Bx – Do Not Forget ADONAI 6: 10-19

Do Not Forget ADONAI
6: 10-19

Do not forget ADONAI DIG: Yeshua quotes verses 13 and 16 when tempted in the wilderness by Satan. How does this show Moses’ words are not outdated, but can be seen as a foreshadowing of the armor of God in order to withstand all the flaming arrows of the Evil One? In what respect is YHVH a jealous God? Could Isra’el’s disobedience prevent God’s promise from becoming a reality?

REFLECT: Nothing dulls our sensitivity to God like independence. Do you tend to relax when things are going well for you? What is the three-step process for not forgetting God? When you are tempted by the Adversary, how do you resist him? How did Yeshua defend Himself? What is the antidote for being filled with a bitter spirit?

Looking toward the future (when Isra’el conquered Canaan), and in the light of all that God had done for Isra’el, Moshe urges the nation not to forget ADONAI, but instead, to display the fear of the LORD by obeying His mitzvot.

Moses equipped the new generation to enter and claim the Promised Land, and he knew that Canaan would be a place of temptation as well as a place of triumph. For one thing, when they conquered the nations that occupied Canaan, the Israelites would inherit vast wealth and would be tempted to forget ADONAI, who had made their victories possible. The second temptation would be for Isra’el to compromise with the pagan nations around them and not maintain their separated position as the people of the LORD (7:1-16).

Most people find it easier to handle adversity than prosperity (Philippians 4:10-20), because adversity usually drives us closer to YHVH as we seek His wisdom and help. When things are going well, we’re prone to relax our spiritual disciplines, take our blessings for granted, and forget to praise God. The material things that we wait for, and sacrifice for, seem to mean more to us than the gifts that fall in our laps without much effort on our part.²⁰¹

Now when ADONAI your God brings you into the Land that He swore to your fathers – to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – to give you great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns dug that you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant, and you eat and are full . . . then watch yourself so that you do not forget ADONAI, your Redeemer, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery (6:10-12). There is no justification for God’s people, then (and now) to live their lives as though He does not exist, living like practicing atheists.

You must fear ADONAI your God and serve only Him. Yeshua quoted from this passage when the deceiver tempted Him the third time with all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor (see the commentary on The Life of Christ, to see link click Bj – Jesus is Tempted in the Wilderness). The word slavery in verse 12 (Hebrew: ‘avadim) is in contrast to the word serve (Hebrew: to’avod); both come from the same root and contrast vividly the old and new masters of Isra’el. Pharaoh, who was considered a god in Egypt (see the commentary on Exodus Bc – Pharaoh as god and upholder of Ma’at), had for a long time been the suzerain lord of the Israelites; in the Exodus, the LORD had broken the old ties binding the people to Egypt, and had thus won the right to call them His vassals (see Ah – Treaty of the Great King). Since the basis of the people in their new Land was established by the power of their God, the Israelites were not to forget their liberation, but rather they were to continue to serve ADONAI and swear by His Name (6:13).²⁰²

Here, the Ruach ha-Kodesh introduces a three-step process for not forgetting ADONAI.

The first step is that we must fear ADONAI (6:13a). Our independent nature causes us to stray from God, thus obstructing our worship of Him. To prevent this from happening, we need to have a reverent fear of Ha’Shem. This is not the kind of fear that intimidates or causes us to withdraw, but rather the kind that causes us to appreciate the power of YHVH. It creates within us a desire to draw near for security and strength. It causes finite humans to cling to an infinite God.

The second step is that we must serve Him (6:13b). The visible evidence of our fearing ADONAI will be our service to Him. And, conversely, one of the first signs of forgetting ADONAI is our lack of service and ministry to others.²⁰³

The third step is that we must swear by His Name (6:13c). Swearing by YHVH’s name is an expression of loyalty to Him and recognition of Him as the Supreme Authority. A true worshiper of Ha’Shem in the TaNaKh was one who swore by His name (Psalm 63:11; Isaiah 48:1; Jeremiah 4:2, 5:2, 12:16). To swear by other gods represented a betrayal of His authority (Joshua 23:7 and Jeremiah 12:16).²⁰⁴

Not only that, but Moses declared: You must not go after other gods (see Bl – Have No Other Gods). Yeshua quoted this passage when the father of lies tempted Him a second time, saying: If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written, “He will command His angels concerning You to guard you carefully; and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone” (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Bj – Jesus is Tempted in the Wilderness). But Yeshua defended Himself by quoting scripture: You are not to test ADONAI your God.

