God Speaks
Choose Life; Joshua Succeeds Moses; the Law Read Publicly; Future Rebellion and Judgment Predicted
Verse of the Day: “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” (Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Deuteronomy 30-31:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Deuteronomy 30
1. God tells His chosen people what is going to happen in advance so that they can know it is Him that does it and so that they can prepare by turning to Him. He wants them to choose life by loving Him, obeying Him, and committing themselves fully to Him.
2. People cannot do this in their own strength. They need a Savior (Jesus) to take away their sins and a guide (Holy Spirit) to lead and empower them in their new life devoted to the LORD. Then they will be able to love others as they love themselves.
Deuteronomy 31
1. God loves people too much to let them get away with disrespecting Him and His ways.
2. People are fickle; God knew and told Moses and the people of Israel in advance that they would prosper as long as they depended on and obeyed Him, but whenever they would turn from Him and follow other gods or even their own ideas, He would turn away from them.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Deuteronomy 30?
Thank You, LORD God, that You do not leave people exiled from You without hope. Please help me (and all of Your people) turn back to You in repentance and faith. Draw us back to You and restore our fortunes. May we seek You with all of our hearts and all of our souls. Bring Your wandering children back to You. Change our hearts and the hearts of our descendants. Place the curses that have been on us on Your enemies (Satan and all those who follow him and his ways) instead. Produce an abundant harvest among all the people groups of the world. Delight again in showering Your goodness on Your people because we are obeying Your voice and keeping Your commands and decrees which are written in Your Book of Instruction. We will be turning to the LORD our God with all our heart and soul. Thank You that what You command is not too difficult or beyond our reach when we depend on You to fill us. You have given us the choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. By Your Spirit, draw multitudes to listen, turn, and obey so that they may have eternal life. This will bring You great glory, O LORD. Thank You also, LORD God, for loving and providing for me throughout all of the ups and downs of my life. Please, as You promised the Israelites, go ahead of me and deal with the enemies (seen and unseen) that would stand in the way of Your plans for my life. Do that as well for others for whom I am praying. Help us all to be strong and courageous! To not be afraid or panic in the face of the difficulties of life. Help me not to believe the lies, but to expose any deception with Your truth. Help me to reach out and train the next generation of leaders to follow You and Your instructions. May these new leaders courageously teach all the people to fear You and obey the commands written down for us in the Bible. May I develop such a close relationship with You, LORD, that I take it well when You tell me it is time for me to move on or the time of my death. In that case, may all involved (both the group and individuals) be strong and courageous by depending on You. Please give me something to leave behind that points people back to You, bringing You alone the glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Deuteronomy 30? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will study the commands God gave His people in Deuteronomy and the rest of the Bible so that I can do what God expects of me.
- I will support and encourage Jews returning to the LORD (YHWH), Jesus (Jeshua), and the land of Israel in any way God directs.
- I will thank Jesus for dying on the cross to cancel my sin-debt and take away my sins, naming specific ones as the Holy Spirit brings them to mind.
- I will tell someone how they can be set free and adopted by God as well.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.