Remember Where You Came From!
Reflections: Today we see a theme of provision for God’s people, but also the people who they would come in contact with. God provided for Israel in many ways, but specifically as they remembered the central act of God delivering them from slavery with the Egyptians. This would be a reminder of where they came from. Thus, when God provided for them, they were to be mindful of others who were less fortunate, like the widows and the poor.
God gives principles in Deuteronomy, that as they harvest the land and there is a little extra, to leave it for the widows, the fatherless and the poor. Importantly it says, “So that the Lord will bless you!” As the Israelites had open hands and open hearts, God would continue to provide an abundance to give out. We see this principle at work with Jesus and his disciples, when it is late in the day and the crowds are hungry Jesus says, “You give them something to eat.”
Though the disciples were blessed enormously by Jesus ministry and had the incredible opportunity to eat, drink and walk with him; he did not want to exclude the others who needed something to eat. What the disciples saw as a burden, the crowds pressing in on them when it had already been a long day, Jesus saw as an opportunity for God to provide. And God gave so much there were even leftovers! This is principle we see throughout Jesus’ ministry.
As you remember how God has provided for you, especially through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus; remember to give to those who need it the most. In it you will not only be sharing the blessings you have received, but also pointing others toward the One from whom you have received it!
Psalm 84:8-12
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Deuteronomy 24:14-25:19
14 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. 15 Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.16 Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.17 Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
Luke 9:12-27
12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love. Psalm 109:26
Paul wrote: We were afflicted in every way disputes without and fears within. But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us. 2 Corinthians 7:5-6
Your steadfast love gives us victory over fear and defeat. You console us when we need your guidance and insight. Preserve us, in your love. Amen.
God gives principles in Deuteronomy, that as they harvest the land and there is a little extra, to leave it for the widows, the fatherless and the poor. Importantly it says, “So that the Lord will bless you!” As the Israelites had open hands and open hearts, God would continue to provide an abundance to give out. We see this principle at work with Jesus and his disciples, when it is late in the day and the crowds are hungry Jesus says, “You give them something to eat.”
Though the disciples were blessed enormously by Jesus ministry and had the incredible opportunity to eat, drink and walk with him; he did not want to exclude the others who needed something to eat. What the disciples saw as a burden, the crowds pressing in on them when it had already been a long day, Jesus saw as an opportunity for God to provide. And God gave so much there were even leftovers! This is principle we see throughout Jesus’ ministry.
As you remember how God has provided for you, especially through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus; remember to give to those who need it the most. In it you will not only be sharing the blessings you have received, but also pointing others toward the One from whom you have received it!
Psalm 84:8-12
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Deuteronomy 24:14-25:19
14 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. 15 Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.16 Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.17 Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
Luke 9:12-27
12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love. Psalm 109:26
Paul wrote: We were afflicted in every way disputes without and fears within. But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us. 2 Corinthians 7:5-6
Your steadfast love gives us victory over fear and defeat. You console us when we need your guidance and insight. Preserve us, in your love. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment