Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 31-34; Psalm 18

I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. – Psalm 18:1-2

Today we finish up the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). The last 11 weeks have given us a great opportunity to picture God’s relationship with humankind — from the Garden of Eden to crossing over into the Promised Land. God clearly laid out how to enter into a covenant relationship and what will break that covenant relationship. He has given us a choice of whether or not to follow Him. If we truly love God, obedience will flow from that love relationship and faith will grow.

DO NOT BE AFRAID, GOD IS WITH YOU.

Moses told the people that he would not be going with them into the promised land but that God would be with them. In fact, not only was God going WITH them, He was also going BEFORE them. As he handed leadership over to Joshua, he gave them these words of encouragement:

“Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them…Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:7-8

The reason Moses would not be going with them into Canaan was because he did not fully obey God’s instructions. When God told him to speak to the rock to make water flow, Moses struck the rock instead. God gave Moses his own “rock song” to sing in his last moments — a song that speaks of a different kind of ROCK.

GOD IS THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION.

“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!
Hear, O earth, the words that I say!
Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.
I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God!
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” – Deuteronomy 32:1-4

THE LORD IS MY ROCK, MY PLACE OF SAFETY.

Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo where he could see all of Canaan to the east. The Lord showed him the land he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then Moses died, just as the Lord had said he would, and the Lord buried him in a valley but to this day no one knows the exact place.

There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. The Lord sent him to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharoah, and all his servants, and his entire land. With mighty power, Moses performed terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel. – Deuteronomy 34:10-12

Moses was strong and his eyesight was clear when he died. The same Moses who had argued with God when called, who questioned his own ability to be used by God, and who had a moment of trusting more in his own strength than in God’s word — this imperfect man had an intimate relationship with God like no other man had ever had.

Thank you for being a personal and intimate God! Thank you for your grace and mercy that picks us up when we fall and gives us new opportunities to be used for your purposes. Father God, we praise you for your steady and faithful presence in our lives. May we see moments today when you make us strong and courageous, trusting in the Rock that goes before us and is with us. May it be said of us when we die that we had a personal relationship with the Rock of our Salvation! Amen.

To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
to those with integrity you show integrity.
To the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.
You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
In your strength I can crush an army;
with my God I can scale any wall.
God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock? – Psalm 18:25-31

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 27-30; Psalm 2

“Today the Lord your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey them WHOLEHEARTEDLY. You have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised to walk in his ways, and to obey his decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything he tells you. The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.” – Deuteronomy 26:16-18

What a great description of the covenant relationship God set up with His people. If the people would declare their obedience, not just in word but with all their heart, they would be his special treasure. Love and obedience were both necessary in this covenant relationship. If they chose love but not obedience, or if they chose obedience but not love, they were breaking their covenant with God.

CHOOSE BOTH LOVE AND OBEDIENCE TODAY.

“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.
Today I have become your Father.’” – Psalm 2:7b

God was looking for more than just token obedience – following a set of rules, doing the bare minimum required; He was looking for a wholehearted commitment — a familial relationship. The psalmist put it beautifully when he declared, “I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32). Can you picture the path and the choice to run with vigor the path marked out ahead?

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” – Oswald Chambers

God’s commands provide the boundaries for the path that He calls us to run with enthusiasm. Moses laid out for the Israelites all the blessings that would be theirs if they would FULLY obey the Lord and CAREFULLY keep all his commands. He also laid out the curses that would come and overwhelm them if they walked outside of the boundaries God’s commands had established. In fact, he spent 14 verses describing the blessings and 54 verses describing the curses.

Moses explained that this covenant relationship was for all of them standing there that day but also for future generations. Their decision would affect the next generation and the generations to come. Someday someone will ask, “Why has the Lord done this to the land? Why was he so angry?” The answer will be because the people abandoned their covenant relationship with God. They thought they were safe and could follow the desires of their own stubborn heart (28:24-25,19). But if you return to the Lord, the Lord will have mercy and do a work in your heart.

IT’S YOUR CHOICE.

