Deuteronomy 30
-Life and death are set before the children of God in this
powerfully exhortative portion of Scripture. The prophet Moses speaks to the time
when the children of Israel will fall under the curse and find themselves in
all the nations that the LORD their God banished them. Notice there is no IF
here. God has all wisdom and knowledge in seeing the future events that will
happen on this earth and in the universe. There is, prophetically, no doubt left
that these things will transpire and God is preparing them for this event. When
they find themselves in that place, which has already happened by the way, they
were to call to mind the things of God, return to Him, and obey Him with all
their “heart and soul (Deuteronomy 30:1-2).” When they did these things, then
the LORD promised He would “restore” them once again from their “captivity” and
have “compassion” on them to “gather” them back from all the earth where they
had been scattered as outcasts. They will come back into the land which their
fathers possessed and repossess it with guaranteed prosperity and
multiplication from the LORD even more than their original lot. The Word says, “Moreover
the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants,
to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that
you may live (Deuteronomy 30:3-6).” At that time the curses will then be
inflicted on Israel’s enemies and on those who hate God’s people and persecuted
them (Deuteronomy 30:7). The Law will be reestablished and their obedience will
be evident. God will again rejoice over His people and bless them richly in all
areas. This commandment which the children were given was not too difficult for
them, nor was it out of reach. It was not in heaven too far away, nor was it
across the sea in an unreachable spot. The “word” was very near them, in their
mouth and in their heart that they may observe God’s edicts and live by them
(Deuteronomy 30:8-14).
-So Moses, under the inspiration of God Almighty, sets
before them, on that day, life and prosperity verses death and adversity. Life
was first of all in the love of their God. Secondly, life was in the walking
out of His ways in process. Finally, life was in keeping His commands, His
statutes, His judgments without questioning or rebelling against it. Blessing,
possession, and multiplication was God’s desire, and He laid it all out before
them to choose. But, if their heart turned away in disobedience before their
covenant King to worship and serve false gods and concepts, the LORD would surely
make them to perish and vacate them from their homeland. In this case they
would not be prolonged in the land that they were about to enter by God’s grace
and power. Heaven and earth were witnesses of these facts as Moses presented
them in the Jordan River Valley of Moab to the east side of the Promised Land.
The prophet implored them to choose life for themselves and their descendants “by
loving the LORD your God, by obeying His Voice, and by holding fast to Him; for
this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land
which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give
them (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).
-*Application* We see the necessity of our human choices in
the economy of God here right along with His sovereignty. The two always go
hand in hand and create a healthy biblical tension for us to grapple with.
While God sees ahead and knows the choices we will make, from our perspective
we are given the opportunity to decide for ourselves the course for our life
and eternity (Romans 8:29-30, there is a definite order for salvation here).
This is a big deal! God did not make robots that are programmed and only carry
out His decrees. We have a real say in the directions that we take with our
existence. What will you choose today? Life and prosperity, or death and
adversity? Know this, God is not willing for ANY to perish; He wants ALL to
come to repentance and faith in Him (John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9).
Verses to Memorize:
Deuteronomy 30:11, 14, 19-20
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