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DEUTERONOMY 30–32

Week 11, Day 2

If the mixture of life’s blessings and troubles seems fearful, it is because we have forgotten God’s rule in the whole process. If we will learn from the fortunes and misfortunes and will “return to the LORD . . . , then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes” (30:2-3). Mercy is woven into all the fabric of life, even into those sections that seem at the moment to be ugly.

The lawgiver becomes an evangelist as he nears the end of his speech. “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. . . . Choose life . . . , loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him” (30:15, 19, 20). There could hardly be a more impassioned call to the altar of decision.

But now it is time for the changing of the guard. No matter how often Israel rebelled against Moses’ leadership, they must now have felt very uneasy at the prospect of continuing without him. But they have a grand assurance: “The LORD your God himself will cross over before you. . . . Joshua also will cross over before you” (31:3). They can enjoy the same confidence they knew before, because again God is with them, working through a visible leader. Moses seems for a moment to strike a bitter note (“I know well how rebellious and stubborn you are” [31:27]), but he seems nevertheless to be confident they will learn: “Take to heart all the words that I am giving . . . you today” (32:46). Well, we shall see!

PRAYER: Help me, O Lord, to choose well today, and every day. Amen.

Moses said that the commandment he was giving was not difficult or out of reach. How would you summarize this challenge, as found in Deuteronomy 30:11-20?