Now
this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God
has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are
going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear
the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I
command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. (NASB)
Imagine standing
looking into the Promised Land…getting one last piece of advice from Moses. The
great spiritual leader of the Hebrew people was sending them into the Promised
Land. He wasn’t going with them--just giving them advice and sending them off.
Moses wanted to protect the Hebrew people from themselves by advising them of
the things they’d already been told---or that God had told their ancestors. Years
earlier the Israelites had been given the Ten Commandments and direction for
living a life pleasing to the Lord, but they had disobeyed the Lord and so He
had let them wander in wilderness for another 40 years. Now it was time for
them to go into the Land that God had promised to give their ancestor, Abraham,
and to them.
If we don’t observe
the commandments, the statutes and judgments of the Lord, will we have to
wander another forty years in the wilderness of our lives? Where is your
wilderness? What does it mean to “fear” the Lord? 1 Samuel 12:14 says, “If you will fear the LORD and serve Him,
and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then
both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.” Psalm 22:23 tells us, “You who fear the LORD, praise Him; all you
descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and stand in awe of Him, all you descendants
of Israel.” So to fear the Lord is to respect Him by not rebelling against
Him and to exalt Him with glory and honor. Moses further instructed the
Israelites to diligently teach the Lord’s instructions to their sons, to talk
about them at home and when they were walking, to bind the scripture to their
head and arm and to write them on the doorposts of their homes. Having framed
scripture passages as decorative items on our walls is a great way in our day to
keep the words of the Lord constantly before us. Several years ago I had a
picture frame that I wrote scripture in and changed the verses every week to
encourage my children to memorize. As a teenager my daughter would write
scripture out and put it on her mirror to help her remember it. Just as in
Moses time, remembering God’s word is important. Guidance from His instructions
gives us hope for the future and love
for God, ourselves and others.
Today is my oldest
grandson’s birthday. I’ve tried to share the Lord with him, and demonstrate my
respect and honor of the Lord by my actions---although he doesn’t see me
reading my Bible daily since we don’t spend a lot of time together. He does see
me attending church with him and his family—and I often read Bible stories and
pray with him and his sisters whenever I visit them. Zander is a great
kid---very talented in drawing, painting and Lego construction! He may become a
terrific engineer. He has memorized the names of the books of the New
Testament—an astonishing accomplishment for a six years old. He is already the
grandchild in Proverbs 17:6. “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and
the glory of sons is their fathers.” My hope is for all my grandchildren to
grow and learn to respect the Lord—and to live by the Lord’s commandments,
statutes and judgments. So what are your hopes for your grandchildren---for
yourself?
Lord,
bless Zander today and always. Give him wisdom to help him to make good decisions,
to respect and to know You more deeply every day.
Happy
Birthday, Zander!
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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