Deuteronomy 11:1-7: a reflection

1Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and keep his instructions, his statutes, his ordinances, and his commandments, always. 2Know this day—for I don’t speak with your children who have not known, and who have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm, 3his signs, and his works, which he did in the middle of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and to all his land; 4and what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red Sea to overflow them as they pursued you, and how the LORD has destroyed them to this day; 5and what he did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place; 6and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben—how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the middle of all Israel; 7but your eyes have seen all of the LORD’s great work which he did.

Moses calls Israel to love and obey God, and he grounds the call in memory. Know this day, he says, and he appeals not to the children who have not seen, but to those whose own eyes have witnessed God's great works: the strong hand that brought them out of Egypt, the destruction of Pharaoh's army in the sea, God's care through the wilderness, the judgment on the rebels. Your own eyes, he says, have seen all the great work of the LORD. And on that basis, love him and keep his commandments.

Notice how Moses connects memory and devotion. He does not appeal to abstract arguments, but to what the people have actually seen God do, the deliverances and provisions they witnessed with their own eyes. Remember these, he urges, and let the memory of what God has done fuel your love and obedience now. Firsthand experience of God's works is a treasure, and it is meant to be remembered and to sustain present faithfulness.

That is worth taking to heart about our own history with God. Each of us who has walked with God has a store of things we have seen him do, answered prayers, provisions, deliverances, moments of his presence and help. These are not meant to fade into forgetfulness; they are meant to be remembered, and to fuel our love and obedience now. When your devotion grows cold or your trust wavers, do what Moses urged: remember what your own eyes have seen God do. Let the memory of his works in your life rekindle your love for him. What you have seen him do is a treasure; hold onto it, and let it move you to love and obey.

Lord, Moses called your people to love and obey you by remembering what their own eyes had seen you do. I too have a store of things I have witnessed you do, answered prayers, provisions, moments of your help and presence. Keep them from fading into forgetfulness. When my devotion grows cold or my trust wavers, help me remember what my own eyes have seen you do, and let those memories rekindle my love for you. What I have seen you do is a treasure; help me hold onto it and let it move me to love and obey you.