◄ Deuteronomy 8:2 ►
Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.
Study Bible
Remember that these forty years
The forty years in the wilderness were a significant period in Israel's history, marking the time between their exodus from Egypt and their entrance into the Promised Land. This period symbolizes a generation's lifespan and is often seen as a time of testing and preparation. The number forty is frequently used in the Bible to denote periods of trial or judgment, such as the forty days of rain during the flood (Genesis 7:12) and Jesus' forty days of fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2).

the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness
God's guidance through the wilderness underscores His sovereignty and faithfulness. Despite the Israelites' frequent disobedience, God provided direction and sustenance, such as manna and water from the rock. This journey through the wilderness is a type of the Christian life, where believers are led by God through trials and challenges toward spiritual maturity and the ultimate promise of eternal life.

so that He might humble you
Humility was a key lesson for the Israelites, who often displayed pride and self-reliance. The wilderness experience stripped them of their self-sufficiency, teaching them dependence on God. This humbling process is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to humble themselves under God's mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6).

and test you
Testing in the wilderness was meant to reveal the Israelites' faith and obedience. This concept of testing is seen throughout Scripture, where God tests His people to refine and strengthen their faith, as seen in the story of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22) and in the trials faced by Job.

in order to know what was in your heart
The heart, in biblical terms, represents the center of one's being, including thoughts, emotions, and will. God’s testing was designed to reveal the true nature of the Israelites' devotion and commitment to Him. This introspection is vital for believers, as Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God with all one's heart (Matthew 22:37).

whether or not you would keep His commandments
Obedience to God's commandments was a central theme in the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The wilderness period was a proving ground for their faithfulness to God's laws. This call to obedience is reiterated in the New Testament, where Jesus emphasizes the importance of keeping His commandments as a demonstration of love for Him (John 14:15).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who led the Israelites through the wilderness.

2. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for forty years.

3. The Wilderness
A significant place of testing and spiritual formation for the Israelites, representing both physical and spiritual challenges.

4. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who communicated God's laws and guidance to the people.

5. The Forty Years
A period of testing and preparation for entering the Promised Land, symbolizing a generation's journey of faith and obedience.
Teaching Points
God's Guidance and Sovereignty
Recognize that God leads us through life's wilderness experiences with purpose and intention.

The Purpose of Testing
Understand that trials are opportunities for spiritual growth and reveal the true condition of our hearts.

Humility and Dependence
Embrace humility and dependence on God as essential attitudes for spiritual maturity and obedience.

Obedience to God's Commandments
Commit to keeping God's commandments as a demonstration of love and faithfulness to Him.

Remembering God's Faithfulness
Regularly recall and give thanks for God's past faithfulness as a source of encouragement and strength.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness reflect your own spiritual journey?

2. In what ways can you identify with the testing and humbling process described in Deuteronomy 8:2?

3. How can you apply the lessons of humility and dependence on God in your current life circumstances?

4. What are some practical ways to remember and celebrate God's faithfulness in your life?

5. How do the experiences of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4) provide a model for overcoming temptation and remaining obedient to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 16
The provision of manna in the wilderness, illustrating God's faithfulness and the testing of the Israelites' obedience.

Numbers 14
The Israelites' rebellion and lack of faith, leading to their extended time in the wilderness.

Matthew 4
Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, paralleling the testing of the Israelites and highlighting obedience to God.

