Chapter 29
The beginning of this chapter is prefaced with a look back. I think the message in verse 4 is that even though they saw first hand what God was doing, and where He was taking them, they never quite grasped the big picture. They never understood the meaning of it all. I know we do this today. Often, we wonder and worry about what God is doing in our small lives, and we forget that we are only part of a huge plan. Let's pray that He gives us a "heart to know, eyes to see, and ears to hear."
Verse 5. Even in trial and punishment, there is still undeserved provision from God.
In the next section, verses 14-29, God is preparing them for the day that they do turn there backs on Him. There will be no need to ask why the Lord's wrath is upon them. (Verse 24)
Chapter 30
Here is a glimmer of hope. There is always a chance of redemption, even at the national level. Verse 2. Repentance isn't just changing your ways. It's also about changing your heart. Repentance is a complete 180-degree turn with every aspect of your life. It is a direction your whole life takes.
I want to hold onto verses 11-14. This is the beauty of the Bible. This is why we call it His love letter. God hasn't left us here, without purpose or guidance. He hasn't hidden His expectations from us, so that they are impossible to know. He has laid everything out for us, so that His Word can be in our mouths and in our hearts, so that we may observe it. (Verse 14)
God defines their options in even more certain terms in verses 15-20. You have two options. You can choose life or daath. And God makes it clear that He hope they will choose life.
I love how in verses 19-20 God reveals to them the meaning of Life. They (and we) are here to Love the Lord, Obey His Voice, and Hold Fast to Him, for This is Your Life and the Length of Your Days. People across the world search for meaning their whole lives. But God has shown us here what this life is all about. If our lives are getting bogged down by the human-ness of life. By the call of cultural obligation, we are missing the point of our very existence. I'm not saying that we need to put God on our priority list: 1.God 2.Spouse 3.Children 4.Church 5.Me No, He should be behind every bullet point: How can I serve God through serving my spouse? How am I loving Go through my job as a parent. And so on. God doesn't just want to be first in our hearts. He wants us to lay our hearts in His hands. This has potential for changing our whole perspective on life.
Chapter 31
Verse 12 is at the heart of God's will for our lives. Teaching others God's commandments. It might look different in our New Testament world, but the point is the same. Get out there and share.
Verse 17 The curse that comes with sin is not so much what God will do to you if you go outside His will, as it is the very absence of His presence in our lives. If He hides His face, the evil of the world is free to consume you. I often try to imagine myself in some other part of the world. I would love to travel. I would love to be a missionary in another country. I'd love to move back to Texas and be near my family. But all of that is irrelevant if I disregard where God wants me to be. I have lived outside of God's protective covering in the past, and I am unwilling to go there again.
Verse 19 mentions that Moses is going to write a song, so that he can teach it to the rest of the nation, and they can remember God's law that way. This is exactly how I teach Emma her "Cubbies" verse every week. We'll heat more about this song next time.
While Moses is off writing his song, God speaks to Joshua. I wonder if this is the first time Joshua has heard God's voice personally. What an awesome experince.
Next time: Deuteronomy 32-34
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