Know today that I do not speak with your children, who have not known and who have not seen the chastening of the Lord your God … but your eyes have seen every great act of the Lord which He did. (Deuteronomy 11:2, 7)
There is a huge difference in hearing about events that preceded our time and actually living through them. Hearing about events that came before out time can certainly influence us in a significant way, but being there to watch them unfold means that you are eye-witness — you saw it and there is no denying it. In this case, the wilderness generation bore witness to the chastening they had to endure in order to become a people who could inherit the land of Canaan.
Yet, what was meant to provoke Israel to learn and mature was intended to judge and destroy their Egyptian taskmasters. They saw for themselves what God did unto Pharaoh, his army, his land and “how the Lord has destroyed them to this day” (Deuteronomy 11:4). Egypt, a great and mighty power, was completely overthrown and, as Israel prepared to enter Canaan, still had not recovered. These incredible events were not handed down to the people of Israel orally, they witnessed God’s powerful deeds first hand.
For us, the events surrounding the Exodus are handed down to us, and yet they inspire and influence. However, there is coming a day that will eclipse the events recorded for us here. In fact, Jeremiah said that there is coming a day when we will no longer speak of what God did then but will speak of what God is doing now (Jeremiah 16:14-15). That is to say we will be witnesses of the mighty acts of God in the last days.
Personally, I believe those days are upon us. We are soon to see for ourself the great and awesome power of our God as He demonstrates to the world that there is a “God in Israel.” In anticipation of these things, let us continue to be submissive to His chastening as He prepares us for this time, knowing that He chastens those He loves. Furthermore, let us be steadfast in our mission to be witnesses of the resurrected and soon coming Messiah.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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