Going nowhere fast

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen. — Deuteronomy 4:9

I walked as fast as possible. Worked up quite a sweat, in fact. After about a mile, I broke into a jog and then ran as hard as I could. Finally, after about 25 minutes, I stopped. My heart was pounding. My shirt was soaked. But I had gone nowhere. I had just done 2.5 miles on the treadmill.

After I cooled off, I sat down with my Bible. I was following a reading schedule and the selection for the day was from the book of Numbers. I read some of it slowly and some faster, but I felt at times that I wasn’t getting anywhere — like I was back on the treadmill. Censuses were taken. The long journey was recapped. The tribes were listed and relisted. The next day, I moved into Deuteronomy. More wanderings. More about the Israelites and their land.

But when I got to chapter 4, I was told why all that recapping was important. Moses told the people not to “forget the things your eyes have seen . . . teach them to your children” (4:9). The previous reading was not about Israel going nowhere fast. It was about training, about a lesson in using God’s past workings as instruction for future godly living.

All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God. So even when it may seem unimportant — keep reading. Sometimes we have to be patient to realize its full purpose.                    — Dave Branon

Search the Scriptures’ precious store —

As a miner digs for ore,

Search, and you will surely find

Treasures to enrich the mind.      — Anon.

READ: Deuteronomy 4:1-10

God speaks to us through His Word; take time to listen.

The Bible in one year:

• Matthew 1-6

• Proverbs 2:12-22