Who wouldn't want love lavished for a thousand generations? Can we even comprehend that? Society today promises love...for as long as it lasts. What kind of a promise is that? What kind of love is that? What kind of love is love that is promised basically forever? And with every promise of God there is also a premise. What is the premise for this thousand generations of love? That we pay attention to His commands and follow them. Is this even possible? Definitely not, at least not on our own. That is why God had a plan even as He gave this promise--His plan to send His own Son to take care of the times when we fail.
Digging a little deeper into this passage I wanted to look for a life application for myself. We are told that these things happened to them as examples for us (1 Cor. 10:11) so while I won't be going in, taking over land, and conquering nations there are things I can learn about how to please God.
First the promise(s), then the premise. We are not only promised His love for a thousand generations, but "He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land--your grain, new wine and oil--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks" (Deut. 7:13). Okay, this was written to farmers and shepherds so allow me to take a bit of liberty with this. He will bless our families, He will bless our work, He will give us success in our businesses. And again, the premise--we must destroy the things that would ensnare us and turn our hearts away from Him.
What might ensnare me? An attitude? A TV show? Certain music? A habit?
What might take you captive? Your vices may be very dissimilar to mine or some might be the same. Whatever it is that might turn our eyes away from our Maker has the potential to ensnare us. None of us want to be ensnared anyway, so God is telling us that if we get rid of something we really don't want He will give us something much better.
Lavish love--and what will it cost? Only everything that is to our harm.
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