Theme: THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
DAY 7, Read Deuteronomy 9:1-7
OLD TESTAMENT PORTRAIT OF GRACE
Key Verse: “Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth’” (Deuteronomy 8:17).
As we read through the Bible, we find portraits of the grace of God all over the Old Testament; this is to say that, grace is not exclusive to the New Testament. This falls in line with the description Peter gives of God as the “God of all grace.” The Almighty God is the giver of all grace. From the inception, he had thought of extending the blessings of grace to mankind. The coming of Jesus brought His plans of grace to fulfillment.
One of the portraits of grace we find in the Old Testament is our main text for today. In this text, God explained why and how Israel possessed the land of their enemies. He forewarned Israel not to imagine that it was their righteousness that brought them into the land of Canaan, they were a stiff-necked people who provoked the Lord time without number; but that they should recognize that it was because of the wickedness of the inhabitants of the land, and his desire to fulfill the covenant he made to their Fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
“Do not think in your heart, after the LORD your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out from before you…and that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your father’s, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Deuteronomy 9:4,5).
We live in an age of humanism when man ascribes his successes to himself. We are always tempted to think that our achievements in life are due to our abilities, our talents and skills. Other times we think that it is through our wisdom and efforts that we attained the little successes that we have recorded. This is the era when man tends to maximize self and minimize God, forgetting that it is God who gave us life and breathe in the first place. If God had not been with Israel, there was no way a wandering tribe of about 2 to 3 million people would have conquered all the hostile nations they met in the wilderness on their way to Canaan. Grace gives us blessings that are far beyond human ability.
Re-echoing this same fact, Moses made in Deuteronomy 9, the Psalmist attributes the success of the children of Israel in entering into Canaan to the arm of the Lord and to his divine favour. He said it was divine favour that was responsible for Israel’s success. “For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword. Nor did their own arm save them, but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them” ( Psalm 44:3).
May we never underplay what the favour and grace of God can do in our lives and ministry. It was favour that elevated Joseph in Egypt. It was divine favour that brought Esther to limelight. It was divine favour that promoted Daniel in Babylon. In this season of grace, may the favour of God bring you to your place of destiny.
PRAYER: Father, I acknowledge that it is only by your favour and strength that I can succeed in life. My eyes will ever be set on you.
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