CONDITIONS OF GOD’S PROMISES
SCRIPTURE:
“Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” (Deuteronomy 8:6—18)
OBSERVATION:
So many times, we think the promises of the Lord are without conditions. So many believers have misunderstood what God has promised for their lives without understanding the requirements that go along with what God promised. Moses gave the Israelites what God promised them and their responsibilities to enjoy the promises. God’s promises have conditions and consequences.
Moses said to the Israelites to OBSERVE the commands of the Lord. They are to walk in obedience to Him and reverence for who He is. The promised land that God is bringing them into is a GOOD LAND. The land was full of all the children of Israel’s needs. There was no lack. The warning was given to them WHEN YOU HAVE EATEN and are SATISFIED, PRAISE YOUR GOD FOR THE GOOD LAND HE HAS GIVEN YOU. Be careful not to forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, laws, and decrees.
With all the good things God has provided for them, the warning was, do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe what he has done. The Israelites were warned, when they eat and are satisfied, when they build fine houses and settle down, when their flocks increase and grow large, when their silver and gold increase and all they have multiplied, be careful of their heart becoming proud that they will forget the Lord.
This is not far off from even in my lifetime. People have forgotten what God has done for them and think everything they have is theirs. Many have shipwrecked their faith once they have grown prosperous and wealthy. I do even, sometimes, with the little I have forgotten that it is the Lord’s blessing and not my doing. I am reminded again that when I am blessed, I must be humble, lift my head in the prayer of gratefulness, and honor the one who gave it all to me. Everything I have is from Jesus’ hand.
APPLICATION:
I will remind myself daily as I read God’s word never to take anything for granted. Everything that I have and who I am today is because of the hand of God. He has provided everything I needed. I will honor God and walk with him humbly, acknowledging his hand in my life.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank you for reminding me that your promises are only experienced in my life when I honor and acknowledge your hand in it. Help me never to take your goods, promises, and blessings for granted. I am grateful for everything that I have today. Please continue teaching me to be a grateful child and obedient to your word. Please open my eyes to observe all the promises you have fulfilled and those that are yet to be. I prayed all these in your name, Amen!
