HOLD FAST THE WORD OF LIFE (2)

“Man shall not LIVE by bread alone; but man LIVES by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” – Deuteronomy 8:3b

GOD wants His children to HOLD FAST the WORD of LIFE for the sake of LIFE: “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not LIVE by bread alone; but man LIVES by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Dt.8:3). This verse recounts what God did back in Exodus, providing bread from Heaven for His people on a daily basis. Here, God was revealing why He did that: So that they would know that they lived – their sustenance was based – not on bread alone but on God’s provisions in His Word – The WORD of LIFE!

There is so much to learn from the journey of God’s people through the wilderness and from their walk with Him. This Deuteronomy 8:3 truth is so vital that Jesus quoted it when He was tempted by the devil, as recorded in the Gospels: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt.4:4; Lk.4:4). Jesus defeated Satan by the Word of Life! Originally, it was Moses teaching God’s people pertinent truths as they journeyed with God. Moses opened up his admonition by telling the people to be careful to obey all that God had commanded them to do (v.1). Then, He reminded them of the ‘HOWs’ and ‘WHYs’ God took them through peculiar phases in the wilderness (v.2). His reasons were: to humble and test them. God expressed His love for His people through how He disciplined them.

God earnestly desired for His people to be upright in character and their walk with Him. He led them through the wilderness journey so that they could grow in character, becoming more like Him – humble, meek, and holy. But they were so focused on receiving without regard for growth; hence they kept circling the same region for years. God closely observed and tested them with different tasks and circumstances to help them grew in stature and in His nature. Alas, they didn’t grow as much as He would have wanted them to; so He kept testing them for forty gruesome years, whereas it should have only taken three days or a few months at most to enter the Promised Land (Exo.3:18; 8:27).

Moses continued his admonition by reminding the Israelites how God provided supernatural food for them daily, in order to teach them that they need more than just food to live and thrive in life (v.3). As much as we need food, so do we need God’s Word to grow daily. Joshua 1:8 testifies that good success is only achievable and attainable when we feast and meditate on the Word of the Lord, day and night. More than enjoying realms of blessings and regions of expansion and abundance, God wants for us to keep transforming to become like Him daily. This comes by feeding on God’s Word daily. It’s our knowledge of God’s Word and His power that determines our strength and stamina through life’s journeys, especially when we’re faced with challenges.

Moses reminded the children of Israel: “Therefore you shall KEEP the commandments of the Lord your God, to WALK in HIS WAYS and to fear Him” (v.6). He was giving them some details of HOW to HOLD FAST the Word of Life: KEEP the Word so devotedly and diligently that you’ll be enabled to WALK in God’s WAYS with a sustained Fear of God, which is the beginning of Wisdom (Pro.9:10). Physical food is important, but more important for us than breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack, is spiritual nourishment from God’s Word.

Beloved, how much of God’s Word are we feeding on daily? How much of His Word are we allowing to mold and make us or frame our lives? To what extent are we growing – in character and stature – just as God wants us to? Let’s hold fast the Word of Life and grow for His Glory!