Deuteronomy Chapter 8
A Warning Against Pride
A. God’s work of building humility in Israel during the wilderness wanderings.
1. (Deuteronomy 8:1–2)
“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”
Moses reminded Israel that obedience to every commandment was essential, not optional. God did not ask for partial obedience but complete submission to His will. Their future life, growth as a nation, and ability to possess the land of promise depended on careful obedience to the commands of the Lord. Obedience was not to be rooted in duty alone but in remembrance, reflecting on the Lord’s faithfulness during their wilderness journey. The forty years in the wilderness were not accidental or wasted; they were divinely purposed seasons of discipline, dependence, and refinement.
a. “Every commandment… you must be careful to observe”:
The people were not free to pick and choose which commandments were convenient. God required total loyalty. This call to obedience was grounded in their memory of His deliverance from Egypt, His sustaining power in the wilderness, and His covenant promises sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Remembering God’s works was essential in sustaining present obedience.
b. “To humble you”:
Humility was not gained by mere hardship; it was found in learning to rely solely on God. In the wilderness, Israel had no fields to harvest, no cities to rely upon, and no allies to defend them. They had manna, water from the rock, and God’s presence in the cloud and fire. God removed their self-sufficiency to teach them dependence. Yet humility is not merely being in a low condition; it is the heart’s posture while in that condition. A person can be outwardly humbled but inwardly proud, resentful, or convinced they deserve better. God desired a heart that accepted His will and trusted His hand, not one that simply endured difficulty while longing for the world they left behind.
i. Many misunderstand humility, thinking it is forced upon us by circumstances alone. But a person can be in a humble place while inwardly refusing it. Israel often murmured, longing for Egypt’s food, comfort, and predictability. True humility is not just being in a low place but submitting to God’s purpose in that place. God’s goal was to produce a people content to trust Him even when they did not understand.
c. “And test you”:
The testing was not for God’s knowledge, for He already knew their hearts. The testing was for their knowledge, that they might see their own weakness, unbelief, and need for grace. Man naturally overestimates his strength and loyalty to God. The wilderness revealed whether they would obey God when obedience cost something. It exposed whether they loved God or merely His blessings. Trials revealed the true condition of their hearts so that pride would be shattered and dependence on God would be strengthened. This divine testing was an act of mercy, preparing them to enter the land not as a proud nation but as a humbled, obedient people fit for God’s blessing.
2. (Deuteronomy 8:3–5) God’s education of Israel in the wilderness
“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 LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.” (Deuteronomy 8:3–5, KJV)
God’s work in the wilderness was not merely about getting Israel to the Promised Land; it was about forming their character, shaping their faith, and teaching them how to depend on Him. The wilderness became God’s classroom, and the curriculum was humility, dependence, and trust in His Word.
a. “So He humbled thee”:
All divine education begins with humility. Israel had to be stripped of pride, self-reliance, and the illusion of control. God brought them into circumstances where no human effort could save them—no crops, no cities, no armies. Only those who are humbled can be taught; prideful hearts resist instruction. Many fail at the very first lesson of God’s school because they refuse to bow before Him. Until a man stops trusting in himself, he cannot be taught to trust in God.
b. “Suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna”:
God allowed their hunger so that His provision would be unmistakably His. Hunger showed them their need; manna showed them His sufficiency. This was supernatural food—something “which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know”—so it could not be attributed to human effort or natural supply. God was teaching Israel to live beyond what they could see, understand, or produce. Total dependence on the Lord is not learned in comfort but in need. He withheld bread so they might crave His Word; He withheld certainty so they would seek His presence.
c. “That he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only…”
This was the core lesson: life is more than survival, more than food, more than material provision. Bread sustains the body, but only God’s Word sustains the soul. You may exist on bread alone, but you cannot truly live. A man who lives only for what he can touch, earn, or eat is spiritually dead though physically breathing. Jesus quoted this verse when tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:4), showing that obedience to God’s Word is more essential than even physical survival.
i. “Man doth not live by bread only” is both a command and a statement of reality. You can fill your stomach and starve your soul. Only the Word of God gives true life.
ii. Some misuse God’s Word as a weapon for arguments rather than food for the soul. As Spurgeon said, “It is intended for us to live upon—not to be the weapon of our controversies, but our daily food.”
iii. We do not live spiritually by feelings or emotions but by faith in God’s Word. Spiritual life was given by believing God’s truth, and spiritual growth comes the same way—by feeding daily on Scripture, not on emotional highs or mystical impressions.
