“Don’t think to yourself, after your God has pushed them out ahead of you, ‘It is to reward my righteousness that Adonai has brought me in to take possession of this land.’ No, it is because these nations have been so wicked that Adonai is driving them out ahead of you.”-Deuteronomy 9:4
Today’s post is kind of related to the article I wrote two days ago.
In that article I mentioned that after the Israelites have invaded the land of Canaan and are enjoying the fruits of other’s labors, they are not in any way to think that it was their own strength that enabled them to acquire the prosperity and riches they are enjoying.
In a similar sense, Moses is warning the people of Israel to not think it is because of their virtues that God has enabled them to possess the land.
They are NOT to think that HASHEM has given them the victory because they are an especially meritorious bunch.
God makes it clear they’re not.
Rather, the only reason they are going to be victorious is because of “the wickedness of those nations that the Lord is driving them out ahead of you“.
Holy smokes.
I’m sure that statement really put the Hebrews in their place.
God is letting Israel know that they never ever held any special virtue or degree of righteousness that caused Him to choose and save Israel.
Inherently, Israel isn’t any better than the GOYIM (the gentile nations).
What’s basically happening here is that God is using Israel as a tool to exercise His holy judgement upon the inhabitants of Canaan for their wickedness.
And you know what?
The opposite actually occurred…
…and this is something we will study in Scripture.
When Israel rebelled and descended into idolatry and wickedness, God used the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Romans in 70A.D. to punish His People.
God plays no favorites.
If you are righteous according to God’s Torah, you shall prosper.
If you are evil according to God’s Torah, you shall fall.
It’s really that simple.
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