“The Lord will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.” – Deuteronomy 30:10

This next passage is one of my favorites. I love how Moses lays out the choice before God’s people — the choice for life or death, for blessings or curses. It is a great reminder for us today that God is calling us to a life of obedience that is a natural outcome of our love for the Lord. We choose to walk in His ways because He has set our heart free from sin and death.

“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

“But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you LOVE and OBEY the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” – Deuteronomy 30:15-20

TODAY IS THE DAY WE CHOOSE YOU, LORD!

Father God, thank you for loving us. Our heart’s desire is to walk in your ways and to respond in obedience. Because you have set our hearts free, our response is to joyfully run down the path of your commands. We ask for you to fill us with your Spirit and give us the strength to be fully committed to you. Help us to see the path you have laid out for us on this love journey — a path with boundaries provided to keep us in the center of your plan for our lives. Today, we choose you. We choose to love you, to obey you and to commit our lives firmly to you. We thank you for the blessings you pour out on our lives each day. You are truly amazing! Amen.

I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
in your life-giving light. – Psalm 56:12-13

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 21–26; Psalm 112

As we read the next few chapters of Deuteronomy, we clearly see that we serve a God of compassion. The people of Israel were instructed to set aside three cities of refuge for people to escape to in case they accidentally caused another person’s death. God also set up protections for landowners and for those accused by only one person of committing a crime. He also provided a way for the foreign nations to surrender to the people of Israel and live in slavery, instead of being attacked and killed.

OUR MERCIFUL GOD CALLS US TO LIVE A LIFE OF MERCY TOWARDS OTHERS.

Moses went through a long list of instructions and rules. He described specific scenarios and taught the people how to respond in various situations. In all this, he wanted the people to obey out of love for God and compassion for others. He called them to have a generous mindset towards those in need.

“Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.” – Deuteronomy 24:14-15

Remember that you were once slaves and that God rescued you from your slavery. That is why I am commanding you to be generous with those in need, as you were once in need. When you are harvesting your crop, don’t take it all for yourself but always set some aside for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do (Deuteronomy 24:18-19).

FROM A IT’S-MINE ATTITUDE TO A HERE-YOU-GO GENEROSITY.

God calls us to look at the treasures of this earth as temporary and unimportant. He knows that clinging to our earthly belongings will only bring us satisfaction for a short time, but using our earthly resources to make a difference in the lives of others will give us lasting joy. Do not look at the blessings received on earth with pride or selfishness, but turn around and offer those blessings back to the Lord. Perhaps He will do something wonderful with your earthly treasures and be glorified because of your selfless attitude.

Moses continued with expectations of generosity towards the church as well: Take all that you have harvested from the land God has given you and put some of the first produce from each crop into a basket and bring it to the place of worship – the place where the Lord your God chooses for His name to be honored. In thanksgiving for all God has done for you, bring the first portion of the harvest to God. Then you may go and celebrate all of the good things the Lord your God has given to you and to your household (Deuteronomy 26:2,10-11,13).

OUR GENEROUS GOD IS CALLING US TO LIVE A LIFE OF GENEROSITY.

Just as Moses was calling God’s people to a spirit of generosity towards the church (Levites) and the less fortunate, God is calling us to share freely with the church and those in need. He cries out for us to listen to His voice and keep all His commands, doing what pleases Him instead of what pleases ourselves or others.

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. – Deuteronomy 15:10

Father God, give us a heart of compassion for those in need and a spirit of generosity towards others. Help us to respond in obedience when you call us to let go of all you have blessed us with for the sake of your kingdom. Take away our tendency to claim what we possess and replace it with the desire to claim that all we own is yours.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor. – Psalm 112:4-9

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 18-20; Psalm 91

Has the task ahead of you ever seemed bigger than you have the ability to conquer? Do you ever feel discouraged by everything that presses against us, making it hard to accomplish the mission to which God has called us? I am so grateful when someone among us stands us and reminds us that God is with us! He is fighting for us and His is the victory!

