Deuteronomy 9:20 meaning

Moses, addressing the Israelites, emphasizes that their impending victories in Canaan are not due to their own righteousness, but rather a result of God's divine justice against the wickedness of the Canaanites. This stark reminder serves as a caution against self-righteousness, which had become a recurring sin for the Israelites. He recalls their past failures, particularly their rebellion at Horeb and the making of the golden calf, underscoring that their journey has largely been marked by disobedience.

His intercession for the people when God's wrath was ignited against their sins highlights the continual grace extended to Israel amidst their transgressions. Moses urges them to remember their past, stating that it is only through God's mercy that they have not been destroyed. The lesson is clear: any blessings they receive are unearned and stem from God's unwavering promise to their ancestors, not from any merit of their own, a concept mirrored in the belief that salvation is a gift of grace. This crucial understanding lays the groundwork for their identity as a chosen people dependent on divine rather than human righteousness, as illustrated in Deuteronomy 9:20.