iv. God’s Word is wheat; human dreams and imaginations are chaff. Jeremiah 23:28 says, “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.” If a man is more excited about dreams than Scripture, his priorities are out of order.
v. “Every word” matters. Not some, not most—every word. Like diamond dust, even the smallest truth in Scripture is precious.
vi. Therefore, true life is found in daily, continual feeding upon God’s Word. Believers must cling to it, drink it in, and let it sustain the soul as bread sustains the body.
d. “Thy raiment waxed not old… neither did thy foot swell”:
Even in discipline, God cared for Israel. Their clothing did not wear out, and their bodies did not collapse under the strain. His chastening was severe enough to humble them but gentle enough to preserve them. Grace and discipline worked together.
e. “As a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee”:
God’s discipline is not the stroke of an angry judge but the correction of a loving Father. A father disciplines not to destroy but to improve, not to condemn but to guide. Israel was to “consider in thine heart”—not just observe with the eyes—that God’s correction was an act of love, not abandonment.
3. (Deuteronomy 8:6–10) Blessings in the land for Israel
“Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.”
After teaching Israel humility and dependence in the wilderness, God now pointed them toward the blessings awaiting in Canaan. But these blessings were tied to obedience. The call was clear: obedience first, then abundance; fear of the Lord before fullness of the land.
a. “Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God…”
The word “therefore” connects the discipline of the wilderness with the prosperity of the land. Because God had taught them humility and dependence, they were now to walk in obedience, fearing the Lord and honoring His ways. Obedience is never to be separated from reverence; to fear God is to take Him seriously enough to submit to His commands. If Israel would focus on every word from the mouth of the Lord, then God would supply every physical need and lead them into a land rich with provision.
i. God is not opposed to material blessing. He is opposed to material blessing becoming an idol or a substitute for Him. His desire was to bless Israel materially, but only as long as they remained spiritually faithful. Wealth is not sinful; worshiping wealth is.
ii. The mention of “iron” and “brass” (copper) in the hills is historically accurate. Archaeologists have discovered ancient copper mines and smelting sites in the Arabah region south of the Dead Sea. Geological studies confirm deposits of copper and iron in the surrounding hills, affirming the precision of Moses’ description.
b. “For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land…”
The land is described in abundance: flowing brooks, constant springs, fertile valleys, rich grains, fruit-bearing trees, olive groves, and honey. This was a sharp contrast to the dry, harsh wilderness they came from. God was bringing them to a place where they would not merely survive but thrive.
The list of blessings emphasizes both agricultural and natural resources.
Water in abundance—brooks, fountains, and springs—represent life, refreshment, and stability.
Wheat and barley signify staple provision.
Vines, figs, pomegranates, and olives represent prosperity, fruitfulness, and joy.
Honey speaks of sweetness and delight.
Iron and copper indicate technological strength and military capability.
God was giving them not merely enough to live but enough to build, defend, and prosper.
c. “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God…”
This command anticipates human nature. God knew that fullness often leads to forgetfulness. Therefore, when they ate and were satisfied, they were to bless the Lord for the good land. Gratitude must follow blessing; thanksgiving must follow satisfaction. This principle is echoed by Christ in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” If God is first, blessings are safe. If blessings are first, pride follows and destruction soon after.
Israel was not to bless the land but the Lord who gave the land. Blessing is not about loving the gift but honoring the Giver. True spirituality is not rejecting material provision but using it to glorify God.
B. A Warning Against Pride
1. (Deuteronomy 8:11–17) The danger of pride in the blessed life
“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 out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.”
After promising blessing in the land, Moses immediately warned the people about the spiritual danger that often comes with prosperity. The greatest threat to Israel was not the Canaanite armies, nor famine, nor wilderness hardships—it was pride. Prosperity often kills what poverty cannot. When God blesses materially, the human heart is tempted to forget Him, to neglect obedience, and to claim personal credit for what God has done.
a. “Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God…”
This warning reveals that forgetting God is not primarily an issue of memory but of obedience. To forget God is to cease keeping His commandments, judgments, and statutes. Forgetting God does not always look like rebellion; most often it looks like neglect. When life is easy, when houses are built, tables are full, and herds multiply, we are tempted to subtly push God out of the center of life. God warns His people not to let blessing produce blindness.
Israel was called to remember:
Who saved them—He brought them “out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”
Who guided them—He led them through the “great and terrible wilderness.”
Who preserved them—fiery serpents, scorpions, and drought surrounded them, yet they were sustained.
Who provided for them—water from the rock, bread from heaven, protection from enemies, clothing that did not wear out.
