In this chapter, Moses instructs the people of Israel to conduct a harvest offering to the Lord once they have settled into the Promised Land. He states, “When you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, put some of the first produce from each harvest into a basket and bring it to the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, “with this gift I acknowledge that the Lord your God has brought me into the land he swore to give our ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 26:1-3)
Moses continues, “You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, “My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live in Egypt. His family was few in number, but in Egypt they became a mighty and numerous nation. When the Egyptians mistreated and humiliated us by making us their slaves, we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He heard us and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression. So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with amazing power, overwhelming terror, and miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! And now, O Lord, I have brought you a token of the first crops you have given me from the ground.” (Deuteronomy 26:5-10)
The Lord is so good! Never forget how good God has been to you! Moses states above that the Lord “heard us”. Is God listening to us now? Have we fostered a personal relationship with God which allows Him to hear us and then move on our behalf? If not, James 4:8 says, “Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.”
Moses then tells the people to place the produce before the Lord, and go celebrate all of the good things the Lord has given them. He then tells them to set aside a special tithe of their crops every third year to give to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows so they will have enough to eat.
Moses finishes the chapter calling for obedience for the Lord’s commands. He said, “The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. And if you do, he will make you greater than any other nation.” (Deuteronomy 26:18-19)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for choosing us as your people and special treasure, and as a result, help us celebrate you always! We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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