I've never been a fan of cheesy inspirational posters. You know, the kind with a picture of a country road and big type at the bottom that says something like "Vision." Typically, I also avoid cliche inspirational comparisons like, "Life is a journey." However, perhaps some things are cliche because they communicate ideas in way most people can tangibly relate to.
If I were to describe life as a journey, I would say that sometimes the road has serious potholes--the kind you can drive over in a small car (like my faithful-since-college Ford Focus) and wonder, "How did I not lose my tire in that?" The road of your life may have some fatal collisions, traffic, dead possums and dog poo (did I really just type that?!?). However, it might also have kind drivers who help you change your flat tire on the side of the road in the rain. It may have police officers who help you navigate some rough spots. Sometimes you might be in the carpool lane with some pretty amazing people. And at times, it may feel like you're driving in the sun on a freshly paved expressway with nothing holding you back.
Do you ever take time to remember the road--and reflect on how you got to where you're at today?
In today's passage, Moses repeatedly encouraged the Israelites to "remember the road." More specifically, he instructed them to remember God's intervention, provision and miracles along their journey through the desert. Let's refresh by taking a peek at these verses:
Remember every road that God led you on
for those forty years in the wilderness,
pushing you to your limits, testing you so that he would know what you were made of,
whether you would keep his commandments or not.
He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry.
Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about,
so you would learn that men and women don't live by bread only;
we live by every word that comes from God's mouth.
Your clothes didn't wear out and your feet didn't blister those forty years.
You learned deep in your heart
that God disciplines you in the same ways a father disciplines his child.
So it's paramount that you keep the commandments of God, your God,
walk down the roads he shows you and reverently respect him...
And here's a different part of the passage:
...So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you?
Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence,
follow the road he sets out for you,
love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you,
obey the commandments and regulations of God
that I'm commanding you today—
live a good life.
Sound familiar? This passage ties closely to some of the other themes in recent passages (see my blog site for the last few if you're interested). In these chapters, God (via Moses' message) isn't just encouraging the people to remember the roads they've been on--He encouraged them to remember His miraculous faithfulness, guidance and correction. I believe this instruction isn't about focusing on the past, but learning from it--it's about turning away from mistakes, living in obedience and most importantly, trusting in God all along the way. And you don't even need a cheesy poster to do that. :)
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