Having No Other Gods Besides Him
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 32:36-44 (NASB)
36 For the Lord will vindicate His people,
And will have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their strength is gone,
And there is none remaining, bond or free.
37 And He will say, ‘Where are their gods,
The rock in which they took refuge?
38 Those who ate the fat of their sacrifices,
And drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you,
Let them be your protection!
39 See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can save anyone from My hand.
40 Indeed, I raise My hand to heaven,
And say, as I live forever,
41 If I have sharpened My flashing sword,
And My hand has taken hold of justice,
I will return vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.
42 I will make My arrows drunk with blood,
And My sword will devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.’
43 Rejoice, you nations, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will return vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.”
44 Then Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he, with Joshua the son of Nun.
SUMMARY
In this part of The Song of Moses to the Israelites, we see God’s words about his character and how he is the one true God. He reveals that he is the giver of life and death, he heals and he wounds, that he will have compassion on those who choose him and have vengeance on those who hate him.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
This passage gives me a fuller picture of the character of God. He should be feared, and he’s the only God truly worthy of depending on.
In verses 37-38, he shows how foolish it is to depend on other “gods”, who supposedly need food and drink to live (at least that’s what they believed in the Ancient Middle East) and offer no real protection. The LORD, on the other hand, does not need anything to sustain him. In fact, it’s the opposite. He sustains us, and he is the Rock in which I can actually take refuge in.
Verse 39 is harder for me to swallow, especially when I think about God wounding people. As the argument goes, “how can a God who is supposed to be ‘good’ and ‘perfect’ allow suffering and pain?” These passages can easily shake me up when I’m focused on certain aspects of God’s character like his grace and mercy, and I forget about how he is righteous and just. Not very long ago, I believe God “wounded” me by allowing me to go through a life-threatening diagnosis and years of treatment and recovery. Although it was one of the most difficult experiences of my life so far, it strengthened my faith as I learned to trust in God and be grateful for what he’s given me. And I believe he is the same God who healed me and used that whole experience to bring me into a deeper relationship with him.
Overall, he is telling His people that he is the only God you can trust. But I know there are many other things that I put my trust in. I put my trust in my finances, hoping that as I keep saving and spend wisely, that I’ll somehow live a better and more comfortable life. I put my trust in my own determination, thinking that if I work harder I can be more successful in my career or that if I keep taking care of my health, I can prevent other medical issues from appearing. I put my trust in my spiritual efforts, thinking that if I attend church services regularly, read my Bible, and serve faithfully, that I’ll somehow get closer and closer to God. Not that any of these things are bad on their own - it’s when I rely on these things instead of on God who is my Rock, then they become foolish idols that can’t truly sustain me.
APPLICATION
Firstly, I want to ask myself, “when I feel like things are out of my control, who or what do I turn to?”
I think the best indication of putting my trust in God is going to him in prayer. Prayer is supposed to be the ultimate sign of dependence on God. I need to practice turning to God in prayer when I feel that things are out of my control, even when my first instinct is to do what I can by my own power.
I also need God’s help to continually identify the idols in my heart and what I’m putting my trust in. Then I need to surrender them to God in prayer.
PRAYER
Lord,
You are the only true God, the only God worthy of putting my trust in. You’re a compassionate, just, and righteous God, and I fear you and love you. You know my heart. I thank you that I can trust in you as my Rock, my firm foundation which I can stand on. Please reveal the idols in my heart and what I’m putting my trust in. Help me to surrender those things over to you daily and to increase my trust in you. You are the only one who can sustain me and vindicate me. I surrender my finances, career, health, and all other aspects of my life over to you, and I know that you will do your perfect will no matter what my circumstances look like.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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