Deuteronomy 3-4 (Ash Wednesday)

This book makes the interesting community observation that though some of the tribes had by now taken their bits of the Promised Land, the menfolk of those tribes were still required to continue fighting for their brothers' land, until all could enter the Rest of the Lord together.

Today, there is much more of an "I'm OK so why should I worry?" attitude. On the other hand (human nature being what it is and selfishness common in every age) perhaps it was a problem then as well, hence a specific command was necessary!

Having conquered part, if not all of the Holy Land, there is another very interesting instruction, which again reflects the eternal nature of human forgetfulness:

Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Has anything so great as this ever happened? Or has anything like it been heard of? (Deut 4:9,32)

Human nature is ever forgetful and asking "So what have you done for me lately?" So quickly we forget the signs and wonders and love of God on which we first believed!

This Lent season, I shall endeavour to return to my first love and my first eagerness to learn of God. I will learn of God from his Word in serious study every day and remember to pray and give thanks, not just during Lent, but every day...with God's help!