We are reminded by Moses in Psalm 90 to not fix our minds upon the things of this world but to set our eyes upon our eternal home with God. Only when we set our hearts resolutely upon following God will we have lasting purpose in our short lives. ”Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17  When we have the ability to know that the works of our hands are what God would have us do we gain all the motivation to work with excellence and to press on for a lifetime.

The promised curse for the people of Israel if they turn away from God. “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and will make it a proverb and a by word among all peoples.” 2 Chronicles 7:19,20  When the people of Israel forsook following God they were uprooted and taken away in exile. When you are given a warning about a consequence for your actions do you move in such a way to avoid the bad outcome?

Are the blessing and curse given by God to Solomon something new? Have the people of Israel heard these words before? In Deuteronomy God’s servant Moses set before Israel the same blessing and curse that is set before Israel by Solomon. What does this mean? What is the purpose? What is the main theme found in the Old Testament so far? God desires us to love him with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, and all of our strength. When we love Him we are we guaranteed to be blessed? We will be blessed beyond measure but the blessing may not be in the material or worldly possessions that we would typically want. When we are not loving God and are cursed what happens? When we go through hardship and find ourselves lost and hopeless we are reminded of how God is able to help us. In the moments of we are in exile God’s love is actively pursuing us to bring us back into an active loving relationship.

Was the problem of inhabitants of the land left dwelling among the Israelites instantly a problem? How much time passed between Joshua’s death and the failure of the people? In Judges 2 we are given the progression of events that led to the people turning away from God. In verses 1-5 the people of Israel are rebuked by the angel of the Lord. You’d think that this would rebuke by God would have been a catalyst for change in the people but it didn’t have a lasting effect. The people of Israel were faithful to God throughout Joshua’s leadership and throughout the leadership of the elders who out lived Joshua. Once the generation who knew, followed, and remembered God’s work to bring them to the promised land died the subsequent generations “did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had don for Israel.” Judges 2:10  Instilling a living and active faith in God to their posterity is the centeral problem of the Israelites are facing just as Moses told them. I still wonder how faith is transfered or instilled in to the lives of people. How will my faith in God be transfered into future generations?

The disobedience of the children of Israel climaxes in their turning to other gods instead of the God of their fathers. The inhabitants that were left in the midst of their cities took only two generations to corrupt the faith of the Israelites. The people turned and served Baal and Ashtaroth, among other gods of the inhabitants, and they forsook God and in doing so brought the curse down upon themselves. Throughout the disobedience of the Israelites God showed and proved His love and faithfulness by raising up judges who would turn the people back to God but upon the judges death the people would turn away again. This cycle continues until God’s anger burned against the Israelites.

Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk in it as their fathers did, or not.

Joshua 2:22,23

What is God doing by leaving the foreign nations among the Israelites? God knows the peoples hearts and they are inclined to turn away from Him. What are the foreign nations in our lives today? What is in our lives that God does not want for us but we continually turn back to?

In Joshua 17 the land that is divided among the sons and daughters of Manasseh is detailed and it is to be noted that the Joshua was faithful to give land to the daughters of Zelophehad, who had no sons, just as God commanded Moses. It is interesting that the sons of Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of the land they were inheriting just as the other the sons of Judah and Ephraim did in Joshua 15 and 16. Why were the inhabitants not driven out? Were the Israelites growing weary obeying God’s commands? There is a pattern developing of the native inhabitants of the promised land dwelling among the Israelites. Will this action be a catalyst to draw the people away from God that will play out throughout the Old Testament? I know that it is true in my life that the little things that seem harmless can develop and grow in magnitude until I am faced with major temptation and struggle in my life.

After the sons of Manasseh took their inheritance there were seven tribes that did not divide up their inheritance. In Joshua 18 we are told that Joshua questions these tribes asking, “How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?” Joshua 18:3  No reason is given for these tribes not going out to claim their inheritance but Joshua instructs men to go out into the land and survey it before lots would be cast to divide up the land.

Why would there be a desire to stay together in the main camp? Why did some of the tribes wain in their zeal to inherit the promised land? As each tribe went out to take the land of their inheritance who was their leader. The people of Israel needed a strong and courageous leader such as Moses and Joshua. It may be that the leaders of the tribes who struggled were not as strong in their faith in God as they needed to be. By contrast Caleb was a strong leader who drove out the inhabitance of the land of their inheritance. Is the lack of a strong spiritual leader a catalyst for future problems for the Israelites? If there was a lack leadership while there were still native inhabitants in the land there would be great opportunity for the children of Israel to be led astray away from God. In the world today I argue that the same problem is prevalent. It is crucial that the church today builds up strong leaders who are strong, courageous, and devoted to God.

