Deuteronomy chapter 8

vs 11

That slight rewording may not be enough to re-excite me to what is essentially the same message that has been repeated before.

vs 12-14

Note that it is not wild craven sinning that drags them down from God. It is building houses, collecting livestock, and living comfortably. Don't get me wrong - God wants them to live comfortably! He wants them to have rest! But rest by his rules, his laws and his decrees, so that they don't forget that all their rest depends on him.

vs 15

Just imagine the litany of God's faithfulness in your own life. I know I can easily reflect on my life and see where God has brought me from, and to. And to think the journey continues to yet greener pastures (no, I'm not thinking materially) is quite astonishing.

vs 16

That's the second time the manna has been mentioned in that way. It seems that this is a big deal - this is one of the things that separates this generation from their ancestors. I wonder if it is because it is God's most obvious and most direct provision? Or was it the most obvious manifestation of his power in a supernatural sense - the idea being that it is a one time thing, for no-one else ever? Except in heaven, perhaps. It might just be my mind ticking over in its usual strange way, but surely there is a difference between organising mundane occurrences in happening at pleasantly surprising times (be it locusts plagues or the falling down of the enemy's wall) and making food just appear out of nothing. Like Jesus healing people instantly, or multiplying bread and fish.

vs 17

Which, when you're talking about building a house, or amassing wealth, or even defeating enemies, is a fairly simple line to draw. Perhaps that's why they are so dangerously easy to turn into idols.

vs 18

And really, isn't this a better way? If you trust in yourself, you are to blame when you fail. If you trust in money or wealth, then you're just pandering to it to make it grow for its own sake, in the hope that you will benefit from its growth. But with God, being perfect and powerful, you can rest assured that even if things don't go absolutely right, then you're just missing something. It's the way it's meant to be. Not perfect - we're not in heaven - but under control.

Of course, that is easy to forget when things are going well. What we need is a good theology of comfort and satisfaction. And with CEOs getting mega fat salaries and people being all upset about it, now is a good time to reveal it.

vs 19

You have been warned.

vs 20

You are not irreplaceable. Scary message.