Deuteronomy 8:2

2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you ¹these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, ²testing you ³to know what was in your heart, ⁴whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Deuteronomy 8:2 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:2

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led
thee these forty years in the wilderness
For this was now the fortieth year of their coming out of Egypt into the wilderness, into which they quickly came after their departure from thence, and had been in one wilderness or another ever since, in which God went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, and directed their way; and now they are called upon to remember all the occurrences in the way, what favours and mercies had been bestowed upon them, what provisions had been made for them, what enemies they had been delivered from or overcome, as well as what afflictions and chastisements had attended them: and so the people of God should call to mind how they were brought to see their wilderness state and condition by nature; how they were brought out of it, and stopped in their career of sin, and turned from their evil ways, and led to Christ; what gracious promises have been made to them; what light has been afforded them; what communion they have had with God; what pleasure in his ordinances; what food they have been fed with; what temptations have befallen them, and how delivered out of them; and what afflictions have been laid upon them, and how supported under them, and freed from them:

to humble thee;
under the mighty hand of God, to bring down the pride of their hearts and hide it from them; to lay them low in their own eyes, and clothe them with humility, that the Lord alone might be exalted: and

to prove thee;
whether they would be obedient to his laws, or how they would behave towards him both in prosperity and adversity, and to try their graces, their faith and patience, fear and love:

to know what was in thine heart;
that is, to make it known to themselves and others; for God knew all that was in it, the wickedness of it, the unbelief, rebellion, and frowardness of it, and needed not any ways and means to get into the knowledge of it; see ( 2 Chronicles 32:31 ) ,

whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no;
which they had in such a solemn manner promised to do; ( Deuteronomy 5:27-29 ) .

Deuteronomy 8:2 In-Context

1 "The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers.

2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.

5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 1:3; Deuteronomy 2:7; Deuteronomy 29:5; Amos 2:10
• 2. ver. 16; Exodus 15:25
• 3. [2 Chronicles 32:31]
• 4. [Exodus 16:4; Judges 3:4]