Deuteronomy 8:2–3, 6ff, YHVH afflicted/humbled you. Does the concept of YHVH afflicting his people bother you? Perhaps he will do this to us if and when we need it. The word afflict/anah (Strong’s H6031) literally means “to become low, depressed, put down or stoop.” (Note some other places where anah is used: Pss 55:19; 88:7; 90:15; 119:71, 75.) Scripture says that Israel exited Egypt with “a high hand/upraised arm” (Exod 14:8 and Num 33:3). The word high/upraised can connote haughtiness or arrogance, or it can mean that the children left Egypt triumphantly and in jubilation waving banners (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 369). What do you think? Did they leave Egypt in a spirit of contrition or arrogance? If the latter, then perhaps, in YHVH’s eyes, they need some humbling.
Are we any different? Do we need to be humbled? Down through the ages, YHVH has allowed his servants to suffer, but it was for their spiritual growth and benefit. What did Paul say about his thorn in the flesh? (See 2 Cor 12:7.) Why did Job experience what he did? (Read Job 42.) The process of humbling us so that we might have a higher view of YHVH, and a lower view of ourselves is not a bad thing! When we become contrite and humble before YHVH and more dependent on him, the blessings, power, anointing and provision of YHVH are able to flow into our lives more readily.
How has YHVH been trying to humble your flesh that he might bring you to a deeper level spiritually? The ArtScroll Chumash comments, “It is true that Elohim subjected the people to some hardships in the wilderness, but even that was for their good; just as a father may chastise his child to prepare him for the future” (p. 983). Consider this issue in light of the sufferings of YHVH’s servants while they were faithfully awaiting their spiritual inheritance as recorded in Hebrews 11. (Compare this with Jas 1:12–17 and 1 Cor 3:13.) Also consider the two types of judgments of YHVH as recorded in Scripture: his judgments unto repentance and his judgments unto death. What are some examples of each? If YHVH’s saints stay close to him spiritually, they won’t have to go through the latter type of judgment. (Examples: Noah and the flood; Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah; the Israelites in the plagues on Egypt; the saints and the tribulation, the great tribulation versus the wrath of Elohim periods at the end of the age [these are three separate time periods or events]; see also Heb 12:3–11).
Why did YHVH have to afflict the children of Israel? This is because the Scriptures tell us that Israel left Egypt with “an high hand.”
And YHVH hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. (Eoxd 14:8)
And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (Num 33:3)
“An high hand” in Hebrew is the word ruhm meaning “to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.” Human pride is anathema and an abomination to YHVH Elohim:
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood… (Prov 6:16–17)
On the other hand, we elsewhere read,
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, Elohim resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (Jas 4:6)
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isa 66:2)
“What do you think? Did they leave Egypt in a spirit of contrition or arrogance?”
Well, undoubtedly some were arrogant and some were contrite. It seems to me, though, there was likely quite a few who were arrogant.
Why do I say that?
Well, first of all, it’s generally human nature to have been enslaved as long as they were and to think more of how they were mistreated than how they got themselves into that enslaved condition in the first place, because of their adulterous ways, and they probably, like many, just blamed it on their parents and ancestors.
So, I imagine many had gotten embittered against their oppressors and exulted over them in arrogance when their enemies defeated and they were delivered, instead of being humble and acknowledging that it was by the mercy and favor of YHVH that they were let go by Pharoah.
Mainly, though, I say they were mostly arrogant, because it was not very long after they were delivered when they encountered YHVH on the mountain and drew back, not wanting to relate with Him directly, being afraid of Him and being unbelieving, and wanting Moses, as a mediator, to go before them. And then, in less than 40 days after making a covenant with YHVH, the majority of them broke their covenant.
If they were contrite when they left Egypt, most of the lot of them sure didn’t bear lasting fruit in keeping with their contrition and repentance. And that’s a major problem for us, too, if we are only superficially contrite, but don’t bear fruit in keeping with repentance. It is a sorrow of the world that brings forth death. We may continue to just depend upon his mercy for forgiveness, but then also continue to fall short of His grace to fully repent and bear lasting fruit, and can be like dogs who return to their vomit and a man who, after setting his hands to the plow, turns back.
So, yes, YHVH does, indeed, afflict us and humble us, because we deserve it, He is a Father, does not leave us as orphans, and He disciplines those whom He loves, so as to save our souls from sin and its wages.
PRAISE ELOHIM ON HIGH!!!
I totally agree. They were arrogant when the came out, for the Scripture says,
“An high hand” in Hebrew is the word ruhm meaning “to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.”
Thanks to you, I’ve added the following addendum onto my blog post:
Why did YHVH have to afflict the children of Israel? This is because the Scriptures tell us that Israel left Egypt with “an high hand.”
And YHVH hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. (Eoxd 14:8)
And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (Num 33:3)
“An high hand” in Hebrew is the word ruhm meaning “to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.” Human pride is anathema and an abomination to YHVH Elohim:
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood… (Prov 6:16–17)
On the other hand, we elsewhere read,
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, Elohim resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (Jas 4:6)
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isa 66:2)
Was thinking on the exodus just this morning…as they died off in the wilderness, might YHVH been separating the wheat from the tares? After all, they did go out as a mixed multitude. Would appreciate your thoughts on this Natan, thanks