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UNDERSTANDING BLESSINGS

Text: Deuteronomy 32:13-14
8 August 2021

APPRECIATING GOD’S BLESSINGS

As we trace the gracious hand of God, it would be good to understand that we have truly amazing blessings from Him.

13 “He made him ride in the heights of the earth,

That he might eat the produce of the fields;

He made him draw honey from the rock,

And oil from the flinty rock;

14 Curds from the cattle, and milk of the flock,

With fat of lambs;

And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats,

With the choicest wheat;

And you drank wine, the blood of the grapes.     Deuteronomy 32:13-14

The language used in this passage is highly figurative but most illuminating.

  1. He made him ride in the heights of the earth

That he might eat the produce of the fields

a) This is a figure of speech to describe great success

b) The children of Israel were given the whole land of Canaan

i) There were rich plains

ii) There were beautiful high mountain ranges

c) This was his “ride in the heights of the earth”

d) In conquering the land, Israel was able to enjoy “the produce of the fields”

  1. He made him draw honey from the rock,
    And oil from the flinty rock

a) There were blessings that came from hard work

b) Honey had to be found and they are sometimes found in unusual places like rocky grounds

i) Israel had to learn how to farm colonies of bees to produce honey

ii) The “rock” is a figure of speech to refer to hard work

c) Oil from the flinty rock

i) This is not petroleum oil

ii) This is a reference to olive trees that produce oil

iii) The grounds had to be tilled and cleared of flinty rocks before olive trees could be planted

iv) There are blessings that come after hard work has been put in

  1. Curds from the cattle, and milk of the flock,
    With fat of lambs;
    And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats,
    With the choicest wheat;
    And you drank wine, the blood of the grapes.   

a) There was animal husbandry that had to be learned and mastered

b) There was also agricultural knowledge and skills to be obtained

c) The results were blessings from God

d) Israel enjoyed the fruit of their labour

BLESSINGS COME IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Not all blessings come in the same way! Some are outright blessings. Some others are hard earned. But all blessings ultimately come from the Lord. 

The blessings bestowed on Bethany may be viewed in the same way. Thank God for all His manifold blessings!