Deuteronomy 9:4-5 – Boast only about the Lord

For the children of Israel to have victory over the forces in Canaan and possess the land was a foregone conclusion. We can see why this would be so. For firstly, Canaan was God’s promised land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long before Israel became a nation. Secondly, God literally delivered them from their slavery in Egypt and made them His Chosen people. Thirdly, having delivered them, God continued to provide them with life’s necessities and sustain them throughout their journey. Fourthly, God constantly came against the enemy forces that came against them. He not only fought for them, but He also fought the enemy with them. His presence was with them in many of their battles. Truly, “If God is for us who could come against us?

With victory experienced so often, there was the temptation for the Israelites to conclude that they were the reason for the victory. There was a possibility to assume that they deserved the victory because of their righteousness. In truth, their history revealed that they were in fact a stubborn, undeserving people. God’s love for them was due entirely to His grace alone. They had little in themselves to deserve God’s love. In verse 5, God made clear the reason for their victory. And it was not because of their righteousness or the uprightness of their heart. They were only given the ability to possess the land because of the wickedness of those nations in Canaan that He was driving them out before the Israelites, His Chosen people. Besides, it was done to confirm the oath which the Lord had sworn to their fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

It is a known fact that everyone craves approval, acceptance, and appreciation. Some crave it so badly that they would resort to boasting. There is this penchant in people to take credit for one’s success without acknowledging the contributions others had made. In the Bible, there is only one place where boasting is acceptable. If we must boast, Paul in Galatians 6:14 has this to say. “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” As we conclude our reflection here, think of what Lord exhorts us to do in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things.”