Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
– Deuteronomy 9:6
Israel stood on the threshold of the Promised Land, and Moses made it clear – they were not about to receive God’s blessings because of their righteousness. In fact, the opposite was true. They were “stiff-necked,” a rebellious people who had a knack for completely disobeying God. Yet, God was faithful to His promise, and not because they earned it, but because of His unchanging grace and His covenant.
We are much the same. In our humanness, we are tempted to think that our good works, upright behavior, or moral strength have secured God’s favor. But if we take an honest look at our hearts, we must admit that we fall short every day. Pride whispers in our minds long before it escapes our mouths, and we too can become “stiff-necked” in subtle but real ways – thinking ourselves more righteous than we are.
This verse actually foreshadows the Gospel message: salvation comes by grace through faith, not by our own righteousness. We do not stand before God because we’ve earned our way there, but because Jesus Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to us. Just as Israel inherited the land because of God’s faithfulness to His promises, we inherit eternal life because of God’s faithfulness in sending His Son to die on a cross as a ransom for our sins.
Moses words to his people remind us to stay humble and grateful. God knows our rebellious hearts, and yet He blesses us, saves us, and uses us for His purposes. It’s certainly not because we somehow deserve it.
So take a moment today to thank God for who He is. Despite all that we are, He loves us and has called us His own.
Former Blackout Artist 