Would Israel exemplify trust, or be “an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations” (Deut 28:37)? How many things can go wrong in life? No doubt, you’ve heard the story that goes like this: “Life was tough, but someone told me, ‘Cheer up; things could be worse.’ So I cheered up—and sure enough, […]
Read More… from February 21, 2023 — Curses Piled On Top Of Curses!
What happens when we walk in obedience? “The Lord will open to you His good treasure” (Deut 28:12). What a momentous gathering it was going to be! When the Israelites, by God’s help, had cleared the way to the center of the country, then “Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph [standing in for Ephraim and Manasseh], […]
Read More… from February 20, 2023 — Blessings Piled On Top Of Blessings
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Gal 3:13). In our last study, we thought about the importance of writing down what God says to us. The children of Israel were to copy all the commands on “large stones” (Deut 27:2) once they had crossed over […]
Writing things down gives clarity and focus, sharpens comprehension, and shows what is vital. “Now Moses” are the first words in Deuteronomy 27. Say, we haven’t heard about Moses since chapter 5! It’s as if he has disappeared as God’s intermediary, and the Lord has been having a direct heart-to-heart with His people. But clearly, […]
Read More… from February 16, 2023 — Don’t Trust Your Memory: Write It Down!
God loves to bless His people, but blessing the willfully disobedient sends a dangerous message. In light of all that has gone before, the last half of Deuteronomy 26 gives what we might call the bottom line. I can do no better than to quote it verbatim: “This day the Lord your God commands you […]
Read More… from February 15, 2023 — Going Up On The Down Escalator
God not only gives to us so we are blessed, but also so we are the means of His blessing to others. Flavius Josephus, famous first century historian, explained the three tithes expected of the Jewish people: “In addition to the two tithes which I have already directed you to pay each year, the one […]
Read More… from February 14, 2023 — The Thoughtfulness Of Giving
“So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the Lord your God has given to you” (Deut 26:11). After a very difficult section of Scripture (Deut chs 12–25), God’s people are now to anticipate good times in the Land of Promise. The early rains would fall in October/November, softening the ground for planting. The […]
Read More… from February 13, 2023 — When You Come Into The Land
The enemies of God’s people know no compromise. The devil is looking for those he can devour. With one final flourish to the dark side, Deuteronomy 25 concludes with a solemn reminder: “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way […]
Read More… from February 10, 2023 — Israel’s Unrelenting Foes