Happy Trails?

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 48

Scripture Focus: Because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken. (Jeremiah 48.7)

Devotional Thought: Centuries before, Moab refused passage for the Israelites as they escaped Egypt.  Then, when Israel was nearing the Promised Land, Moab called Balaam to come and curse Israel.  That having failed, Moabite women tempted Israelite men to commit adultery and idolatry.  God had not overlooked Moab's animosity toward his people.

Jeremiah pronounced judgment on this historically anti-Israel land.  These  Moabites...

·       Misplaced their trust.  Jeremiah saw that the Moabites had trusted in their works.  Alliances formed, walls built, armies trained, economy strengthened - none of these things will save a nation.  Rather, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33.12).  Individual people, too, must not trust in their works to save them, but only in Jesus.  "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4.12).

·       Misunderstood their treasure. The Moabites also thought that their wealth could save them.  They thought that they could buy their way out of trouble, that money would deliver them from their enemies.  Jesus taught us quite the opposite: "Only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19.23-24).

·       Misread their trails. Moab thought that they were on happy trails.  Jeremiah warned them, however, that they would be taken.  "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (Proverbs 14.12).

Are you on truly happy trails?

Prayer: "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation."  Lord, I trust in you.  Lead me in the way everlasting.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 124.1-5

1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— let Israel now say—

2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us,

3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;

4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;

5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.