I was studying the Bible this morning before getting started on my work day. Today I had picked Deuteronomy 28 and 29 to meditate on. I tell you what, if you have a problem following God commandments you need to meditate on those two chapters. They will scare you into total submission! lol
Yet I found one portion in this passage which caught my attention. In Deuteronomy 29 the Word of God says:
14 “I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, 15 but with him who stands here with us today before the Lord our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today 16 (for you know that we dwelt in the land of Egypt and that we came through the nations which you passed by, 17 and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them—wood and stone and silver and gold); 18 so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 19 and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates[a] of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.” NKJV
It was interesting to me that bitterness should be included in the same passage as idols. The metaphor of a “root bearing bitterness or wormwood” refers to a tree which can no longer bear good fruit due to one branch which bears poisonous fruit. This is how dangerous the root of bitterness is. It can darken your world with its poison.
I was trying desperately to understand the complexities of this passage and the Lord gave me an example of someone who personifies this passage.
Our President-elect Donald Trump is a wonderful man who has been blessed abundantly in every area of his life. He has surrounded himself with idols of gold and silver yet he does not have confidence enough to humble himself before God.
He is quite arrogant in many arenas because the Lord has allowed him success. Yet he responds like a two-year old when he is attacked. He fights back like a bully. He is abrasive in his speech and offends many when he goes on the attack. For such an intelligent and competent leader it perplexes me as to why he is this way.
Is this because he has a root of bitterness in his heart? Only God can judge the heart of man. Yet with the idols of gold and silver clouding your vision it may be difficult to see the light of God.
I think Donald Trump may be a great motivator for change but only God can make us a great nation again. We as citizens of America have a great responsibility and our part can be found in 2 Chronicles 7:14
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (NLT)
I am trying my hardest to do my part and praying daily for our future president, Donald Trump. However, it is not within his reach to make our nation great. That is only and forever, the right and privilege of my heavenly Father, God. May His name be glorified.
