What is the definition of Deuteronomy 4:34? ๐ ๐
Or hath God assayed to go [and] take him a nation from the midst of [another] nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
Explanation:
Okay, letโs break down this incredibly important verse from Deuteronomy 4:34. It's a really powerful message about how God works with people. Hereโs a simplified explanation:
The Core Idea:
This verse is saying that God ๐really๐ wanted to make a whole nation โ the Israelites โ out of other nations. He was planning to take them, and he was going to do it in a really difficult, scary way.
Let's unpack it piece by piece:
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"Or hath God assayed to goโฆ"
: This is like saying "Did God try?" Itโs a question of whether God is considering this plan.
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โโฆand take him a nation from the midst of [another] nationโฆโ
: This means God was thinking about ๐taking๐ a whole group of people โ the Israelites โ out of another group of people. Itโs not just a small part; it's a significant amount of people.
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"...by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrorsโฆโ
: This is the scary part! God was planning to make this happen ๐quickly๐ and ๐dangerously๐. He was going to use:
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Temptations:
He was trying to persuade them to do something wrong.
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Signs:
He was using events that were unusual or seemed to be happening on purpose โ like a terrible plague, to make people question God's plan.
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Wonders:
He would be showing them things to make them worry and believe he wasnโt acting in their best interest.
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War:
He was planning to involve conflict to force them to accept his will.
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A mighty hand:
This refers to a forceful, dominating plan - Godโs power in action.
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A stretched out arm:
This is like a very long and dangerous reach โ showing them the full extent of what was happening.
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Great terrors:
He was creating fear for the Israelites.
What's the Point?
The verse emphasizes that Godโs plan wasn't about just ๐starting๐ to build a nation. He had already started, and he was going to make it incredibly difficult and frightening, all because of his desire to have a whole group of people under his control. It was a test, really.
In short, itโs a reminder that God is powerful and can use difficult situations to show us who He is and what He wants.
Important Note:
This verse is complex and has been interpreted in different ways throughout history. It's important to remember this wasnโt necessarily about ๐evil๐ plans. It was a way for God to demonstrate his power, test the Israelites, and prepare them for their future role as a nation under his guidance.
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Do you want me to:
๐ Explain any part of this verse in more detail?
๐ Connect it to a specific story or event in the Bible?
๐ Discuss its theological significance (like the idea of divine sovereignty)?
https://goldloadingpage.com/word-dictionary/Deuteronomy 4:34