Deuteronomy chapter 29.
Moses speaks with the Israelites and reminds them of what God has done:
1. The miracles against the Egyptians.
2. How they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness with their clothes and sandals never wearing out.
3. How they did not eat bread or have any fermented wine during that time.
4. How they won the battle east of the Jordan which that land has now become their inheritance.
God declares that he has done all these things so the Israelites might know that he is their Lord God and there is no other.
Moses is before all the people of the Israelites and declares to them that today they have this opportunity to enter into a covenant with the Lord. If they choose to enter into this covenant with the Lord they're declaring that they want to follow all his laws and commands. If they do so they will prosper. if they say they're going to enter into this covenant but later on turn from the Lord and turn to false gods then God declares to them they will face his wrath and curses.
Today we are all faced with the question “Do I want to enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ?”
If I say yes then I am surrendering my will over God's will for my life. If I say yes, I am allowing the Holy Spirit to change my life and use me to impact the Kingdom of God.
if I say yes, then I must be ready to face everyday distractions from the devil who wants me to say yes to the world and No to Jesus.
This passage reminds me of the book of Revelation which starts out with a blessing. In chapter 1 verse 3 it says blessed is the one who reads the words of God's prophecy and blessed are those who hear these words of God and take it to heart and let it become apart of them because soon Jesus will return and he will want to find us faithful to him.
The beginning of Revelation starts with the blessing but the last chapter of revelation ends with a curse and says, “I warned everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book if anyone adds anything to them God will add to him the plagues that are described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this prophecy God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city which are described in His book. Then it ends by saying Jesus is coming soon!
I have chosen to have a relationship with God through Jesus. I am choosing everyday to be found faithful. God forgive me when I stray from You. Continue to help me to stay on the right path so that I will be found faithful when you return.
I was thinking about God’s goodness and faithfulness while reading chapter 29 today and I was reminded of Psalm 34:8-9.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!
The covenant God made with the Israelites and described in chapter 29 & 30 is known as the Palestinian Covenant. God promised to bless the Israelites by making them the nation through whom the rest of the world would know Him. In return, they promised to love and obey Him. Looking back with the benefit of history’s hindsight, I am awed. God kept His part of the bargain.
V29 – This verse reminds me of the limitations of my finite mind. I cannot possibly understand the infinite aspects of God’s nature and the universe He created. I don’t have the capacity to know everything He knows. But knowing this, He has told us enough about Him in His Word to be saved by faith. So – obedience is an act of will, not a lack of knowledge. Thank you, Father.
19 “When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 20 The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven.”
This is a very powerful message. We cannot continue to do things our way and live a sinful like and expect to be blessed by God. This is a message our society as a whole needs to hear and understand.
More than once Moses reminds the Israelites what God has done for them and to show them who He is. Why so many reminders? Because it is easy to forgot. To complain and focus on our own wants and desires instead of God’s.
Luke 11:28 “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
1 Corinthians 15:57
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you Jesus for our victory in YOU!