Hebrews 3-4
A reflection on the Israelites' unbelief and the call to enter God's rest through faith and obedience.
Sermons
God's TrainingCharles KingsleyDeuteronomy 8:2
A Call to RemembranceF. A. Warmington.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
A New Year's MeditationJ. B. Brown, B. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
A Protecting ProvidenceA. P. Peabody.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Afflictive Dispensations of ProvidenceD. Dickinson, D. D.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Development and DisciplineC. Wadsworth.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Divine LeadingJ. J. Eastmead.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Divine Providence a Moral DisciplineF. A. West.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
God Proves His ChildrenGeorge Macdonald.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
God's LeadingSpurgeon, Charles HaddonDeuteronomy 8:1-2
God's Training of MenC. Kingsley, M. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Human LifeHomilistDeuteronomy 8:1-2
Human Life a PilgrimageJohn Mason, M. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Looking BackwardW. L. Watkinson.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Looking BackwardSidney Pitt.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Memory a ScribeWatson, ThomasDeuteronomy 8:1-2
Past RecollectionsW. G. Barrett, M. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Remember the WayS. Martin, D. D.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Remembering and ForgettingS. H. Howe, D. D.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Remembrance of God's DealingsT. Webster, B. D.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
Remembrance of Past TrialsPreacher's AnalystDeuteronomy 8:1-2
Retrospect ExhilaratingBishop Cheney.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Advantages of a Devout Review of the Divine DispensatJames Stark.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Advantages of a Frequent Retrospect of LifeC. Bradley, M. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Blessing of TemptationW. W. Champneys, M. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Christian Called to Review the Dealings of God with HimJ. Benson.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Common Levels of LifeJ. B. Brown, B. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Design of AfflictionJ. Parker, D. D.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Discipline of LifeDeuteronomy 8:1-2
The Duty, Benefits, and Blessings of Remembering God's CommandmentsJ. D. Day, M. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Journey of LifeHomilistDeuteronomy 8:1-2
The Lesson of MemoryA. Maclaren, D. D.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Moral Discipline of ManHomilistDeuteronomy 8:1-2
The Power of MemoryJ. R. Hargreaves.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The RetrospectW. Jay.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Stages of ProbationDean Goulburn.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Way of the PastLay PreacherDeuteronomy 8:1-2
The Way to Improve Past ProvidencesJohn Mason, M. A.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
To Bring to RemembranceJ. Wells.Deuteronomy 8:1-2
The Lessons of the WildernessR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 8:1-6
The Moral Uses of MemoryD. Davies Deuteronomy 8:1-6
The Uses of AdversityJ. Orr Deuteronomy 8:2-6
People
Moses
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Egypt
Topics
Afflict, Caused, Commandments, Commands, Desert, Forty, Hast, Heart, Humble, Led, Low, Mind, Order, Orders, Pride, Prove, Remember, Remembered, Test, Testing, Try, Waste, Whether, Wilderness, Wouldest, Wouldst
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 8:2

     1095   God, patience of
     4020   life, of faith
     4230   desert
     4963   past, the
     5017   heart, renewal
     5698   guardian
     8129   guidance, examples
     8276   humility

Deuteronomy 8:1-2

     8670   remembering

Deuteronomy 8:1-5

     8231   discipline, divine

Deuteronomy 8:2-3

     8832   testing

Deuteronomy 8:2-4

     1654   numbers, 11-99

Deuteronomy 8:2-5

     5473   proof, through testing
     8027   faith, testing of

Library
God's Training
DEUTERONOMY viii. 2-5. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the …
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

The Lesson of Memory
'Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these lofty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.'--DEUT. viii.2. The strand of our lives usually slips away smoothly enough, but days such as this, the last Sunday in a year, are like the knots on a sailor's log, which, as they pass through his fingers, tell him how fast it is being paid out from the reel, and how far it has …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

National Wealth
(Fifth Sunday after Easter.) Deut. viii. 11-18. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth …
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch

Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Emmanuel's Land
P. G. Deut. viii. 7-10 The land! the glory of all lands, Beyond the Jordan's wave; Beyond the weary desert sands-- The land beyond the grave! Now safe witin that glorious land, We prove His faithful Word; 'Midst Canaan's golden fields we stand, The ransomed of the Lord. Amidst the burning desert drought We learnt His watchful love; Streams from the flinty rocks He brought, Sent bread from Heaven above. Our God in weariness and need, His love was measured there By hunger which His hand would feed, …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
Eighteen and a half centuries ago, and the land which now lies desolate--its bare, grey hills looking into ill-tilled or neglected valleys, its timber cut down, its olive- and vine-clad terraces crumbled into dust, its villages stricken with poverty and squalor, its thoroughfares insecure and deserted, its native population well-nigh gone, and with them its industry, wealth, and strength--presented a scene of beauty, richness, and busy life almost unsurpassed in the then known world. The Rabbis never …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Temptation of Christ
Matthew 4:1-11 -- "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a …
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

Why all Things Work for Good
1. The grand reason why all things work for good, is the near and dear interest which God has in His people. The Lord has made a covenant with them. "They shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Jer. xxxii. 38). By virtue of this compact, all things do, and must work, for good to them. "I am God, even thy God" (Psalm l. 7). This word, Thy God,' is the sweetest word in the Bible, it implies the best relations; and it is impossible there should be these relations between God and His people, and …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Third Sunday Before Lent
Text: First Corinthians 9, 24-27; 10, 1-5. 24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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