“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life…” (Deut 30:19). Even before Israel was able to enter the Promised Land, Moses had to give them the heartbreaking news that, in spite of all the encouragements to be faithful, they were going to be driven out of that land and […]
Read More… from February 23, 2023 — The Everlasting Love Of God
Faith is no leap in the dark. Over the centuries, God has given ample proof of His trustworthiness. Sometimes it’s helpful to start at the target and work backwards. Let’s begin this lesson with the last verse of Deuteronomy 29. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed […]
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