Deuteronomy / chapter 34 (read the chapter)
After the death of Moses, the record in Deuteronomy 34 says this: “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” (vs 11) As I read this, it dawned on me that many of God’s good friends are found in the Old Testament, before the testimony of Jesus. Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 33 (read the chapter)
I know. No big “earth-shattering” revelation today. We all know that God doesn’t remember our sins, but it’s awfully nice to see it in action. This promise of God’s isn’t just a claim; it’s a reality. In Deuteronomy 33, Moses pronounces a blessing on the people of Israel as they are getting ready to enter the Promised Land. As I read through the list of blessings, I couldn’t help once again noticing the names behind the tribes of Israel: Dan, Asher, Gad, Levi, Judah . . . Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 32 (read the chapter)
I recently finished reading Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado. It’s the story of how 16 people survived an awful plane crash in the Andes Mountains—not because they were rescued, but because Nando and his friend Roberto ultimately climbed out of the Andes and back to civilization. Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 31 (read the chapter)
I would like to marry two concepts I find in this chapter. First, that God’s love is active. It is a verb, not a noun. And second, that God loves us even while knowing exactly who and what we are. His intimate knowledge of our wickedness does not change His love for us. In fact, if anything, I think it fires Him up to love us (that is, to fiercely act for our best good) even more. Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 30 (read the chapter)
I found it curious that, in this chapter, Moses almost seems to prophesy that the Israelites will turn away from God: “When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.” (vs 1-3) Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 29 (read the chapter)
So, yet again, this chapter opens with a litany of Israel’s history—how they were slaves in Egypt, how God brought them out with signs and wonders, how God cared for them in the desert, and how they defeated all the nations who have come against them thus far. And I’m thinking, how many times have we heard this already? Do the Israelites have short-term memory loss? Why does Moses keep going over this again and again and again? Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 28 (read the chapter)
So, here we have a mega-extension of yesterday’s chapter and lesson about God—that He warns us of impending danger. I know I’ve read this chapter of Deuteronomy several times as I’ve made my way through the Bible in the past, but never have I been so struck by the description of what life is like when we disregard God’s law of love. It is bleak. Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 27 (read the chapter)
Here’s what shocked me from Deuteronomy 27: “When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.” (vs 12-13) Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 26 (read the chapter)
There has been much talk in the American media lately of taxes, what with the frenzy to extend former-President Bush’s tax cuts before the end of the year. It has also been a year full of talk about how much the government should play a role in the day-to-day lives of American citizens. Should the government provide universal health care? Should the government take more money from the rich and give it to the poor? Should the Federal Reserve print more money to cover our expanding debt? Continue Reading »
Deuteronomy / chapter 25 (read the chapter)
God is a master of relationships, and the first key to any relationship is honesty. When you think about it, the whole world—even the universe—is in the mess it’s in because one of God’s creatures decided to be dishonest instead of honest. Up in heaven, Lucifer began spreading lies about God, and when Adam and Eve bought into his lies in the Garden of Eden, our planet began to descend into chaos. Continue Reading »
