July 31, 2021
Dearly Beloved, I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator, Maker, and ever unforgettable Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has given for you today is from the book of Deuteronomy 32: 12, 13 “The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him. He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag. ”
From the above context we learn that the Lord led Israel through the deserts all alone by Himself. He led them by the power of His arms. Israel did not have any other gods besides God Yahweh, when they started their journey from the shores of the RED SEA as they witnessed the great power of God, that separated the RED SEA into two, letting the people of Israel pass through the dry ground. God also displayed His power, by sending the many plagues into the land of Egypt that caused them to drive the people of Israel out of the land, to worship the Lord in the wilderness. As we look back on our lives, we hope that others will remember the good things about us. And we genuinely thank God that our sins are forgiven, and we praise Him, that He has clothed us in Christ’s righteousness and remembers our sins no more.
Further we see how God made Israel to ride on the high places of the earth. This means that God helped them to take possession of their neighbouring country. Israel, having now occupied Canaan, could eat of its produce, the increase of the fields, as his own. Honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock. Canaan abounded in wild bees, which had their hives in crevices of the rock, and in olive trees, which grew on a rocky soil; as is still the case in Palestine. God wanted His people to eat and enjoy the increase of the fields: the produce of them, particularly corn for bread, and which the Israelites ate of as soon as they came into the land of Canaan, God also made the people of Israel to suck honey out of the rock; not water alone, but honey. God even provided oil out of the olives, which grow on rocks, and these delight to grow on hills and mountains; hence we read of the Mount of Olives, and the blessings of grace which are cheering and refreshing, pacifying and healing, feeding and fattening, pure and unmixed, and useful for light, as oil is. These speak of the greatness of the good and large land Canaan flowing with milk and honey.
Moses, recounts the wilderness wanderings of those who escaped Egyptian slavery, and was delivered to a new generation of Israelites. The Song of Moses gives a vivid contrast between the Lord’s cherished cares of Israel, who were ‘the apple of God’s eye’, with Israel’s ingratitude. Although the nation of Israel began well, by trusting God’s Word and following all that He commanded, they quickly corrupted themselves and strayed far away from the Lord, and the song Moses sang, was a reminder of God’s great goodness, against sinful, rebellious Israel. Moses recalled how God had separated Israel from all the other nations, set national boundaries, and made Israel His inheritance. He reminded them how God had found them, cared for them, guarded, and protected them. God Who rescued Israel from Egypt, and provided for them and protected them for 40-long years, was the ONE GOD YAHEWEH , ‘The LORD alone guided him’. “The LORD alone guided Israel” – His firstborn, “and there was no foreign god with him. The Lord led His people with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day… and none of the Egypt gods were with the people, nor were any other gods of the Gentile nations, that surrounded them. Moses wanted the people to remember that NO ONE but the God of Israel guided them through the wilderness. Some trust in chariots, and some trust in horses, but we are to trust in name of the Lord our God.
To those of you who are reading this message, with much expectation, I wish to tell you that today, men do not put their trust in chariots and horses, but too often our faith is in a healthy bank-balance, or our well-built houses, governmental handouts, a secure job, a quick-witted intellect, or a myriad of consumables. At a time when everything that can be shaken is being challenged, we need to place our faith in the one sure Foundation – the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the Lord guided, protected, loved, and cared for Israel, so He guides, protects, loves, and cares for us. May we learn the lessons that God would teach us from Israel’s devastating failures as well as their wise choices to trust in the Lord alone – Who alone will guide us into all truth. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the way You are leading and guiding us, during the difficult days that we face in our day-to-day lives, just as you protected and cared for Your people Israel, throughout their history. Thank You that when we lose heart, You remain faithful. Thank You that when we wander from Your perfect path of righteousness, You are there to lead, and to guide us into the way of truth. Keep us looking to Jesus and trusting in You in all things.
In Jesus Name We Pray.
Amen.
