Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 9:6-29.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%209&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.  Remember, do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness;  from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.  Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you.  When I went up to the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which the LORD had made with you, then I remained on the mountain forty days and nights;  I neither ate bread nor drank water.  The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God;  and on them were all the words which the Lord had spoken with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.  It came about at the end of forty days and nights that the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant.  Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, go down from here quickly, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly.  They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them;  they have made a molten image for themselves.’  The LORD spoke further to me, saying, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stubborn people.  Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven;  and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.’”  Deuteronomy 9:6-14.

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We may think that we are good or at least cute.  We may think we are smart or at least charming.  If nothing else, we are like an innocent puppy dog.  God must love us at least enough to save us.

Israel may have thought so, particularly considering all the miracles and other things that God had done in delivering them from Egypt and leading them through the wilderness.

We may have thought so, particularly considering all the miracles and other things that God had done for us.  Moreover, we faithfully belong to a church and attend every worship service.  We are even a leader in church!

But, what does today’s Scripture state?

“Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.”  Verse 6.

“Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven;  and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.”  Verse 14.

We know that Moses prayed to the LORD. 

“I prayed to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD God, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.  Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;  do not look at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness or their sin.  Otherwise the land from which You brought us may say, “Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which He had promised them and because He hated them He has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.”  Yet they are Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm.’”  Deuteronomy 9:26-29.

We can and should also humble ourselves and pray.

“Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the LORD.”  2 Chronicles 34:27.

But, if we are stubborn and proud, will we?

If we are lazy and distracted, will we?

But, there is hope!

The hope is not in the wisdom and the will of man.

The hope is in the mercy of God.

“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31.

“When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” Acts 11:18.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:15-18.