Remember His Goodness - Pastor Johnny Marten
Deuteronomy 8 calls God’s people to remember His goodness, especially when life gets hard and faith gets tested. Doubt can show up in seasons when God’s people wonder if He is really going to come through, but God’s faithfulness in the past gives them reason to trust Him in the present. God is good all the time, and He does what He promises to do.
The wilderness in Israel’s story was not wasted time. God brought Israel out of slavery, but fear, rebellion, and a desire to stay comfortable kept them from entering the promised land right away. God used forty years in the wilderness to humble them, test them, and prepare them for the good future ahead. The cloud by day, the fire by night, manna from heaven, and water from the rock all showed that God was guiding and providing for them.
Deuteronomy 8 warns that prosperity can become just as dangerous as hardship. Full stomachs, fine homes, multiplied flocks, silver, and gold can make people proud enough to say, “I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.” God’s people must remember that every good thing, including the ability to succeed, comes from the Lord. Plenty must lead to praise, not pride.
The manna in the wilderness also taught Israel that life is more than earthly provision. Bread sustains the body, but every word from the mouth of God sustains the whole person. Jesus Himself took up this word when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. Daily prayer and time in God’s Word give believers a solid foundation, so that difficult times do not knock them down.
The wilderness remains part of the journey for Christ followers. Noah passed through a storm before a fresh start. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness before leading Israel out of Egypt. Israel went through the wilderness before the promised land, and Jesus faced forty days of testing before beginning His public mission. Trials do not automatically mean that God has abandoned His people. God can use them to reveal what is in the heart, build dependence on Him, and lead into a new season. The God who began a good work will carry it on to completion.