“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’” – Deuteronomy 20:1-4

DO NOT BE AFRAID; THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU!

Our God is with us. He does not send us into the battlefield alone. He who has already won the victory goes with us, just like he crosses over ahead of us. He is behind us, beside, before us, and all around us. He does not leave us alone on the journey of obedience, and He does not forsake us when times get difficult.

“Today you are about to cross the Jordan River…But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.” – Deuteronomy 9:1,3

DO NOT BE AFRAID; BE PREPARED FOR WHAT IS AHEAD.

This 20th chapter of Deuteronomy goes on as the leaders of the the Lord’s army asked some interesting questions:
• Is there anyone among you who is unprepared for the battle? Go home and do what you need to do to return ready for battle.
• Is there anyone among you who is afraid or worried? Go home before you spread a spirit of fear among those around you.
• Come expecting peace but ready for the fight.
• Get rid of the customs and philosophies of this world that would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God.
• Pick the fruit without cutting down the trees. Look for signs of growth and fruit without destroying the potential to bear fruit in the future.

Moses cautioned God’s people to consider if they had any unfinished business. Have you started something that needs to be finished? Did you plant something that has yet to be harvested? Did you make a promise that you need to fulfill? Get your house in order before you go into battle. Finish what you started, and be true to your word.

“Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’ When the officers have finished speaking to their troops, they will appoint the unit commanders.” – Deuteronomy 20:8-9

DO NOT BE AFRAID; YOU WILL MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!

Often fear gets in our way of stepping into opportunities. When given the choice to return to safety or be used by God on the battlefield, how will we respond? What will it take for us to let go of worry, push away fear, and step into our purpose? What unfinished business do we need to settle in order to experience victory? May the Spirit speak to you through the words of Psalm 91 today:

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
He is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.

If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” — Psalm 91

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 13–17; Psalm 134

Have you ever sliced a pie and then eyed the piece you want for yourself? Have you ever looked at the cake and thought – I want the piece with the most icing? Have you ever rushed to the front of the potluck line to get your pick of the food before the best is gone? Have you ever had a “me first” attitude, or an “every man for himself” spirit?

FROM A ME-FIRST MENTALITY TO A GOD-FIRST PASSION

In Deuteronomy, we can see that God is calling His people from a “me-first” mentality to a “God-first” passion. The words of Moses to God’s people as they were entering the Promised Land hold great advice for us today. By studying Moses’ instructions to the Israelites, we increase our understanding of the holiness to which God has called us. Moses starts by calling God’s people to obedience and love.

“Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God.” – Deuteronomy 12:28

Do not follow the example of the world and its ways; do not follow their customs or inquire about their gods. You have been set apart as holy and God has chosen you as His own special treasure (14:2,21b). There will be those who will try to lead you away from your walk with God. They will try to talk you out of doing all that the Lord your God has commanded you to do. Do not give in or listen to them.

“The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love Him with all your heart and soul. Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.” – Deuteronomy 13:3b-4

And here is Moses’ advice to those in leadership – to the king or the one the Lord chooses to lead His people: Do not store up wealth for yourself. Do not build up a large stable of horses for yourself or take many wives for yourself, or accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold.

FROM A MORE-STUFF LIFESTYLE TO A MORE-GOD PURSUIT

Your focus should be on God’s word. Keep a copy with you and read it daily as long as you live. Then you will learn to fear the Lord by obeying all His instructions and decrees. This regular reading of God’s word will prevent you from becoming proud and acting as if you are above those God has given you the privilege of leading (Deuteronomy 17:15-20).

In fact, it is your responsibility to take care of the church and of those who are less fortunate – the poor, the widows, the orphans and the foreigners. If you truly love the God you are serving, you will serve those He calls you to serve; you will share your blessings with those in need.

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.” – Deuteronomy 15:10-11

So, before you slice the pie and enjoy what God has blessed you with, give God His portion and share generously with those in need. Then you can enjoy what God has given you.

