Relationship

Deuteronomy 29

I remember being on a soccer team and sitting down after everyone game with the team while the coach talked with us. Even if we won our game we still needed to have a talk. If we won he usually congratulated us on a job well done but then also told us in some areas we needed improvement.  If we lost the game, well let’s just say it was all about needed improvement. It is nice to get the encouragement when needed and it is not that fun to get the discipline when you messed up, both served as important reminders of the task at hand. Looking back at it, my coach did it so we knew that there was always areas needed of improvement.

In this chapter God renews or restates his covenant that he made with Israel, just like on Mt. Horeb, Moses had the stone that was cut with God’s law, this law was written on stone in Moab. They are in Moab, a place that is right before they cross over the Jordan into the promise land. This covenant or oath that is given is for Israel to say and participate in.

God Led

As Moses gathered the people, God is the one speaking. He says, “I” am the one that has led you for 40 years. Their clothes did not wear out, neither did their sandals. God had provided for them all the 40 years with food, clothes, water, and safety. God provided deliverance from the surrounding nations. God retells the story of King Sihon which we read in Numbers 20:14-21. God is giving the land to Israel as an inheritance like he promised. He has been there even when they were in Egypt as slaves. God’s hand was in their release and the destruction of Pharaoh.

God provided and provides still. I am not a typical guy who will not ask for directions. Ok, I just lied, I hate having to ask for directions because I want to prove that I know the way, which I totally do not. We are lost in this life, yeah we can follow after different things and people, they may get it somewhere but more than anything they make us worse off than before. God needs to be your leader and your guide. Will you let God lead you in the wilderness? He provides for us every step of the way. He fights for us. 

The Break-Up

As God is giving the oath for the relationship he is also giving a warning for those who would break the relationship. Israel’s big test would be idolatry. They came from a land where they worshiped idols and they are going into a land where they worshiped idols. God gave them the warning and the biggest fear is when one does not care about God. In verse 19 it talks about someone who hears the words of the covenant but yet thinks he is safe even though he disregards and rebels from the covenant. It is like someone thinking they could run across the 6 lanes on the freeway without getting hurt. God says to watch out because he cares and tells them this will be a trouble to them. 

God gives us warnings all the time. He may not be so specific with us like Israel, but he gives us warning signs. He tells us to watch out for the Devil because he is roaring lion ready to devour us (1st Peter 5:8) To be pure, and to honor the Lord and we know that sin is crouching at the door. Watch out and strive for the Lord, Romans 12:1-2. One of the warning signs that God gives us is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is who convicts us of sin (John 16:8). We do get conviction when we do sin, may we listen to the Holy Spirit.