Deuteronomy 6-8 = Today's Thoughts

Deuteronomy 6-8 = Today's Thoughts

 

As the people of Israel prepare to enter into the Promised Land, Moses knowing that he will not be going with them is trying to prepare them for what they will encounter.  Moses, like a concerned parent releasing their children to another’s care as they go on without him, he wants them to know their potential pitfalls, the struggles, the expectations, give them hope, and give them warning, he wants the best for them and wants them to succeed. Moses, a man who knows God unlike maybe anyone before him truly understands the nature of God, he is a friend of God, a person who has walked with him and been face to face with him.  Moses knows that God is a jealous God wanting the faithfulness of the people.  Moses tries to communicate here how the people are to respond to God as he leads them and blesses them into the Land that they have been promised for so long.  40 years he has prepared them for this jouney and now he must let them go ahead without him.  Moses has seen them succeed and seen them fail, he knows how they can be swayed and knows their humanity.  He tries to protect them so they will remain holy before the Lord. 

 

Passing a mantle is rarely without struggle, and here we have Moses setting up Joshua in such a profoundly powerful way.  Preparing the people, encouraging them, disciplining them and informing them.  So that when the time comes under Joshua’s leadership for there to be fear, doubt, excitement and rejoicing, they will be able to look back and know that he is the right man because the one who prepared him foretold their situations, and they know what their response should be and the will know that Joshua is leading as God wants him to lead.  Moses, a friend of God, while flawed as any man is, was a truly humble and servant like leader. 

 

Have a great day.

Rob

 

 

Deuteronomy 3-5 = Today's Thought

Deuteronomy 3-5 = Today's Thought

 

Well after about a month of slacking let’s see if I can get back on track,  No good excuse, just slackness.  So I am going to try and be recommitted.  While I have done some reading in this time, not enough, it seems my best reading happens when I share my thoughts, so here we go again.

 

A couple points really stood out here, probably the most significant was the simple truth that no god in recorded time interacted with a people the way God did. (Probably has something to do with the fact that He is the one true God) but this is massive for the people of Israel and really for us.  No where had any large grouping of people been able to claim legitimate interaction with their god’s, until now.  Here not one, but thousands and thousands of people had multiple shared interactions with The God of the universe.  It was no longer believing the word of some profit, or one person with a convincing story it was a real shared experience of the masses. Some thing for the nation of Israel to cherish and something all other nations would tremble from.  For no other nation had this interaction with their gods.  Their recent victory, directly connected to their experience of being with God.  Their liberation, God ordained and led.  We see that even their protection and sustainment in the wilderness, is through God’s great provision.  Now as God prepares to lead them into the Promised Land, there is a review of history and a review of expectation.  God doesn’t leave room for misinterpretation here,  he reviews His commandments, he further trains Moses, he sets up the succession for Moses and Joshua.  His expectation of the people and their faithful following of His clearly communicated.  He is a God that plans, and has a purpose in his plan.

 

What desert have you crossed? At the foot of what mountain have you stood?  Did God help you cross the desert, did you hear his voice at the foot of the mountain.  If you are a believer and a follower, I have to believe he tried,  Did you accept the help or listen to his direction or did you try it your own way.  It is so easy to leave God out of life and ministry.  But when that happens, that is putting something, your plan, your resources, your hope, in something other than God. (Idol worship) It really is that simple, if your not trusting in God, your trusting in another god.  You already know what outcome that leads to. As believers we are often asked to be patient in God’s time, something almost all of us struggle with.  One thing is clear however, for those that have been patient and waited on the Lord, Their life, their story and their legacy have been truly amazing.

 

Have a great day

Rob