Ever experienced God’s grace? I have many times. My sins pile high so if it were not for His unmerited favor towards me, I would be hopeless. God has fought for me, protected me, provided for me, been patient with me, and continues to forgive me. He has carried me through my brokenness and healed my wounds. So why do I continue to be stubborn and rebellious with Him at times? Why do I think my victories are about me? Why is the nature of my heart still willing to become prideful?
Have you asked yourself the same questions?
I do not have all the answers but I do know that our victory is based on God’s graciousness and not our righteousness.
In Deuteronomy 9:4-6, Moses spoke hard truths to the Israelites that apply to us today. He warned them not to become self-righteous, and that their God-given victories were not just about or for them.
Moses knew that God would go before them into their promised land, allowing their enemies to fall quickly. He also knew God’s people. They may have thought the victory was theirs because of their own righteousness. Three times Moses warns them not to think in such a way.
Not because of your righteousness, but because of their wickedness…
“Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them out before you, ‘because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you.”
Not because of your righteousness, but because of their wickedness…
“It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Not because of your righteousness lest you forget your nature…
“Know then it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.”
“You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day I knew you.” (9:24)
What a picture of God’s grace!
We can miss what God is unfolding when we think our victory over the enemy is in response to our works. God blesses us not just for our own sake, but for Himself, as well. He is allowing us to be a part of His work. We can miss this when we yield to our own nature and think it is all about us. Like the Israelites, we too are a stubborn people that are rebellious. So, let’s not allow our righteousness to turn into self-righteousness.
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1John 1:8)
Don’t miss the fact that the Israelites would have victory because it was God that would go before them and subdue their enemies. Whatever victory or blessing you receive; it is because God chooses to go before you while extending His grace.
Praise Him and keep your heart clean and upright before a Holy God. God is the one due the glory!
Amen, Indeed 🙂