March 7, 2024

Rēad to Read …Again

Daily Reading:  Deuteronomy 24-27

Deuteronomy 24:22

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

The thing that the Lord is commanding Israel to do in today’s verse is to remember the poor, the widow, the fatherless, and the stranger. By leaving some boughs of olives from their olive trees, or grapes in their vineyard, or sheaves in their fields, these unfortunate souls would have something to glean for sustenance. After giving these commands, the Lord has Moses remind them that they were once bondmen, servants, in Egypt. In fact, this basic statement is used four times in Moses’ sermon (15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).

Sometimes it is a good thing to remember where we came from. It reminds us of where God found us, the path we were on, the direction we were headed, and the blessings He has bestowed on us since being born again, saved, redeemed, or whatever name one may call that time of being rescued from a wasted life and certain eternal doom. Where would we be today if not for Christ? Would we still be free citizens or incarcerated? Would we still be married? Would we be enjoying the benefits that He gives us daily? We know where we are going, we are Heaven bound. But where did we come from? The answer to that will keep us humble. It will motivate us to help others find that which we have found. It will challenge us to give to the less fortunate. It will cause us to keep perspective, to not be so harsh in judgment, and to keep gratitude in our heart.

Remembering where we came from is a cautionary tale not to return there. Remember the fear of the wages of sin? Remember having no sense of direction, no comfort in the soul, no hope for a better future? What about the dread, anxiety, fright, and horror of death, remember that? I do. But, because I was rescued by the Gospel, I now want everyone else to have the freedom from fear, the comfort of the Scriptures, the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and the knowledge of Heaven and all its eternal comforts.

In I Corinthians 6 Paul lists some of the most horrible sins known to mankind, then he states clearly in verse 11: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. He is reminding some of the readers where they came from. Think about it. Those who were dirty, are now, today, right now, washed. Those who were defiled are now sanctified, meaning they are set aside for a divine purpose. Those who were unjustified in their behavior are now justified in His name. No wonder Paul later writes: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)

Yes, indeed, sometimes it’s good to remember where we came from.

Dr. William T. Howe