As kids, whenever it was time to pick teams the same routine always played out. The two captains stood across from all the other participants and one by one everyone was selected. The best players or personal friends were always chosen first. The final picks, well let's just say felt like leftovers. Nobody really wanted them on their team but took them anyway. Sometimes the picking stopped before everyone was chosen and the final persons were more or less assigned to a team.
When you were picked, there was a kind of personal satisfaction and almost an exuberance for being selected in the early rounds as one of the elite, one who was worthy. You looked forward to displaying your prowess or amazing skills in the imminent contest. Being chosen was an honor. There was a sense of pride among all those chosen. The leftovers, they were just glad that they were allowed to participate.
The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. It was already inhabited, so God was going to drive out the peoples living there. It had to be both an exciting and nervous time for the Israelites. The people living in the land were strong and powerful and some tall, giants in fact. The spies, thirty-eight years earlier, had a correct observation of the people already living in the Promised Land. Ten of them were so intimidated that they gave a bad report about taking the land. They referred to themselves as "grasshoppers in their eyes."
But God had already demonstrated His power and ability to drive out the Israelites enemies. They had fought and soundly defeated any enemy that stood in their way. God had already fought for them as they defeated the people on the east side of the Jordan and given that land to some of the tribes or Israel. By this time, they were a little cocky. They hadn't suffered a defeat and had watched their enemies and existing nations fall prey to their hands. Even though they had been outnumbered in the past, in made no difference. They were God's people and proud of it.
Realizing their arrogance at being chosen by God to inherit the land, Moses had a a little message for the Children of Israel. In Deuteronomy 9, he tries to set them straight. "Dudes, you aren't getting this land because you're special. God's getting rid of these people because of their sins. They are vile and God is punishing them. Don't think you're anything too special. Because if you act like them, God will do the same thing to you." Then he goes on to remind them of their recent history with God, their disobedience. He point blank calls them a "stiff necked people."
Being stiff necked doesn't have anything to do with how they slept. It has to do with their stubbornness, their arrogance, their rebelliousness. Moe might have called them a pain in the neck (or some place else) to both himself and God. They no doubt were. At times God was ready to destroy them and Moe pleaded in their behalf. At other times, Moe was ready to destroy them and God intervened.
Here in chapter 9, Moses clearly states that although they were the "chosen" people, they didn't deserve what God was doing for them on the basis of their own merits, righteousness, integrity or good looks. God was clearing the land of wickedness and preparing the way for His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He was working His plan to redeem all mankind.
Being a part of God's elect or chosen people is a unique privilege. So often we think that just because we're followers of Christ we're above everyone else. We somehow think we're special, deserving. The good news is that we're on the winning team when accept Christ as Lord and Savior and become a member of God's very own family. But we're on the team not because we deserve it or because of our righteousness or because we're good people. We're really no different from the Israelites. We, too, are stiff necked people. If it weren't for God's grace, we'd simply die in the desert.
God, I'm so thankful for your grace. I realize I'm a mess without you. It's such a privilege to be welcomed into your family and share in your Son's inheritance. I never want to take for granted your favor, your love, your mercy, your riches, your presence. I never want to assume an arrogant attitude over people. I am no better than they, just blessed to have received your forgiveness.
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