Contemplative Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 26:5 (New Living Translation)

5 “You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation.

God is speaking to the people as they are about to enter the Promised Land. When they enter the land, “they must then say…”

Jacob entered Egypt with fewer than a hundred people. Later, 400 years later, they exited with a million or so people, i.e., a mighty nation.

This is the ultimate rags to riches story. Perhaps it is a rags to bigger rags story. Sure, the people who exited Egypt did so with valuables earned over the 400 years as well as riches given to them by the Egyptians (good riddance).

Did the people, however, retain the riches or just become a much bigger group of rags? Did the experience lead them to righteous living? Did the people fall into injustice and unrighteous living? History shows that it didn’t go well with the people as they turned away from God. They became a much bigger group of rags.

What was wrong with them? What is wrong with me? I am blessed far more than these descendants of Jacob were. What am I doing with the blessings? Oh, well, sure I’m a good guy and all that. Really? Am I rich in justice and righteousness? Well, on my good days, but I have too few of those and too many of the other kind (if I am being honest with myself). And thank you God for your grace, and please help me in my unbelief.