being as faithful and teachable as you can with what God has already given you.
Instead of giving it to us “all at once”, God lets us take the territory little by little as we learn to trust Him more and more. As Proverbs 13:11 (ESV) says: “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
Deuteronomy 7:25-26 (NIV)
25 The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
26 Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.
On verses 25-26: When the Israelites saw the way that other nations worshiped other gods, there were certain things that attracted them – the silver and gold that they saw encasing their idols, for example. Yet God says: don’t covet that silver or gold and don’t bring that idol into your house. Likewise, there may be certain elements of other religions that we might find attractive, but don’t let that be a reason to bring the whole thing into your life, for worshiping anything other than God Himself will be a snare.
Thank You, Lord, that instead of giving us every blessing all at once, You let us receive, enjoy, and manage those blessings little by little. That way we won’t be too overwhelmed, too spoiled, or unable to manage. May I cherish and manage wisely what You have already given to me so that I’m ready for the blessings that are to come. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
