“For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.”
My Notes
What Does Deuteronomy 31:20 Mean?
God predicts — with devastating accuracy — exactly what Israel will do after entering the Promised Land. They'll eat until they're full. They'll grow fat. And then they'll turn to other gods, provoke God, and break the covenant.
The sequence is the point: blessing leads to satisfaction, satisfaction leads to complacency, complacency leads to idolatry. God isn't surprised by this. He knows it's coming. And He brings them into the land anyway.
The word "waxen fat" (shaman) is blunt — it means to become gross, thick, bloated with prosperity. The very abundance God provides becomes the thing that turns their hearts away. This is one of the Bible's most consistent warnings: prosperity is more dangerous than adversity. Suffering drives you to God. Success drives you from Him.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Are you in a season of abundance right now? How is it affecting your dependence on God?
- 2.Why is prosperity more spiritually dangerous than adversity — and have you experienced this personally?
- 3.What does it tell you about God that He gave Israel the blessing knowing they would misuse it?
- 4.Where might you be 'waxing fat' — becoming so comfortable that you've stopped needing God?
Devotional
God knew. Before they set foot in the Promised Land, He already knew they'd betray Him. He could see the whole arc: the blessing, the fullness, the fatness, the turning away. And He brought them in anyway.
That's either maddening or deeply loving, depending on how you see it. God didn't withhold the blessing because He knew they'd misuse it. He gave it freely, knowing the cost, because that's who He is. He's a giver even when the recipients are guaranteed to forget Him.
But the warning stands: prosperity is more spiritually dangerous than poverty. When you're hungry, you pray. When you're full, you forget who fed you. When you're struggling, God feels necessary. When you're comfortable, He feels optional.
"Waxen fat" — there's a brutality to that phrase. The very gifts God provides become the padding that insulates you from needing Him. Your success becomes your idol. Your comfort becomes your god.
Are you in a season of fullness? Are you eating well, building well, living well? Good. That's God's blessing. But watch the sequence: full, fat, turned away. It happens so gradually you don't notice until you're already worshipping something else.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them,.... As did in the times of the judges, in the…
The transaction recorded in these verses may be regarded as the solemn inauguration of Joshua to the office to which he…
Here, I. Moses and Joshua are summoned to attend the divine majesty at the door of the tabernacle, Deu 31:14. Moses is…
For I shall bring it into the land which I sware unto its fathers Deu 6:10, but also in E. On flowing with milk and…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture