My
father was a wandering Aramean (Deuteronomy 26:5).
In the waning days of their desert experience, the
Israelites were anticipating how things would be different once they were
settled in Canaan. Once they had taken the land, and moved into houses they had
not built, and harvested gardens they had not planted, they were to bring the
first fruits of the harvest to the priest as a tithe belonging to God. They
were to speak these words: My father was a wandering
Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and
became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us
and made us suffer . . . So the Lord brought us out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 26:5-8).
They were being reminded that while enjoying the blessings
of God they should never forget their humble beginnings and how far God had
brought them.
My grandfather was a poor man working oil leases, coal mines
and railroads (whatever work he could find) in Western Pennsylvania. My father,
brought up during the Great Depression, dropped out of high school so he could
go to work and help support the family. I thank the Lord my kids are looking
ahead to college degrees and anticipating all that life has waiting for them.
May we never forget our roots and with God’s help, how far
we’ve come.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Where are your roots? How far
has God brought you? Reflect on your heritage and thank him for it. And for how
far he’s brought you.
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