– Secret Place Insights –
Dear Ones, often while reading familiar chapters in the Bible we stumble across verses which did not jump out during earlier readings. Such was the case when I was in Deuteronomy, chapter 9:4b-5, the place where after forty years, the Israelites were finally going to cross the Jordan into the land of milk and honey. It was there that Moses told the Israelites:
“…do not say to yourself, The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness. No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you.” Verse 6, “Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
What? Wait a minute here, I have to think about this? God’s ‘chosen people’ are bad? They are just not quite as bad as the other people living across the Jordan river?
Yes, I am aware that the Israelites did much that made God angry, things such as building the golden calf, complaining about manna, quail, and thirst, and anything else a desert wanderer can find to complain about, but still?
Still when I hear, or read, the words ‘chosen people’ as God’s term for Jews, I envy them. For it seems to me such an honor to be counted among that group.
But still God calls them a stiff-necked people. And what we have read proves that to be true. And if His chosen are a group of stiff-necked people, that group does include you and me. For we certainly are…we have proof of that. It is not exactly a desired category…but such is life.
Now that I have lingered long in chapter 9, I probably won’t respond as I have in the past to the phrase ‘chosen people.’ I think I will instead just be very grateful that God graciously decided to expand His offer of salvation to ALL stiff-necked people. “Thank you, Lord.”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have Everlasting life.” John 3:16
Blessings,
Susanne
For a printed copy, with or without photo, click green dot on left side at the bottom of this page.
If you would like a Monday reminder, and quick link, in your email to next week’s post, just sign-in at the secure registry at the top of this page, and click GO. For a private conversation, please write your message on the Contact page found at the right on the Home page.
