Last
week we saw that Israel was ready to enter the Promise Land. God through Moses addressed the people. He reviewed what God had done for them and
reminded them of His laws. The people
who heard the laws the first time had mostly passed away and now there was a
new generation who needed to hear God’s truths.
Deuteronomy 27:1-8 – God’s Word
As
Israel prepared to cross the Jordan River into the Promise Land, Moses finished
reviewing the law and now was charging the people to keep it. God told Moses and the elders once they
crossed the Jordan to find large stones and coat them with plaster and write on
them God’s law. They were to take these
stones to Mt. Ebal. Then they were to
also build an altar there. They would be
setting up a new government in a new land and needed these laws constantly
before them. They need to see them as a
reminder. They didn’t have the Bible
like we do, but they would have the law on stones to refer to.
Principle: God wants His Word published and known, but
the enemy wants it hidden.
Do you
turn to the Bible for God’s guidance and direction?
The
altar was to be made with uncut stones (fieldstones) without any added human
workmanship. It was to be used for burnt
and fellowship offerings sacrificed to God.
(Deut. 27:1-8) Uncut stones without any human workmanship
added shows that we can’t add anything to our salvation. We can’t add or do anything, because
salvation is by grace. Jesus did all the
work on the cross. Sin brings judgment
and is punished by death. They
sacrificed innocent animals, but this kind of sacrifice couldn’t really take
away the punishment for sin. Their
sacrifices point to the only perfect and innocent sacrifice, Jesus Christ. Only He can take away our sin.
Deuteronomy 27:9-28:1-68 – Blessings and
Curses
When
they entered the land, they were to have a special assembly to read the curses
and blessings. Six tribes were to stand
on Mount Ebal and the other six tribes were to stand on Mount Gerizim. These mountains were twin facing which
enclosed a natural amphitheater so everyone would be able to hear the Levites
speak. The Levites on Mt. Gerizim were
to shout the blessings for all those who obeyed. On Mt. Ebal the Levites were to shout the
curses upon those who broke God’s laws.
Then the people on both sides would say “amen” indicating they agreed,
their intent to obey, and that they acknowledged the benefits of following the
laws as well as the consequences for disobeying them.
This is
like it will be someday. Similar things
will happen. There will be two sides –
those who don’t know Jesus as Savior and those who do know Him as Savior. On that day everyone will acknowledge that
Jesus is Lord regardless of which side they chose. “…at the name of Jesus every knee will bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Phil. 2:10-11.
Which
side will you be on?
Have
you acknowledged Jesus as Lord of your life?
If the
people fully obeyed the Word of God, He would give them huge blessings. They would be unbeatable as a nation. They would be prosperous in their crops and
in their families. All they had to do
was follow His commands and not follow other gods. (Deut.
28:1-14) He didn’t bless them
because they deserved it, but gave blessings only if they obeyed Him. They were not to seek blessings, but to seek
God, then the blessing would come.
God
wants to bless us, not curse us. We don’t
have the same blessings God gave to Israel did, but it’s true today. Sometimes disobedience brings consequences
and sometimes obedience brings material and physical blessings. Our sin brings curses on us. Our biggest blessing is God Himself, because
of His loves for us. His blessings to us
will get the attention of others. (Deut. 28:10) Our obedience impacts us and how others view
us. People are watching us and watching our
faith. We set the example whether it’s good
or bad, even when we don’t realize it.
How has
God blessed you?
How
have you shown others that you are obedient?
Do
others see as a faithful follower or a hypocrite?
Now
here come the curses for disobedience.
You will notice there are more curses mentioned than blessings. Warnings may have more effect than when
blessings are promised. If the people
didn’t obey His Word, God would consider them as having forsaken Him. Instead of blessings they would receive
curses. They would be continually
defeated as a nation. They would have
diseases, plagues, drought, be oppressed, and robbed with no one to rescue
them. Their crops and families would
fail. This was all because they didn’t
obey God and observe His commands. Curses
will come upon them, “Because you did not serve the
Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in
hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies
the Lord sends against you. He will put
an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.” – Deut. 28:47-48.
What
warning do you see in these verses for yourself?
What
area in your life do you need God’s help to obey Him?
Principle: Obedience to God’s Word brings life and
blessings, but disobedience brings death and disaster.
Deuteronomy 29 – Renewal of the Covenant
Moses reminded
the people of what God did to Pharaoh and to the land with miraculous signs and
wonders when they were in Egypt. He
reminded them of how He led them for 40 years in the desert while providing
them with food and clothes. He urged
them to be faithful to God. God helped
them defeat nations and gave them the land He promised. As all the people were there in front of God,
Moses reminded them of the covenant and promise God made with Abraham, which
was confirmed that day. This covenant
was also with those who hadn’t been born yet.
Each generation needed to accept the covenant for themselves. (Deut.
29:1-8)
Principle:
There’s nothing higher or more satisfying than in a covenant
relationship with God.
Moses
told of what would happen to Israel in the future. They would be removed from their land and it
would be all because the people abandoned the covenant of the Lord. They would worship other gods and the Lord’s
anger would burn against them. He would
send great wrath upon them and they would be uprooted from their land. (Deut.
29:9-28)
The
future is only known by God. God doesn’t
reveal everything to us. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God….” – Deut. 29:29. The Bible is sufficient for all our spiritual
needs. All we have to do is follow it
and trust Him for the future.
Deuteronomy 30 – Repent and Choose Life
Moses
ended with a message of hope. He urged
them to obey. Moses knew they would
rebel, but he also assured them that they would return to God and to their land
and they would be blessed again having more than they had before. When the people turn back to God and obey Him
with all their hearts and soul, then the Lord will restore their fortunes. This turning is called repentance.
Principle:
God can restore the repented heart.
Moses
told them to choose life. It’s a simple
choice. It was a choice to live or
die. It was a choice between good and
evil things. Obey God’s commands and
live or reject Him and perish eternally.
Moses told them it was not too difficult or beyond their reach. They are to simply choose to love God, listen
to His voice, and hold fast to Him. “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you
that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your
children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice,
and hold fast to him…” – Deut.
30:19-20
We have
the same choice today. It’s all up to
you, too. Believing or refusing to
believe is a matter of life and death. Do
you want to live or die? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,
that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming;
That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe
and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
– Rom. 10:8-10.
What
choice have you made? Have
you made a firm choice for God? Your
choice is your destiny.
Principle: A choice for God and His ways is necessary
for eternal life.
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