The way Messiah rebuked the old serpent is an important lesson for us today. He did not bind the devil. People today talk about binding Satan. Well, whoever thinks they are binding him is doing a really bad job because the ruler of demons is really active in my neighborhood, and I assume yours as well. No, Yeshua used scripture to rebuke the evil one. The bible says to resist the devil, and he will run from you (James 4:7b). How did Messiah resist him? He quoted Deuteronomy three times! We should follow His example and quote scripture.

Could Isra’el’s disobedience prevent God’s promise from becoming a reality? After all, the ultimate fulfillment of YHVH’s promises to them was beyond question (Genesis 13:14-17,15:18, 17:8) because Isra’el’s receipt of the Land of Promise was integrally connected to God’s character. What was “conditional” was which generation would enjoy the fulfillment of that promise. The Israelites hearing Moses’ voice at that time had seen their parents slowly die off in the wilderness. The question was not whether Ha’Shem would honor His promise, the question was which generation would the promise be fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:31-37, 32:36-40; Ezeki’el 36:22-31, 37:1-14).²⁰⁵

Moses told the second generation of the Exodus that they were not to go after the gods of the pagan peoples around them. For ADONAI your God in the midst of you is a jealous God. The reason that idols are not to be worshiped is that ADONAI is a jealous or zealous God, and Isra’el’s idolatry is looked upon as spiritual adultery. The Hebrew word qanna’ combines the two concepts of jealousy and zeal (not envy or suspicion). So, zeal, or zealousness, meaning a passionate devotion to, would be a better term to use than jealous, which has negative, even petty connotations. So, idolatry would cause God’s zeal to burn like a husband’s zealousness would burn against an unfaithful wife (Hosea 2:2-5). Because God and Isra’el are viewed as married, Isra’el is viewed as the wife of ADONAI (Deuteronomy 5:1-3, 6:10-15, 7:6-11; Isaiah 54:1-8, 62:4-5; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezeki’el 16:8; Hosea 2:14-23). For that very reason, the Israelites should not have worshiped other gods. God has a right to be zealous over what is rightfully His. As a result, this was not a petty jealousy, but a righteous zealousness.

They were not to go after the gods of the pagan peoples around them, otherwise the anger of ADONAI your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you from the face of the earth. This zealous God would remove Isra’el from the Promised Land if they continued to worship false gods as they had done in Egypt (Ezeki’el 20:8) and in the wilderness (Exodus 32:1-6; Acts 7:30-43). The incident at Massah (see the commentary on Exodus Cu – Strike the Rock and Water Will Come Out of It), in which Isra’el put ADONAI to the test, is now recalled as another warning (6:14-16). The attitude of their parents proved that they neither loved nor trusted Him. Their bodies were in the camp of Isra’el, but their hearts were still in Egypt.

Instead of testing YHVH, this younger generation was to diligently keep the mitzvot of ADONAI their God – the statutes (Hebrew: hachukkim, meaning to write into law permanently) and ordinances (Hebrew: hammishpatim, meaning a judgment of the court) that He had commanded them (6:17). The Land was essentially good, but they would only experience its goodness when they were obedient to the LORD.

You are to do what is right and good in the sight of ADONAI, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and possess the good Land that ADONAI swore to your fathers – to drive out all your enemies from before you, as ADONAI has spoken (6:18-19). Moshe demonstrates that YHVH was fully capable of fulfilling His promise that Isra’el would inherit the land of Canaan. The issue was whether Isra’el would enjoy a long life in the Land as the result of wholeheartedly embracing the LORD’s mitzvot.

ADONAI tests our faith, not just in the great crises of life, but even more in the small unexpected events, such as a travel delay, an irritating interruption, a sudden sickness, or a lost wallet. The way we respond in these situations will include what’s in our hearts, because what life does to us depends on what life finds in us. If we love and trust the Lord, we’ll leave the matter with Him and do what He tells us, but if we question the Lord and rebel because we’re not getting our own way, then we’re in danger of tempting Him. One of the best protections against tempting ADONAI is a grateful heart. If we’re in the habit of thanking God in everything, including the painful experiences of life, then the Ruach ha-Kodesh will fill our hearts with love and praise instead of the Adversary filling us with bitter spirit. Rejoice always, pray constantly, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua (First Thessalonians 5:16-18). Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, let’s be thankful for what we do have, because YHVH always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.²⁰⁶

Dear Heavenly Father, How wonderful You are! Praise You that You allow tests and trials in the life of Your children like a coach guiding his team to victory by giving us strenuous workouts so that we can obtain the prize of victory. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (James 1:2-3), and though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (First Peter 1:6b-7), and I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). We long for the day when we leave behind all of life’s problems and will spend forever in Your home of eternal peace and joy!

Praise You that no matter how awful things get on earth, we know for sure where all who love and follow You will spend eternity. Praise You for Yeshua’s making such a wonderful home in heaven. Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.  In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be (John 14:1-3). We love You! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen