MAY 2ND, 2004
DEUTERONOMY 8:11-20
I. Forgetting God has so many inherent dangers that Moses feels obligated to continually repeat them.
A. Moses uses the word “beware” in verse 11 as a warning:
1. Luke 12:15 – Beware of covetousness
2. Philippians 3:2 – Beware of dogs and evil workers.
3. Matthew 16:6 – Beware of the leaven of Pharisees.
B. Moses warn the Children of Israel to “watch out!” “…that thou forget not the Lord thy God…..” How can people forget God?
1. By not keeping the commandments of God. (11)
2. You cannot keep on purpose what you do not know. (Study is so important)
C. What happens when you forget God?
1. You may begin to succeed without God. (12-13)
- Worldly success is not the barometer of your spiritual condition.
2. You will become proud and arrogant. (14)
- “Look at what I’ve done!”
- This leads to an even deeper level of spiritual amnesia; you will not only be blind to God in your current success, but you will forget the blessings of God in your past. (14-16)
3. Verse 17 gives us the illustration of how pride and arrogance can cause us to believe
in our self-sufficiency.
II. The Businessman’s Reminder (18)
A. This verse ought to hang in your place of employment, or on the wall over the drawer that contains your checkbook.
1. God is the source of our power.
2. Your wealth is the result of the power God gave you.
B. In the case of Israel, God was taking care of the children because He had made a promise to their fathers. (18)
III. Moses repeats the warning at the close of the chapter. (19-20)
A. If (future tense) the people forget God then God will judge them. (19)
1. (IF) they walk after other gods.
2. (IF) they serve them.
3. (IF) they serve them.
B. Disobedience to God is the most counter-productive action that you can take. (20)
1. God has judgments that are reserved for your disobedience.
2. God doesn’t punish you for what you may do; but He already knows what He will do (IF) you disobey Him.
- and He already has blessings reserved (IF) I stay true. (I Peter 1:4 and II Peter 2:4)
Conclusion – Since God is reserving something for me, I may as well take the blessing instead of the judgment.