God had proven Himself faithful. Forgetting Him after all this would be the height of ingratitude.
b. “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth”:
This is the silent sin of the heart. Rarely does a man openly say, “I did this without God.” Instead, he says it in his heart. He may give God verbal credit while inwardly admiring himself. He may say “God blessed me,” but secretly think, “It’s because I worked harder than others. It’s because I am smarter, more disciplined, more capable.” Pride does not always shout—it often whispers. But God hears the whispers of the heart.
Pride blinds us to the truth that everything we are and everything we have comes from God. The breath in our lungs, the strength in our hands, the opportunities we receive—all are gifts. To claim that our own hand gained these things is to rob God of His glory.
2. (Deuteronomy 8:18) The correcting principle against pride in the blessed life
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
After warning Israel of the danger of pride in prosperity, Moses gives the remedy—remember the LORD. The only way to stay humble in abundance is to remember who the true source of every blessing is. Forgetting leads to pride; remembering leads to worship.
a. “Remember the LORD thy God”:
In times of need, dependence on God is often natural. But in times of abundance, remembrance becomes a discipline. The urgency of prayer can fade when the table is full and the bills are paid. God commands Israel not simply to think about Him but to actively remember Him—with gratitude, obedience, worship, and continual dependence. Prosperity should not dull devotion; it should deepen it. The heart that remembers does not grow proud.
b. “For it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth”:
This truth destroys pride at its root. Wealth is not merely the result of human strength, intelligence, strategy, or work ethic. Even the ability to work—the strength in our bodies, the soundness of our minds, the opportunities we receive—comes from the Lord. We may labor, but God empowers the labor. We may plan, but God gives success. Therefore, to claim that our own hand has produced prosperity is to ignore the One who gave us breath, skill, and opportunity. All wealth originates in God’s gracious provision.
c. “That he may establish his covenant…”
God blesses His people for His purposes, not merely their comfort. He reminded Israel that His blessings were tied to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—His eternal promise to form a nation through which the world would be blessed. Therefore, material blessings were never meant to be tools for selfish living. They were to be used in alignment with God’s plan, to advance His glory and fulfill His covenant purposes.
This means that wealth must be stewarded, not worshiped. It is entrusted to us, not owned absolutely by us. God gives it so that His kingdom purposes may advance. The believer, then, has no right to use God-given prosperity for sinful or self-centered ambitions. Instead, all resources—time, money, health, influence—exist to serve God’s will and exalt His name.
3. (Deuteronomy 8:19–20) The penalty of pride in the blessed life
“And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.”
After warning Israel of prosperity’s danger and reminding them of the true source of blessing, Moses concluded with a solemn warning—forgetting God will lead to destruction. Privilege does not cancel responsibility. If Israel walked in pride, ignored God’s commands, and turned to idols, they would be judged just like the pagan nations God removed from the land.
a. “I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish”:
Moses spoke not as a bitter critic but as a faithful shepherd. He loved Israel deeply, yet he loved God more. Therefore, he did not soften the truth. He took the position of a legal witness—“I testify”—declaring before God and the nation that pride and disobedience would lead to death and destruction. This shows that true spiritual leadership does not flatter, excuse sin, or offer false peace. It warns, confronts, and pleads before judgment falls.
b. “As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish”:
Israel would see God’s judgment fall on the Canaanites and might be tempted to think, “We are God’s people. He would never judge us like that.” Moses crushed that false confidence. God is no respecter of persons. If Israel rejected His voice, their covenant status would not shield them from discipline. Blessing is guaranteed only as long as obedience remains. Pride makes people believe they are exempt from consequences. God reminded Israel that they would not be spared if they followed the same sins as the nations before them.
c. “So shall ye perish”: Pride is the deadliest spiritual disease.
Pride is the root of all rebellion and the sin most like Satan himself. Satan did not fall because of weakness or temptation but because of pride. He said in his heart, “I will ascend…I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13–14). So when a believer is proud—trusting in his own strength, boasting in his success, or taking credit for God’s blessings—Satan approves. He sees a mirror of his own heart.
i. “Pride of face is obnoxious; pride of race is vulgar; but the worst pride is the pride of grace.” Pride of face is vanity, pride of race is arrogance, but pride of grace—boasting in spiritual status or gifts—is the most dangerous of all. It steals glory from God and gives it to self.
Pride can destroy churches, wreck families, and kill spiritual life far more subtly than persecution ever could. Poverty may draw a man to pray, but pride convinces him he has no need to.
