2016 Belmont University Lenten GuideSample

As Deuteronomy 26 opens, the writer pulls back the curtain of Israel’s long and checkered history and gives us a glimpse inside. Practical instructions are given concerning the Offerings of First Fruits and Tithes. This ancient practice seems odd to us. Not so if you were a son or daughter of Abraham. This Jewish festival played a central role in their faith journey. It was a call to remember “His-Story”—what God had done in bringing their forefathers out of slavery. Three things came to mind as these early sojourners observed this festival: First, they remembered a very dark day: “And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor” (v. 6). The Israelites found themselves in a bad place. It appeared that all hope was gone. All they had left was a desperate cry. “Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers (v. 7a). Secondly, they remembered God’s intervention: “…and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil and our oppression. And the Lord brought us out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (v. 7b-–8a). Finally, they remembered God’s faithfulness: The Lord not only heard their prayers and brought them out, but He also gave them a new beginning in a new land, one flowing with milk and honey. A new generation stands before us here in this Old Testament drama. Their parents had been given the same promise of blessings but because of fear chose not to enter the promised land. This generation is challenged to remember what God has done. They are instructed to bring an offering of the first fruits of the land and present them to the priest. In thus doing they are to acknowledge all that God has done in saving them and providing for their needs. Fast forward some 1400 years. Once again we see God intervening and doing for His creation what they could not have otherwise done for themselves. Entrapped in the slavery of sin with no hope or way of escape. With outstretched arms on Calvary’s Cross the sinless son of God shed His blood and gave His life to make possible our deliverance. What should be our response for such a great gift? Humbly, let us “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Rom 12:1c). JEFF HOLDER Missionary-in-Residence College of Theology & Christian Ministry