06
Look To The Past, Plan For The Future
John TiltonDeuteronomy 4:32-25
Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other.
Moses reminded the people to look to the past as they prepared to enter the promise land ahead for their future. He asked them to take account of the significance of what transpired by and through the Lord, with events having never happened as they did, in the past, including hearing the voice of God out of the fire, taking new land for He and His people, manifestations of signs and wonders, with war and testing that they would see the mighyt hand of the Lord. God did all these things for the Israelites so that they would see the Lord in His might and glory; that they would therefore follow His will and commandments in obedience.
These scriptures and will of God still hold true for us today even though it is a historical account of the Old Testament. God still calls us to recount and take account of the past, that we would be mindful in our walk with the Lord as His people to follow His will, His Way and His Word in obedience. It is important that we understand that our Lord will still show us signs and wonders; that we will go through the testing of fire in challenging times to grow us and strengthen us; and we will see God’s mighty hand at work through Jesus Christ. The key is our being in tune with the Lord in our devotions, devouring His word that teach us, remind us and draw us close to Him. Then we will be able to see his miracles, signs and wonders. We must continue to be able to see the things of the Lord that we will continuously see Him in His might; and through Jesus understand His sacrifice and love to empower us each day as we look to, and live the future.
Dear Lord, thank you for ALL that you have done on our account and for our good because of your love for us, especially the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ. May I take into account each and every day, ALL that has transpired historically in your Word and in my life, so that I will be equipped now, and to plan for the future.
