Deuteronomy 8:18
But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.
But remember that it is the LORD your God

Israel’s prosperity in Canaan was never to replace gratitude, worship, or obedience. The God who delivered them from Egypt, sustained them in the wilderness, and led them into a fruitful land remained the source of every blessing. Remembering Him meant living in conscious dependence upon Him and refusing the pride that credits human strength for God-given provision (Deuteronomy 6:12; 8:11–14).

Deu 6:12 be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you…
Jos 24:14 Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him…
1Sa 12:24 Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully…

who gives you the power to gain wealth,

Strength, skill, opportunity, fruitful land, rain, harvests, flocks, and commercial success all came under God’s sovereign provision. Israel would work the land and labor for its increase, yet their ability to do so successfully was itself His gift. Wealth was therefore a stewardship rather than grounds for self-exaltation. David likewise confessed that riches and honor come from God and that all things ultimately belong to Him (1 Chronicles 29:12, 14).

1Ch 29:12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You…
Ecc 5:19 Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth…
Pro 10:22 The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He…

in order to confirm His covenant

Material blessing in the land demonstrated God’s faithfulness to the covenant promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The abundance of Canaan showed that the Lord had not forgotten His word after centuries of slavery in Egypt and years of wilderness wandering. His gifts were also meant to bind Israel more closely to covenant obedience, since prosperity apart from faithful worship would become a source of judgment rather than blessing.

Gal 3:17 The law that came 430 years later does not revoke…
Psa 105:8-10 He remembers His covenant forever, the word…
Rom 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant…

that He swore to your fathers

The fathers were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom God pledged descendants, land, and blessing for the nations through their offspring (Genesis 12:1–3; 15:18–21; 26:3–4; 28:13–15). Israel’s entrance into the land rested not on superior merit but on the Lord’s sworn promise. Their history stood within the continuing faithfulness of the God who keeps His covenant across generations.

Exo 32:13 Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,…
Gen 26:3-5 Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you…
Gen 22:16-18 By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, …

even to this day.

The fulfillment already visible in Israel’s possession and cultivation of the land confirmed the reliability of God’s word. Every generation was called to recognize that covenant blessings carried covenant responsibilities. Remembering God in abundance guarded His people from forgetting the Deliverer who had given them both life and provision.

Deu 4:38 to drive out before you nations greater and mightier…
Jos 23:14 Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth…
1Ki 8:56 Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's message to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are being reminded of their dependence on God for their prosperity and success.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God who provides for His people and fulfills His promises.

4. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which the Israelites are about to enter, a place of abundance and blessing.

5. Covenant with the Patriarchs
The promises made by God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which include blessings and the inheritance of the land.
Teaching Points
Divine Source of Wealth
Recognize that all abilities and opportunities to gain wealth come from God. This acknowledgment fosters humility and gratitude.

Covenant Faithfulness
Understand that God's provision is tied to His covenant promises. Our response should be faithfulness and obedience to His commands.

Stewardship and Responsibility
Wealth is a tool for confirming God's covenant and should be used responsibly to further His kingdom purposes.

Avoiding Pride and Self-Sufficiency
Guard against the temptation to attribute success solely to personal effort, which can lead to pride and forgetting God.

Generosity and Blessing Others
Use the resources God provides to bless others, reflecting His generosity and love.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does recognizing God as the source of our wealth change our perspective on material possessions?

2. In what ways can we actively remember and honor God's covenant in our daily lives?

3. How can we ensure that our pursuit of wealth aligns with God's kingdom purposes?

4. What practical steps can we take to avoid the pitfalls of pride and self-sufficiency in our financial endeavors?

5. How can we use our resources to bless others and confirm God's covenant in our communities?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 12:1-3
God's covenant with Abraham, promising blessings and making him a great nation, which is foundational to understanding the covenant mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:18.

Proverbs 10:22
Highlights that the blessing of the LORD brings wealth, emphasizing the divine source of prosperity.

Matthew 6:33
Jesus teaches about seeking first the kingdom of God, which aligns with the principle of relying on God for provision.

Philippians 4:19
Paul assures that God will supply all needs, reinforcing the idea of God as the provider.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, underscoring the divine origin of all blessings.
God AcknowledgedDeuteronomy 8:18
God the Original Source of WealthDeuteronomy 8:18
The Philosophy of Worldly SuccessJ. B. Brown, B. A.Deuteronomy 8:18
The Theology of MoneyJ. Parker, D. D.Deuteronomy 8:18
To Remember God is the Way to Get WealthT. Horton, D. D.Deuteronomy 8:18
God Forgotten Amid Second CausesR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 8:7-20
Wealth Perilous to PietyD. Davies Deuteronomy 8:7-20
The Dangers of WealthJ. Orr Deuteronomy 8:10-19
People
Moses
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Egypt
Topics
Ability, Agreement, Confirm, Confirms, Covenant, Effect, Establish, Fathers, Forefathers, Gives, Giveth, Giving, Hast, Mind, Oath, Order, Power, Produce, Remember, Remembered, Sware, Swore, Sworn, Wealth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 8:18

     4019   life, believers' experience
     5267   control
     5413   money, attitudes
     5465   profit
     5476   property
     5630   work, divine and human
     5698   guardian
     7915   confirmation
     8435   giving, of oneself
     8437   giving, of talents
     8780   materialism, and sin

Deuteronomy 8:10-18

     5776   achievement
     8670   remembering

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

     5289   debt

Library
God's Training
DEUTERONOMY viii. 2-5. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

The Lesson of Memory
'Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these lofty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.'--DEUT. viii.2. The strand of our lives usually slips away smoothly enough, but days such as this, the last Sunday in a year, are like the knots on a sailor's log, which, as they pass through his fingers, tell him how fast it is being paid out from the reel, and how far it has
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

National Wealth
(Fifth Sunday after Easter.) Deut. viii. 11-18. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch

Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Emmanuel's Land
P. G. Deut. viii. 7-10 The land! the glory of all lands, Beyond the Jordan's wave; Beyond the weary desert sands-- The land beyond the grave! Now safe witin that glorious land, We prove His faithful Word; 'Midst Canaan's golden fields we stand, The ransomed of the Lord. Amidst the burning desert drought We learnt His watchful love; Streams from the flinty rocks He brought, Sent bread from Heaven above. Our God in weariness and need, His love was measured there By hunger which His hand would feed,
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
Eighteen and a half centuries ago, and the land which now lies desolate--its bare, grey hills looking into ill-tilled or neglected valleys, its timber cut down, its olive- and vine-clad terraces crumbled into dust, its villages stricken with poverty and squalor, its thoroughfares insecure and deserted, its native population well-nigh gone, and with them its industry, wealth, and strength--presented a scene of beauty, richness, and busy life almost unsurpassed in the then known world. The Rabbis never
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Temptation of Christ
Matthew 4:1-11 -- "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

Why all Things Work for Good
1. The grand reason why all things work for good, is the near and dear interest which God has in His people. The Lord has made a covenant with them. "They shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Jer. xxxii. 38). By virtue of this compact, all things do, and must work, for good to them. "I am God, even thy God" (Psalm l. 7). This word, Thy God,' is the sweetest word in the Bible, it implies the best relations; and it is impossible there should be these relations between God and His people, and
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Third Sunday Before Lent
Text: First Corinthians 9, 24-27; 10, 1-5. 24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others,
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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