Jun 1985 - Editorial

The warnings and exhortations of Moses to Israel in Deuteronomy were prefaced by the recollection of the previous generation's unbelief and rebellion. He was now ready to speak of the land the new generation was about to inherit. "And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna..." (Deut. 8:3). Subsequently he spoke of "a land of wheat and barley ... wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness". Then, "Beware lest thou forget the LORD thy God ... lest when thou hast eaten and art full ... then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God ... who fed thee ... to do thee good at thy latter end"(Deut. 8:8.16).

The Adversary of the people of God has a finely tuned sense of historical opportunity in deploying his temptations. It was unbelief essentially which had proved the downfall of the first generation of Israelites. Now their children received their primary warning about pride and forgetfulness of God; sins to which their impending security and affluence would make them a ready prey.

FOCUS sharpens down this month on the catastrophic famine conditions in N. Africa linked so intriguingly to the land of Israel by the Falasha rescue mission. While we are exercised in both prayer and practical support for the millions of victims of these grim conditions may we reflect also on the warnings of Moses in Deuteronomy? Israel's God knew of the conflicts that would attend His people's entry into their rich inheritance and He longed for them to know victory, not defeat. This subject features helpfully in the magazine this month; and we attend to Paul's words to Timothy as he caught the spirit of Moses's earlier warning, "Charge them... that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed" (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

unknown | Jun 1985
Editorial