JUNE 13, 2023 – THE MOUTH OF THE LORD

READ: Deut. 8:1-6

… that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. – Deut. 8:3

Israel must not only consider God’s mighty deliverance from Egypt and His appearance at Horeb, but also keep in mind God’s guidance during the journey through the wilderness (v. 2), His presence with them the entire way. It was not an easy or comfortable journey because the Lord wanted to test them, to make them obedient, to “humble” them. The LORD wanted to teach them, through experience, to know that they were dependent on Him and to expect everything from Him, so that they humbly and sincerely submitted to His guidance.

God had redeemed them, hadn’t He? He had led them to the promised land, hadn’t He? Then He would also give them everything they needed on the way to that land. That is why they had to plead with Him for the necessary food, water, and protection. They had to entrust their entire existence to the Lord in faith. 

The wilderness itself offered no livability; such blessings could only come from their God. He is the source of all that is good. They received their food and water, as it were, from heaven. Their clothes also did not wear out. That is how the Lord wanted to teach them to be obedient and to live on everything that comes from His mouth, what He creates as His gift to them.

We too will live in that dependence, obedience, and trust in God. The Lord Jesus demonstrated this to us when he resisted Satan’s temptation with the words of verse 3 when he was hungry in the wilderness. We too are tested in our dependence on God. If it is not material, it is spiritual. We are small as a church. That can make us rebellious, reaching for means to grow outside of God’s Word. Let us be guided in everything only by His Word, in dependence on Him.

What can we not entrust to the LORD?

Singing: Ps. 33:5