Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Deuteronomy chapter 8

After reading chapter 8:

*More exhortation to keep the commandments, then a treatise on the Israelite's  time wandering in the desert for 40  years.  Apparently, it was a test to see if they would keep Yahweh's commands. The Manna was an object lesson to teach that "man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of Yahweh."  But... They couldn't live on Yahweh's words, that's why they needed the manna, duh. (We are ignoring that in Exodus and Leviticus they were said to have large flocks and herds of animals which could have provided food.)

* We are now told that the Israelite's clothes miraculously did not wear out and their feet did not swell during the 40 years of wandering. (I'm guessing that passage is intended to answer an ancient Hebrew skeptic's questions.) Again with "obey the commands of Yahweh", because he is bringing them into a rich land. Plus, they better remember him after they find satisfaction in their new land. After all, he protected them in the desert and gave them the ubiquitous manna.

*Just like preachers around the globe today tell their flocks every Sunday, Moses tells the Israelites that they may think that everything they accomplish is by their own hands, but really it is God. He gave them the ability to to produce wealth and that just confirms his covenant. Win-win for Yahweh. Again, they better not forget it or they will be destroyed, just like the nations they, um God, destroyed. Hey, that last part is in the past tense, but they haven't destroyed the nations yet.

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