Father God, thank you for your words of wisdom for us today. As we sit in your presence and drink from your cup, fill our hearts with a spirit of generosity that we may think of others more than we think of ourselves. May our love for you increase and pour out toward others. Whatever you have called us to do, whatever land you have laid out before us, remind us that our calling is still about you and not about us.

Lord, we love you and it is our heart’s cry to obey and please you in all that we do. We give today to you, recognizing that this day was first given to us by you. Show us the needs of those around us and give us opportunities today to bless others with the blessings you have given us.

Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who is the Maker of heaven and earth. — Psalm 134

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 11-12; Psalm 146

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse — the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.” — Deuteronomy 11:26-28

GOD’S PEOPLE DID AND STILL DO HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE.

God is not forcing us to obey and follow the life He has prepared for us, but He does want us to know what is available to us. God gives clarity to what our choices are. He longs for us to receive His blessings and choose life, but He gives us the opportunity to make our own decision, even if that means we choose death. God knows that obedience is what will lead to our peace and joy, and He loves us enough to pursue our heart, while also giving us the freedom to make our own decision whether or not we will serve Him.

“Therefore, be careful to obey every command I am giving you today, so you may have strength to go in and take over the land you are about to enter. If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey! For the land you are about to enter and take over is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you planted your seed and made irrigation ditches with your foot as in a vegetable garden. Rather, the land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain — a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year!” — Deuteronomy 11:8-12

God knew the battles that were ahead of the Israelites; He knew they needed His strength to take over the land He had promised to them. He knew that if they obeyed him, they would enjoy a long and wonderful life in this place He was giving them. He was not promising there would never be difficulty. He reminded them they would have enemies and that there would be battles to fight, but He would be with them to protect and provide for them.

GOD WANTS TO WATCH OVER YOU AND FIGHT YOUR BATTLES, BUT YOU MUST CHOOSE HIM.

“If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat.” — Deuteronomy 11:13-15

God was calling His people to relationship; He was calling them to a life where they would serve him with all their heart, and He would provide them with all they would need. But, if they chose to serve other gods, His jealous anger would burn against them and He would withdraw the rain. Without the rain there would be no harvest, and without the harvest, there would be no food. It was their choice to make, but they needed to be aware of the consequences that were attached to each option. God makes those same consequences clear to us in His word.

GOD IS CALLING US TO BE ALL IN — TO LOVE HIM AND SERVE HIM WITH ALL OUR HEART AND SOUL — SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.” — Deuteronomy 11:18-21

ARE YOU ALL IN? HAVE YOU MADE YOUR DECISION?

Are you willing to serve God wholeheartedly? He is calling out to you, asking you to give Him everything. He wants your love for Him to be displayed in the way you serve only Him — for your decision to be evident in the choices you make each day. Show your love for God by walking in His ways and holding tight to Him (11:22).

The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death. — Proverbs 12:28

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.
The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. – Psalm 146:5-9

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 9–10; Psalm 130

“Today you are about to cross the Jordan River…But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.” — Deuteronomy 9:1,3

GOD WILL CROSS OVER AHEAD OF YOU.

It is because of God’s grace that the people of Israel experienced victory over their enemies, not because of their own righteousness. It is because of God’s undeserved favor in our lives that we experience His blessings, not because of anything we have done to earn His love. I am overwhelmed with gratitude this morning that God crosses over ahead of us, that He allows us to experience His presence, that He sets out a road for us to follow. I will daily choose to love Him, serve Him and obey Him.

“After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this land because you are good, for you are not – you are a stubborn people.” – Deuteronomy 9:3-6

WE DO NOT DESERVE THE GRACE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES, YET HE FORGIVES US AND LEADS US FROM THE WILDERNESS TO ALL HE HAS PROMISED US.

Moses reminded God’s people of how angry they had made the Lord when they rebelled against him. He told them the story again of how they had melted down their gold and made a calf to worship, while Moses was on the mountain receiving instructions from God. When Moses pleaded with God to forgive His people once again, He chose to give them another chance — another pair of tablets with the ten commandments written on them. They had another opportunity to get it right, so Moses imparted wisdom to them before they started this new chapter in history.

