The Power to Possess

Deuteronomy 8:17

“And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.”

God gave the children of Israel a warning through the man of God, Moses, that they should not be tempted to take the credit for the things that they possessed. There were several things that He wanted the children of Israel to remember.

REMEMBER WHO FED THEM IN THE WILDERNESS

“Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;” (Deuteronomy 8:16)

He wanted them to remember that He fed them with food that their fathers were unable to get on their own. He gave them manna from Heaven to be their meat in the wilderness. He wanted to keep them humble so that they would not try to claim what they had as their own. He provided what the fathers could not provide. In this provision He wanted them to understand that He had the power to good to them all the days of their life. 

REMEMBER WHO DELIVERED THEM FROM EGYPT

“Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;” (Deuteronomy 7:18)

God wanted the children of Israel to have confidence going forward to face the nations mightier than they were because they had God on their side. He wanted them to remember all that He had done to the Egyptians to deliver His people from the land of Egypt. The same God Who had helped them before now stood ready to help them again. “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

If the children of Israel would remember Who it was that fed them, and Who it was that delivered them they should not be tempted to credit their strength with the possessions that they had. For all that they had came only by the grace of God and the power of His hand. 

The same is true for us. We hear of those who are called “self-made men” Yet in truth, no one has the power to possess anything but by God’s help and provision. “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:18)

 When we forget that God is our provider we will be tempted to cease from following Him as we should and pursue other gods in our life. “And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.” (Deuteronomy 8:19)

We have been so blessed. Yet, as we look upon the blessings we have received let us never forget by whose power we have been blessed. We have not attained the blessings of our own power, or skill. Rather we have attained our blessings by the grace of God and His provision toward us.