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 in to 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 to Egypt with a few people and
lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Eqyptians
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.
Where are your roots?
How far has God brought you?
No comments:
Post a Comment