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” – Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Live out your faith. Let your surrender show through your obedience to all that God wants to do in you and through you. Ask the Lord to help you love him and serve him with ALL of your heart and soul!

THE LORD CHOSE YOU. CHANGE YOUR HEARTS AND STOP BEING STUBBORN.

“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes. When your ancestors went down into Egypt, there were only seventy of them. But now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky!” – Deuteronomy 10:17-22

Just as Jesus taught the crowds of people in Jerusalem, Moses spoke a message of love to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River. Love God by loving others. Express your covenant relationship with God through your generous actions to those around you. Do not just let go of sin; cling to the Lord your God. God has brought you to this moment, now follow his lead — go where He tells you to go and do what He tells you to do.

FOLLOW THE ROAD SET FOR YOU.

Father God, I cannot help but smile as I think of your goodness! My heart is overflowing with all you have done! Thank you for being a generous God, even when we fail and struggle. Lord, thank you for the privilege to be called to holiness, to be set apart for your glory and for your excellence. We feast in your presence this morning as we rejoice in all you have accomplished! Fill us with your strength and your righteousness today, we pray.

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
who, O Lord, could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you.
I am counting on the Lord;
yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.
I long for the Lord
more than sentries long for the dawn,
yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.
O Israel, hope in the Lord;
for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.
He himself will redeem Israel
from every kind of sin. – Psalm 130:3-8

Lord, we take this time to pray for our country. We know we are not a nation that deserves your blessings. Please forgive us for our hardheadedness and cut away the thick calluses of our stubbornness. Help us to find a balance between protecting our freedoms and protecting our country. Help us to always be a refuge for those in need, to be compassionate towards ALL people. You are a God immense and powerful and awesome, taking loving care of all your children. Give us hearts that extend that same love to one another, treating foreigners with the same loving care we receive from you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 6-8, Psalm 113

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves WHOLEHEARTEDLY to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Moses continued his farewell speech to the Israelites by encouraging them to remember how the Lord had rescued them. He told them to fear the Lord and serve Him only, for God is a jealous God and He desires for us to DILIGENTLY obey His commands. He calls us to do what is right and good in His sight so that all will go well with us (Deut. 6:18).

GOD GIVES US MOMENTS OF REFLECTION IN ORDER FOR US TO RENEW OUR COMMITMENT.

I love those pivotal moments in my life when a new chapter is beginning or a new season is just around the corner. These big life changes give me the opportunity to look back over the last season — to remember ALL that God has done and that HE has accomplished in my life and through my life. I celebrate God’s generosity and the evidence of His grace in my life. I look forward to what is ahead, asking God for His guidance and His blessing. I seek His will, His way, in His time.

My husband and I are going through a new stage of life — a season when it seems we spend more time in hotels than we do in our own home. Our daughters are adults now pursuing all that God has for their lives, and we continue to look ahead for what God is calling us to do in this next season. As we reflect on the last 33 years of our story together, we see decisions we can feel really good about and also moments we would choose to do over if we could. Thankfully there are more memories to celebrate than there are decisions to regret.

Perhaps you have gone through this same process at the beginning of a new year or at the start of a new stage of your life. Perhaps you felt like the Israelites as they saw the mistakes they had made and the consequences of their decisions. There were probably moments to celebrate and memories to regret. Looking forward to what is ahead might have felt like getting a blank slate or a chance to start a new chapter of your life.

GOD GIVES US MOMENTS LIKE THESE TO PURPOSEFULLY STAND BETWEEN WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US AND WHAT HE PROMISES TO DO IN THE COMING YEARS — LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD WHILE PRAISING GOD FOR EVERY MOMENT.

Moses was having a similar moment with God’s people as they stood between the wilderness and the promised land — looking back and looking forward. He told them their children would ask questions: Why do we do what we do? Why do we follow these traditions and rules? LET THEM HEAR THE STORIES. Make them aware of where God has brought us from and that we will be counted as righteous when we obey all God’s commands (Deut. 6:20-25).

