Readings for today: Deuteronomy 24-27
Perspective has great power. My mother grew up desperately poor at times. She experienced a lot of uncertainty. A lot of transition. Her father was a pastor who moved around quite a bit due to the philosophy of the denomination he served. He was also quite successful at turning around struggling churches so they would send him to some of the hardest places to do his work. And even though my mom has been blessed with abundance materially and great health physically and a lot of stability in her community, it still shapes her perspective. For example, we gathered on Saturday for a meal at a very nice restaurant. My mom paid the bill which was significant. As she was paying, she remarked to my brother and I that she was going shopping with a coupon the following day that would save her a few dollars. She didn’t see the irony at first but it made us all chuckle.
One of the things Moses attempts to do in his final sermon is remind Israel from whence she came. He wants them to have a healthy and humble perspective as they move into the Promised Land. So he says things like, “Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the journey after you left Egypt…Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. Therefore I am commanding you to do this…Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.” (Deuteronomy 24:9, 18, 22 CSB) Why do we observe laws regarding disease or refuse to deny justice to the immigrant, orphan, and widow or leave the gleanings of the fields and orchards for the poor? Because Israel herself was once poor. They were the stranger, the foreigner, the alien. They were the slave, the poor, the fatherless. This is heart behind the Lord’s commands. His laws are not arbitrary or capricious. They are designed to help Israel maintain her perspective. The same is true when they bring the firstfruits of their offering. Every time they do give to the Lord, they are to recite their “origin story.” Deuteronomy 26:5-10, “My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt with a few people and resided there as an alien. There he became a great, powerful, and populous nation. But the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed us, and forced us to do hard labor. So we called out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our cry and saw our misery, hardship, and oppression. Then the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with terrifying power, and with signs and wonders. He led us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. I have now brought the first of the land’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.” What a powerful reminder of God’s great generosity and grace and what a powerful motivator for Israel to give.
What shapes your perspective? Over the years, I have found it helpful to recite all the things God has done for me. I have written down my testimony in various places, detailing all the different events over the course of my life where the Lord clearly interceded. Returning to my testimony or the “origin story” of my faith has served as a powerful reminder to me that informs how I live and how I serve and how I love and how I give.
Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 28-30