Reason #670
I finally finished Deuteronomy tonight. If I had stuck to my original plan, I would have been through with Deuteronomy at least a month ago. As it is, I managed to read a lot of it on Monday, and I have to say I really loved the first half of the book. The second half, however, was a harder read. You see, Moses is finishing up with the Israelites here. The next step is the Promised Land, but he isn't getting to go with them. He is reminding them of who they are, where they came from, and he's giving them warnings and advice about what to do once they enter the Promised Land.
I can't help but think about Moses' relationship with Israel kind of like a parent/child relationship. We've all been there before. For 18 years, our parents guided and directed us. They made sure we were safe and provided for. They led us, instructed us, and cleaned up our messes. Moses did the same thing. The Israelites were so forgetful and rebellious, and it seems like Moses spends more time interceding for them than anything. Asking God to forgive them rather than destroying them like they totally deserved. Come on parents, you know what I'm saying here. Moses is being followed by a million or so whiney people who are never happy with what they have. They want more, and when they get more, they just complain about that. Everything is so "unfair" to them, and they have this entitled mindset that they shouldn't have to work hard for anything. Honestly, the only thing they are really good at is messing up and causing grief.
But there comes a time when the ties are cut. Eighteen years later, and you're sending your babies off into the real world. You can't go with them, you can't be there to watch their every step and guide them in the right direction. You aren't able to clean up their messes now. They are on their own and the only thing they are taking with them is the knowledge you've instilled in them... if they even remember it. It's a scary place to be, I'm sure, and I have to believe that Moses wondered how these people were going to make it without him.
Well, if you read the latter half of Deuteronomy, you come across some pretty terrifying statements about the consequences they'll incur for their potential disobedience and general disregard towards God. Moses is basically giving them worst case scenario, and the unfortunate thing is, this will become their reality. Because, if you know much about Israel, it doesn't take them long to forget what God had done for them. They are quick to throw away God's commandments and follow their sinful desires. Maybe it's because they think, "What could really happen to us? We're God's chosen. We'll get bailed out of any trouble we encounter because of who we are." Maybe it's because they really are unintelligent people. Or maybe it's just because they are that selfish and self-centered that they are more concerned about feeding their flesh than honoring God.
If you've lived a little, you know that eventually your choices catch up with you. And so often we look back and we wonder "Why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this?" Well, the truth is, when we don't listen and remember, we are likely to make bad decisions that bring about painful consequences later. When we throw away God's teaching and refuse to follow His commands, we'll face disaster eventually. Because, like God told Moses in Deuteronomy 4:30, "When those bitter days have come upon you far in the future, you will finally turn to the Lord your God and listen to what He tells you."
If we would just listen. If we would listen up front, we'd save ourselves bitter days. If we'd remember what we were told and do what we know is right, we'd bypass a lot of the wilderness. But God will draw us back one way or another, He always does. God will use those bitter days to bring us closer to Him, and we're wise to let Him. Because the next verse reminds us that, "The Lord your God is merciful - He will not abandon you..." And so I just praise the Lord for that. For seeing me in my bitter days and still being there to take me back. For forgiving my bad choices and poor decisions and not abandoning me as I disobediently wander in the wilderness. If it takes bitter days to get our attention, than thank goodness for those days. And if it takes a little heartbreak to get back on the right path, than hallelujah for broken hearts. Because God's blessings are a byproduct of our obedience, and it's our choice of whether or not we want to receive them.
#670 - For the option to choose God's blessings.
“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..." - Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I can't help but think about Moses' relationship with Israel kind of like a parent/child relationship. We've all been there before. For 18 years, our parents guided and directed us. They made sure we were safe and provided for. They led us, instructed us, and cleaned up our messes. Moses did the same thing. The Israelites were so forgetful and rebellious, and it seems like Moses spends more time interceding for them than anything. Asking God to forgive them rather than destroying them like they totally deserved. Come on parents, you know what I'm saying here. Moses is being followed by a million or so whiney people who are never happy with what they have. They want more, and when they get more, they just complain about that. Everything is so "unfair" to them, and they have this entitled mindset that they shouldn't have to work hard for anything. Honestly, the only thing they are really good at is messing up and causing grief.
But there comes a time when the ties are cut. Eighteen years later, and you're sending your babies off into the real world. You can't go with them, you can't be there to watch their every step and guide them in the right direction. You aren't able to clean up their messes now. They are on their own and the only thing they are taking with them is the knowledge you've instilled in them... if they even remember it. It's a scary place to be, I'm sure, and I have to believe that Moses wondered how these people were going to make it without him.
Well, if you read the latter half of Deuteronomy, you come across some pretty terrifying statements about the consequences they'll incur for their potential disobedience and general disregard towards God. Moses is basically giving them worst case scenario, and the unfortunate thing is, this will become their reality. Because, if you know much about Israel, it doesn't take them long to forget what God had done for them. They are quick to throw away God's commandments and follow their sinful desires. Maybe it's because they think, "What could really happen to us? We're God's chosen. We'll get bailed out of any trouble we encounter because of who we are." Maybe it's because they really are unintelligent people. Or maybe it's just because they are that selfish and self-centered that they are more concerned about feeding their flesh than honoring God.
If you've lived a little, you know that eventually your choices catch up with you. And so often we look back and we wonder "Why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this?" Well, the truth is, when we don't listen and remember, we are likely to make bad decisions that bring about painful consequences later. When we throw away God's teaching and refuse to follow His commands, we'll face disaster eventually. Because, like God told Moses in Deuteronomy 4:30, "When those bitter days have come upon you far in the future, you will finally turn to the Lord your God and listen to what He tells you."
If we would just listen. If we would listen up front, we'd save ourselves bitter days. If we'd remember what we were told and do what we know is right, we'd bypass a lot of the wilderness. But God will draw us back one way or another, He always does. God will use those bitter days to bring us closer to Him, and we're wise to let Him. Because the next verse reminds us that, "The Lord your God is merciful - He will not abandon you..." And so I just praise the Lord for that. For seeing me in my bitter days and still being there to take me back. For forgiving my bad choices and poor decisions and not abandoning me as I disobediently wander in the wilderness. If it takes bitter days to get our attention, than thank goodness for those days. And if it takes a little heartbreak to get back on the right path, than hallelujah for broken hearts. Because God's blessings are a byproduct of our obedience, and it's our choice of whether or not we want to receive them.
#670 - For the option to choose God's blessings.
“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..." - Deuteronomy 30:19-20