“…Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure… Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him.” – Deut. 7:6-10

YOU HAVE SEEN IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES! GOD HAS LED YOU — SOMETIMES HUMBLING YOU, SOMETIMES TESTING YOU, BUT ALL THE TIME TEACHING YOU.

He has provided in order to teach you that people do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes have not worn out; your journey has been long, but your feet are neither blistered nor swollen. Now praise the Lord for this good land He has given you. In the midst of your plenty, do not become proud and forget the source of all blessings. Don’t think you have achieved anything by your own strength and energy, but remember that it is the Lord who gives you the power to be successful (Deut. 8).

Father God, when we begin to feel rejected, when we feel we have lost your favor, we will remember the years you have stretched out your right hand over us. We will remember your wonderful deeds; we will recount the miracles we have witnessed in our lifetime. When we feel your unfailing love has vanished or your promise has failed, we will consider all your work and meditate on all your mighty deeds. When others say you have forgotten to be merciful or that you have withheld your compassion, we will say…

Praise the Lord!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.
Everywhere—from east to west—
praise the name of the Lord.
For the Lord is high above the nations;
his glory is higher than the heavens.
Who can be compared with the Lord our God,
who is enthroned on high?
He stoops to look down
on heaven and on earth.
He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
even the princes of his own people!
He gives the childless woman a family,
making her a happy mother.
Praise the Lord! – Psalm 113

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 1-5; Psalm 107

Have you ever anticipated something for a long time? Then you get to that moment and someone makes you pause for a moment of reflection. Have you felt the anticipation of what is about to happen and the anxiety of something delaying that moment you have been waiting for? It’s Christmas morning, but wait — the Christmas story hasn’t been read yet. You have arrived at the amusement park and you can hear the screams of those who are already on the roller coaster, but wait — time to pose for a picture. You are finally at the beach, but wait — you have to let your sunscreen dry and your lunch settle before you run into the waves!

I wonder if this is what the Israelites were feeling as they stood between the desert they had wandered in for so long and the beautiful Promised Land. The time had finally come to enter Canaan, but Moses took the time to address the people he had led this far. What could have taken eleven days had taken forty years due to the Israelites’ disobedience. Moses took this time to remind the people of what God had done for them and of the covenant relationship He had entered into with His people.

PAUSE AND REMEMBER.

The majority of the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ last speech to the Israelites before handing leadership over to Joshua. He looked back over his time with God’s people, reminding them of God’s faithfulness to them through some of the hardest times. He intentionally reminded them of the last time God said to go into the Promised Land and take possession of it.

Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go. — Deuteronomy 1:29-33

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has WATCHED OVER your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord your God has BEEN WITH YOU and you have not lacked anything. — Deuteronomy 2:7

DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember…” — Deuteronomy 4:9-10a

There will be tough times ahead of you, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).

Moses’ strong desire was that history would not repeat itself – that Israel would learn from their past mistakes and move forward in righteousness and faithfulness to their covenant relationship with God. He reminded them of the 10 Commandments and then gave them this very wise advice:

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” — Deuteronomy 4:39

“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” — Deuteronomy 5:32-33

NOTICE YOU HAVE LACKED FOR NOTHING.

Dear God, we thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for the times in our lives when you have carried us as a father carries his child. We praise you for those times when you have made us pause — when you have gone ahead of us in our journey, preparing the way and directing us down the right path. Your plan has never been for us to fear but always for us to trust in your provision. Thank you for watching over us, for remaining with us even when we struggled to trust you; thank you for providing even though we do not deserve your generous love.

Abba Father, we thank you for being a God who is there for us — a God we find every time we seek you with all our heart and with all our soul. Lord, we patiently wait in anticipation of what you have next for us. Give us courage through the unknowns and patience in the waiting. We choose to walk in your way today, to remain in a covenant relationship with you. Guide us into your perfect plan, we pray. Amen.

