Today's Scripture Reading (January 8, 2022): Deuteronomy 7
There is a phenomenon of the human experience. The
biggest problem always seems to be the one we face now. And the problem that I face now is usually
worse than the problem that you might be facing now, at least, that is what we think. And there is a good reason
for all of this. The issues that we have experienced in the past have usually
been solved or overcome, so the severity of those
problems is diminished in our minds. But the one that we are facing now remains without
a solution. Therefore, today's problem is bigger. As far as a comparison of my issues versus yours, well, I have to solve my problems, and yours
I do not have to struggle through. And that makes my problems more immediate and
problematic. All of
this is a bit of a
generalization, but it is often the way we feel.
Israel's future contained many problems that would need to
be faced. God could have driven out these nations before Israel arrived, but
that would have raised other issues. One of the concerns was
that the wild animals might multiply around them if the land was left empty for
too long (Deuteronomy 7:22). So, God intended to force the nations out one by
one as Israel's presence in the land grew and they were able to occupy the
area. But that meant that Israel would have to engage the land's inhabitants
slowly, one problem after another, and every issue would seem, at least to the
Israelites, to be greater than the last.
God
is upfront with Israel. The nations that lie in front of Israel are stronger
than they are. And the inhabitants of Canaan will have the advantage of
geography, an advantage that would make the most of walled cities and terrain
that is known. But God would be on the side of Israel, just as he was with them
in Egypt. There, Egypt had held all of the power. Israel was nothing but a
loose collection of slaves, lost without anyone to lead them.
But
God was with Israel against their Egyptian masters. He had led them in a battle
with the Pharaoh, defeating Egypt through a series of plagues that were beyond
the ability of Israel. It was God who had led them to the Red Sea. God had parted
the water, allowing Israel to cross on dry land and then drowning the Pharaoh's
armies when they tried to follow. Without God, Israel would never have been
able to leave Egypt, and they would still be enslaved by a nation that was much
more powerful than they were.
Egypt
was also more powerful than any of the nations that Israel would come in
contact with in Canaan. And the battle against Egypt was a battle that Israel,
with the help of their God, had already won. If they could win against Egypt,
they could win against the nations that inhabited Canaan. But they had to
convince themselves that the battles they had already won were bigger than those
that lay ahead, even if that did go against the phenomenon of human experience
that argued that the biggest battles are the ones we still have to fight.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 8
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