Deuteronomy – Page 3

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 – Doom and Gloom

I could have broken this passage up into several days to have a shorter reading, but I decided that with all the doom and gloom in our present day world, we’d only spend one day focusing on these curses. It would be easy to just skim over this section believing that we are immune. After all, didn’t Jesus come to save us? We’ll look at Paul’s words from Galatians 3, too.

Imagine you were the one hearing Moses declare all of these curses. What would you have been feeling? Would the fear of God be boiling inside you? Would you believe it or think that Moses had lost his mind? God was more than serious and whether or not we feel the message is for us or not, we need to seek understanding.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – The Blessings

Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14

“If you fully obey” seems to suggest that the blessings from God have a price tag. However, to have God’s blessing of protection, prosperity, and provision would seem like a wonderful reason to be obedient. Many people are enticed by rewards or positive reinforcement. God’s promise to give the land to the Israelites is a promise he kept. Now, to be set apart even more and be known for their allegiance to God and his provision, they only have to obey God.

The blessings here encompass more than just personal gain. Israel should be blessed in the field with bountiful crops, with herds having plenty of offspring, protection from harm, even when away from home, and much more. You would think the people would be ecstatic, overflowing with joy and gratitude. After all, they have just been wandering around for many years. They were about to have a life of abundance without having to be on the move. They were going to be able to establish roots at last.

Deuteronomy 27:1-26 – At Mount Ebal

Read Deuteronomy 27:1-26

We see today more of what is going to happen on the “other side.” You can read the actual accounts of these things happening in the Book of Joshua. So that’s pretty cool. Moses is painting the picture of what is to come. I’m sure the people are curious and possibly even anxious about it. Up to this point, Moses had been laying out God’s rules and expectations for the people living in their new land. Today, they learn what they should do when they get there.

We hear about the large stones being used to write down the law at Mount Ebal. There would be plaster involved and no tools were to be used. We could speculate all day long why. I imagine it was because God wanted the stones to be natural, yet covered with plaster for ease of writing. If a craftsman came in, they would try to make the rocks beautiful and perhaps detract from God’s message. That’s pretty profound. Don’t we often get distracted today with the bells and whistles or decorations and traditions thus forgetting the truth of God’s loving kindness, redemption, and will for our lives?

Deuteronomy 26:1-19 – Declare, Promise, & Obey

Read Deuteronomy 26:1-19

Our reading today starts with the reminder to give back to God the first fruits. This is done to show our thanks and obedience. Even today we have our own practices of giving. The idea of bringing actual food as an offering doesn’t happen, at least in the culture I grew up. Instead, we give our money, a portion of the wealth God has blessed us with, as an offering.

When we bring our gifts, we should remember and declare, as is shown here, what God has done for us. He has surely rescued us from harm, given us great blessing, and loved us when we weren’t the most lovable. We all have a story. I’m sure there are many stories we can think of where God has intervened. We may not have realized it at the time, but looking back we know it had to be God. We should never forget how God has moved in our lives, just like Moses is telling the people to never forget Egypt and God’s hand of deliverance.

Deuteronomy 25:1-19 – Just 40

Read Deuteronomy 25:1-19

Today I really struggled with what to reflect on. After lots of procrastination, I had my reflections all drafted, and then my computer died. You are now reading my second attempt to figure out what is really speaking to me in today’s passage. Do you ever have that happen when you’re just not “feeling it?” I’m quite sure I can’t recreate what I had done before, but here goes!

I even laughed out loud today when read the part about the woman spitting in her brother-in-law’s face. I know that doesn’t sound particularly amusing, but I was picturing myself, and I have a couple of great BIL’s. I couldn’t imagine spitting in their faces. Ever. But tradition was important, and God was putting it into perspective so that every married man who dies childless would have a way of being “remembered.”