Deuteronomy 9-12:28
Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, “It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,” … Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land… Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.
Deuteronomy 9:4a,5a,6
Do you get the feeling that maybe, just maybe, the blessing of the Promised Land is not because of Israel’s righteousness? If it were not obvious to the Israelites before now, by repeating the point three times, Moses makes it abundantly clear that the Promised Land is not a reward earned by Israel’s good behavior. Israel is not outstandingly righteous; instead, they are a stubborn people. Moses goes on to drive the point home, reminding them of their rebellious ways. So don’t think too highly of yourselves, Israel.
Does that mean, then, that Israel’s behavior does not matter? Clearly not. The LORD is very much interested in shaping Israel into a nation that reflects His righteousness through relationship with Him:
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
The entire book of Deuteronomy can be seen as one gigantic exhortation for Israel to walk in righteousness, to walk with the LORD, not against Him — to cooperate with Him, not oppose Him. All of it is for Israel’s good. And all of it is the LORD’s initiative.
The same, of course, is true for us. We do not earn our salvation by works of righteousness. Instead, our salvation enables and produces righteousness, all for God’s glory. God loves us. God calls us. God justifies us. God works righteousness in us and through us. We must cooperate, but it is all God’s initiative.
As we go through this season of Lent, let’s remember that we are not “all that”. We are dust and to dust we shall return. But we are dust into which the LORD God Almighty breathes Life, His Life that we are to display to the world.