"When the Lord your god brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you -- a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant -- then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (Deuteronomy 6:11-12 NIV)
My dad, who suffered from a serious lack of couth, would label the Israelites settled into the Promised Land as fat and happy. (Ironically, my dad loved nothing more than a good meal!) In this last sermon to his people, Moses was looking in to the future, describing the temptation that would descend once the Israelites occupied the land. They would find rich and lovely lives, and in their bounty they might easily lose their way. God was warning them through His servant Moses: when you are fat and happy, don’t forget me. Don’t forget how I moved heaven and earth to be with you here.
This was 2015, shortly after we moved back to Iowa. I miss him. <3
Rob and I were channel surfing the other night and we came across Family Ties. You may remember the eighties sitcom featuring a young Michael J. Fox. We had enjoyed a few minutes of the episode when it occurred to me: everyone on that show was so skinny! It makes sense, we ate differently in the eighties. We have become a carbo-centric culture; myself sadly included.
Let me connect this thought to the Israelites real quick. The first settlers came to America for religious freedom, at least that’s what it said in my childhood history books. Much like the Hebrews leaving Egypt for an opportunity to worship freely, the pilgrims depended upon the Almighty for a dangerous sea crossing and a devastating first winter. Say what you will about this nation’s low points in history, the initial idea was that this country could choose to worship outside of the rigidity of the church of England.
America settle in with God at it’s center. This is still clear throughout many historical documents. But over the past several hundred years, we’ve become fat and happy. We’ve flourished. We are a well-fed, comfortable people. And it turns out, that’s not so good for our souls. When we are wealthy, we tend to forget how we got here. We lose sight of the One who has sustained us thus far.
Moses warned His people and his warning still rings out for modern believers:
"Fear the Lord Your God, serve Him only..." (Deuteronomy 6:13 NIV)
Our natural tendency is to stop serving God and start serving ourselves. Moses went on to talk about the idols of the surrounding nation slipping into the Israelites story. We don’t currently bow to stone and wood but we do bow to screens and schedules, appearances and acquisitions. We can even set our kids up as idols, or our hobbies, careers and ambitions. Idolatry in 2022 is alive and well. It’s far more subtle and thus more rampant. And dare I say, socially acceptable?
We cannot afford to get fat and happy and forget our God. We cannot depend upon ourselves because we are utterly unequipped to save from ourselves from sin. Only God can provide what we truly require.
I hear rumors of recession. I gawk over the price at the gas pump and the receipt from the grocery store. We are praying for supernatural provision more regularly than we have since our Bible College days. Perhaps this is not a bad thing? All this interruption in our comfort and ease alerts us again to a higher power. Perhaps a little pain in our bank accounts and belies will bring us back to the unwavering reality that God is our Provider-Sustainer and we cannot afford to extricate Him from our story.
"Acknowledge and take this to heart this day, the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below. There is no other." (Deuteronomy 5:39 NIV)
Fat and happy people are supposed to praise the Lord. It is not against God’s will for us to be well-fed. It’s against God’s will for us to forget Him. He needs to be continually acknowledged as our good God, the One whom from all blessings flow.
"When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you." (Deuteronomy 8:11 NIV)
Lord, please forgive us for getting fat and happy and forgetful. We need You. We cannot tend to our greatest needs apart from You. Like the Israelites, You have brought us to a good land with many resources. May we continue to acknowledge Your many kindnesses toward us. May we praise You for the land we live in. Amen.