Pride is a very dangerous sin, especially for God’s people. When we arrive at a place of self-reliance, we often take credit for the blessings bestowed upon our lives by the gracious hand of God. In Deut. 9, Moses points out obvious truths to consider prior to their entrance into the Promised Land. Their victory was secure through God’s almighty power:
1. Not their might!
a. The cities are fortified.
V1 “Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,”
b. The people are too powerful.
V2 “A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!”
2. And not because of their righteousness!
a. God is instead using His people to judge the wicked.
V3-6 “Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.”
b. God is also keeping His promises.
“Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
LESSON - Although we experience the Lord‘s blessings upon our lives, we should never develop any sense of entitlement. We deserve nothing, but we are blessed with everything because of His unmerited favor!
Just like the Israelites, we too are very prideful people. This passage is applicable to us as well! Often God blesses us in spite of our self-righteousness. Beware a prideful heart!“Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.”
~Mike