Some wandered in the wilderness,
lost and homeless.
Hungry and thirsty,
they nearly died.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he rescued them from their distress.
He led them straight to safety,
to a city where they could live.
Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
For he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things. – Psalm 107:4-9

Today’s Reading: Numbers 32-36; Psalm 85

The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned vast numbers of livestock. So when they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideally suited for their flocks and herds, they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the other leaders of the community. They said, “Notice the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sibmah, Nebo, and Beon. The Lord has conquered this whole area for the community of Israel, and it is ideally suited for all our livestock. If we have found favor with you, please let us have this land as our property instead of giving us land across the Jordan River.” – Numbers 32:1-5

After all the years of traveling and all the years of wandering, Israel was on the verge of receiving all that the Lord God had promised to them. With the help of their God, they had defeated their enemies on this side of the Jordan River. They had an abundance of flocks and herds because God had allowed them to keep the plunder from the victories He had won for them.

The tribes of Reuben and Gad were surrounded by the evidence of God’s blessings, yet unwilling to step into the greater blessing of their promised inheritance. The fulfillment of the Lord’s promises was on the other side of the river, but they defined their current situation as ideal instead of trusting in what the Lord had for them. You could even say they chose to stay in their comfort zone instead of crossing into the unknown.

THEIR EYES WERE FIXED ON WHAT COULD BE SEEN RATHER THAN HAVING FAITH IN THE UNSEEN.

“We would rather live here on the east side and accept this as our grant of land.” – Numbers 32:19b

The leaders of these two tribes explained their plan to Moses. They would build pens for their animals and fortified cities for their wives and children. They would create protection around their possessions and their families, and then they would cross the Jordan River to help the other tribes defeat the Canaanites and secure places for their women, children and livestock. First they would tend to their own needs and wants, and then they would help the rest of the Israelites win the battles ahead.

THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED THAN ABOUT WHAT GOD WANTED FOR THEM.

So Moses assigned land to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph. He gave them the territory of King Sihon of the Amorites and the land of King Og of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and surrounding lands. – Numbers 32:33

Because they settled for less than all that God had planned for them, these two and half tribes missed out on the abundance of God’s blessings. They were too impatient to wait for God’s timing and too selfish to consider the needs of the other tribes. Their priority was to take care of their own first, focused on what they could build for themselves rather than the life God could build for them.

HOW OFTEN DO WE PASS UP WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO SO THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO? HOW OFTEN DO WE GIVE TO GOD OUT OF OUR EXCESS RATHER THAN OUR FIRSTFRUITS?

As the rest of the people camped along the Jordan River across from the city of Jericho, the Lord gave Moses these instructions. Drive out all of the people who live in Canaan, and destroy their idols and pagan shrines. Divide the land into portions based on the sacred lot of the tribes as well as their size. The Lord chose Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun to divide the land among the remaining nine and a half tribes (34:17). Each tribe was to give a portion of their land to the Levites, as well as create cities of refuge for those whose actions unintentionally end the life of another person.

We serve a patient God, a just God and a merciful God. The Lord both provides for and protects His people. But He is also a God of instruction and He expects us to do what He has told us to do. He knows what is best for us; He wants us to choose the life He has planned for us. This requires our obedience and devotion — our full surrender to the God of unfailing love and generous abundance.

“But if you fail to drive out the people who live in the land, those who remain will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land where you live. And I will do to you what I had planned to do to them.” – Numbers 32:55-56

Lord, reveal in us the ways in which we have settled for what the world has to offer us instead of craving all that you have planned for us. Forgive us for our selfishness and greed, for the times when we have put our own needs ahead of the needs of others. Lord, create in us a clean heart and fill us with your Spirit. May we be sold out to all that you desire in our lives, and may we recognize the evidence of your blessings. Amen.

Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
But let them not return to their foolish ways.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
so our land will be filled with his glory.
Unfailing love and truth have met together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed!
Truth springs up from the earth,
and righteousness smiles down from heaven.
Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.
Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.
Righteousness goes as a herald before him,
preparing the way for his steps. – Psalm 85:7-13