Deuteronomy 8:2
Remembering God's past deliverance and guidance is essential to cultivating humility and dependency on Him, and to trusting in His unlimited resources.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the importance of remembering God's past guidance and provision as the Israelites journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. He highlights that God leads us through both difficult and prosperous times to teach us humility and dependency on Him. Smith encourages believers to reflect on their own lives, recognizing that trials reveal hidden areas of our hearts and that true sustenance comes from God alone. He warns against the dangers of pride and self-satisfaction, urging a forward look filled with hope while remaining vigilant in times of prosperity.
Text
I. REMEMBER PAST IN RELATION TO GOD.
A. "How that God brought thee out of "Egypt".
1. Through old Test. constant reminders to people. (they had special origin)
2. Through N .T. constant reminders to our deliverance.
a. Our every day actions predicated upon fact of new man.
b. "Husbands love your wives even as..."
c. "Be ye kind one to another."
B. "All the way, which the Lord our God led thee."
1. God was guiding in every circumstance.
a. Every rough & rugged spot.
b. In barren wilderness.
2. He was leading then to promised land.
a. Numbers a backward march. God led them backward that He might
lead them forward. He led them circuitously to make them straight.
3. Let us look back -- darkest or brightest.
a. Since first day of walk in His path "all things have been working
together."
b. God delays in order to speed - He denies and we later discover
it was His choicest gift. Our disappointments -His appointments.
c. Right now some may be in difficulty and cannot see ultimate goal.
C. God's supply.
1. Necessities -raiment -bread -water.
2. God had not failed them.
3. What good things have you lacked?
II THE LESSON GOD WAS TEACHING.
A. "That He might humble thee."
1. Pride most ghastly of all sins.
a. Demonstrates ignorance.
b. It foreshadows ruin - "pride goeth before."
2. He made them conscious of dependency on Him.
a. He delivered only in extreme hour.
b. He rescues when you give up.
3. Purpose is not to break our spirit & make us slaves, but to free us from
that spirit that will ruin us.
B. He delivers - leads -supplies -that He might prove us.
1. This does not mean He is trying to learn the truth about you.
a. He is trying to teach you the truth about yourself.
b. He brings to pass circumstances that reveal the hidden areas of
your life.
c. On a sunny day as you sing "I surrender all", there might be
rebellion in your heart so He will lead you into a cloudy day to
reveal."
d. Standing here with the congregation of God's people you may sing
out "Stand up, Stand up" and there may be cowardice in your heart.
e. Hatred may be in my spirit as I speak on love.
2. What is God proving? "Man does not live by bread alone."
a. Man's extremity is his opportunity to find his true self & in
finding self & giving up he finds God's great unlimited resources.
Ill. THE TRUE BACKWARD LOOK, LOOKS AHEAD.
A. Forward look one of hope - vs. 7-9.
B. Warning concerning future days of brightness.
a. greater peril in prosperity then adversity.
b. beware of self satisfaction vs. 17
c. beware of self righteousness vs 9:4
Sermon Outline
- I. REMEMBER PAST IN RELATION TO GOD
- A. God's deliverance and guidance
- B. God's leading and provision
- C. God's supply and faithfulness
- II. THE LESSON GOD WAS TEACHING
- A. Humility and dependency on God
- B. God's purpose in testing and proving us
- III. THE TRUE BACKWARD LOOK, LOOKS AHEAD
- A. A forward look of hope
- B. Warning concerning future days of brightness
Key Quotes
“Man does not live by bread alone.” — Chuck Smith
“God delays in order to speed - He denies and we later discover it was His choicest gift.” — Chuck Smith
“Our disappointments - His appointments.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Recognize your dependency on God in all circumstances.
- Cultivate humility and trust in God's unlimited resources.
- Beware of self-satisfaction and self-righteousness in times of prosperity.