Deuteronomy 8:6-10 – Living in divine abundance

Up to now the Israelites were accustomed to the wilderness. Some could be so used to the wilderness that they might not have any idea of what they were about to possess. So God  here was painting how rosy a place Canaan was, to prepare them for the richness of life in the promised land. Giving to them the land was just one thing. But what God wanted them to have would be a life that would not only be rich but also plentiful. So here in these four verses, He described to them the land which they were about to inherit. More than the land, God also described to them the rich supplies they would be enjoying in the land. Physically it would be a land of brooks, fountains, and springs, a land very rich in water supply. It was also a land filled with food and fruits of all sorts. The list includes wheat, barley, vines, figs, pomegranates, olive oil, and honey. They would not only have food in abundance, but they would have them in varieties. Also this land would have plenty of iron and copper, a land so rich in mineral resource.

What lessons can we learn from these four verses? Firstly, we need to realize that life with God will always be a progressive one. He doesn’t want us to be stuck in the wilderness. He wants to take us out of our wilderness into the richness of life with Him. The purpose of allowing us to go through the wilderness is to prepare us for the richness of life that He has promised. Secondly, we need to know that God is the source of all that we have in life. All the things we have and will ever have in life come from Him. He is the source. Whoever He uses to give us are our resources. Thirdly, we need to know that God is generous. He does not supply in trickles, but in plenty and full of varieties. Furthermore, He will supply for every area of our needs. Fourthly, we must not be so acclimatized to our old ways, that we refuse to enter the richness of God's new liberated life. There are old ways God wants us to change so that we can enjoy what’s installed for us. Don’t be a stick in the mud. Fifthly, we must stay connected to God through His Word to know where He is taking us. We can never know the promises and direction of God if we are not connected with Him. Finally and most importantly, we must live a life of thankfulness to God for His provision. For when we do so, we will be able to nurture a life that honors and fears the Lord. Lets’ do it!