Title: God Who Takes Israel in His Bosom
Contents
God who embraced Israel (Deuteronomy 1:29-33)
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This text is the last sermon that Moses gave to the people of Israel in November of the 40th year of the Exodus from the plains of Moab. These are the words of the sermon given by the people of Israel while looking back on their past wilderness life just before they entered the land of Canaan after completing their 40 years in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Now, the people of Israel are discouraged when they see the strong cities of Canaan and the majestic Canaanites that are to be captured. This is a sermon addressed to the people of Israel who were so afraid. “Do not be afraid of them, do not be afraid” (verse 30). It is a strong city in Canaan, and there is nothing to fear of the mighty people.
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So, what are you afraid of? Moses continued, “As you suffered in the wilderness, as a man embraces his own son, so the Lord your God took you on the way to this place” (verse 31). It means that He took you in His arms and brought you to this place. “It was as if a man embraced his own son” is a truly remarkable statement.
During this pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I saw a lot of wilderness. I thought a lot while looking at the wilderness. How could the Israelites, who had left Egypt, survive for 40 years in this wilderness? There are no roads, no water, no food, and no roads, no water, no food... … . Hot during the day and cold at night, not in a heated or air-conditioned building, but in a tent… … . The fact that the Israelites lived in the wilderness for 40 years is a miracle in itself. How could the Israelites survive in such a wilderness where they could not survive in the wilderness? The Bible says that as a man embraces his son, so Jehovah God took the people of Israel into his bosom so that they could survive in the wilderness. What does it mean to embrace the people of Israel as a man embraces his own son?
First, it means special love. The people of Israel are beings that receive special love from God. “I have redeemed you and made you my people”, “Israel is my son and my firstborn”, “I have called you by name, and I have redeemed you” The people of Israel are loved by God in this way. But today, we are more precious beings loved by God than the people of Israel. Why? It is because we, as spiritual Israel, paid a greater price for redemption today than the people of Israel. What has God done to redeem us? “Not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). You did. We are for this. So he loves us and holds us in his arms.
Second, it means special protection. “Jacob is his chosen inheritance, and the Lord found him in the wasteland in the howling wilderness, and he guarded him, he guarded him, he kept him as the apple of his eye” (Deuteronomy 33:9-10). Deuteronomy 8:15 says it is a dangerous wilderness, a land of fiery serpents and scorpions. He protected me from this wilderness. In Exodus 17:8 and below, when he fought against Amalek at Rephidim, he fought an enemy like Amalek and made him victorious. It protects you from the heat of the day and the cold of the night. Today, God is protecting His children. He protects you like your eyes.
Third, it means that all needs are met. What could a child in a mother's arms lack? When you are hungry, do you have mother's milk? For the 40 years in the wilderness, God provided and provided everything the Israelites needed. They served delicious food manna every morning, so I didn't go hungry. He sent quails in the evening. He made them eat meat even in the wilderness, so no one was malnourished. Water gushed out of the rock. A place where there is no water in the wilderness. The god did not fall off, and the clothes did not wear out. God provided everything the Israelites needed. Of course, I didn't buy a lot, but there was no shortage of absolutely necessary things. Today, our God knows the needs of God's children. Daily Bread He provides you with absolutely essential things.
The fourth signifies guidance. The wilderness is a place where there is no way. These days there are roads paved with asphalt. But in those days there was no way. God led the way of the people of Israel. He led me through a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. “The LORD went before them with a pillar of cloud by day to guide their way, and a pillar of fire by night to give them light to go by day and night; and the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people” (Exodus 13:21). ) The people of Israel only needed to be held in the arms of God.
All you need to do is to trust God, rely on Him, and obey Him. Protected by a special love, filled with every need, and guided on the safe path. But what did the Israelites do? “In this matter you did not believe the LORD your God” (verse 32). Israel's misfortune was that they did not believe in God. It took me 38 years to travel a road that could be reached in 11 days. All those who did not believe died in the wilderness. They could not enter the Promised Land, the Land of Canaan. If you do not believe, you cannot receive blessings if you leave God's bosom. It's unfortunate if you don't believe it. You must believe to receive God's grace and to receive God's love. God's protection, God's fill
Poetry receives grace, and it receives grace to guide.
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< Dear friends! Nothing to worry about. There is nothing to fear. God who took the Israelites into his arms in the wilderness! Today, he embraces us in God's arms. He protects us with special love, provides for all our needs, and guides us in the best way. May the grace of our God who embraced Israel be with us today.