GUEST MEDITATION

By Rev. Wendell Lamb, Guest Correspondent
Published: September 25, 2008

Moses was coming to the end of his ministry, and Joshua had been prepared to take his place. The nation of Israel was on the march again, and Moses was giving instructions to Israel’s passing over Jordan into Canaan’s land. For 40 years, they had been in the wilderness, and now they would cross Jordan’s river into the land that God had promised.
There were two things that God warned them of that would hinder them from the blessings of possession of the land of Canaan. These two things are recorded in Deuteronomy 29:18. (1) “Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family or tribe whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve other gods of these nations.“ (2) Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood.“
The first warning is idolatry (putting something else ahead of the Lord and His service); and the second is having a bitter spirit (“gall” and “wormwood” are bitter). Like the Israelites, if we put other things before the Lord and His service or develop a bitter spirit, we too will miss out on the blessings of our Lord.