I was amazed how the truth that unequally yoked marriages draw you away from God is glimpsed in chapter 7 verses 1-11. God knew that when the people entered into the promised land that if they didn’t hold to His commands the people would begin to stray from Him. If the Israelites choose to marry into the people they conquered they would slowly be corrupted from within because the men or women who are not of Israel would not fear God or follow Him and in doing thus they would also pull their spouse away from God. I see this today in my life. I see a lot of great women who I find attractive but if they are not motivated by God any relationship would be destined to draw me away from God. It is not easy to wait on God but if I let my pride lead me in my desires for a future wife instead of God I will be pulled away from God.

God promises to bless the Israelites if they follow His commandments that were given to them through Moses. This promise of blessing comes with a warning to the people that they do not forget God. When the blessings are given and life becomes it is easy to become filled with pride and to think that you were solely able to bring yourself to the place you are without God. Chapter 8:11-14 tells the story, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and  you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” I think this danger is alive and deadly today in America. We have an abundance and it is all too easy for us to go about our daily lives and never once thing that God is blessing us. The cultures of Israel and America seem all to similar when you think about how easily it is to forget God when life is easy. I know that if I do not abide in God’s Word on a consistent basis I will stray all too easily.

What does this truth about humanities inherent desire to stray from God mean for us today? I think it is a warning to keep among the body of Christ. God places believers around us to help us when we are going through difficult moments. The author of Hebrews sums it up perfectly, “Let us hold fast the confession of out hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing dear.” Do not attempt to live life as a solitary christian because it will not work because we are designed and destined to be within a body of believers. Seek God and guard against your pride taking preeminence over God. I’ll honestly say that through my own power I am destined to fail but through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit I find the hope for tomorrow.

As I read about the Ten Commandments right now as I am in the midst of the Easter story I have a different perspective than when I was reading them in Exodus. Yesterday I was blessed to be able to celebrate Maundy Thursday with some wonderful friends. During our time together we saw how when Jesus commands us to love God and also love people as ourself it will truly sum up the laws. The Ten Commandments point to this truth that true Godly love expressed will fulfill the law.

The idea of loving God is openly discussed in Deuteronomy chapter 6 when Moses warns the people to always, “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Moses is exhorting the people to not forget God. When the Israelites inherited the promised land and life became easier they needed to guard against turning away from God. In the same way I need to be seeking God daily and remembering who He is so that no matter what circumstance I find myself in I can remember who God is. In your daily life I ask you to join me in not forgetting God and continuing to seek Him on a daily basis. May you be blessed as you draw closer to Him.

Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.
Deuteronomy 4:9 NASB

I have been hit by the truth that Moses is proclaiming in these chapters. I am looking at this scripture and I feel ashamed because of how I easily become distracted by the idols all around me. Do I live my life keeping my soul diligently as it says in chapter 4 verse 9? I see a progression in my life to be more diligent but I am no where near perfect. How does a person live life when there are so many idols in the culture around us? It starts with following God’s commands. It is a simple answer yet it is a paradox to the fleshly nature of man. As I grow and learn to know who Jesus Christ is by reading the Bible I am continually transformed and my mind is renewed.

I find it interesting that the one thing I need and truly desire the most in my life can be so easily put aside when my life becomes busy. These commands that moses talks about in Deuteronomy are found in my silent pondering of scripture. I have gotten busy recently with so many things which are not inherently bad but they are not the perfect truth that is found in scripture. In Hebrews it shows how Jesus Christ is better than everything that the Jews held dear. I need to seek out the Living Water that is Jesus Christ found in scripture. Just as the Israelites needed to renew themselves with water I need to renew myself with Jesus.

My mind is jumping from one topic to another as I sit and think about the reading today. Deuteronomy 4:9 speaks about living out and not forgetting the truths that God shows us and passing them on to the generations after us. I met with a wonderful man this week who is 85 years old. I spent almost 4 hours listening to him talk about his life and how faithful God is. I am truly humbled right now. I think about the distractions I have in my life and most of them are of no real value. This man I spoke with has the relationship with God that I want! His concern was that his children grow up to know who Jesus Christ was and place their trust in Him. How do we live out building up the generations of the church that come after us? Do we live our faith out in public as an organic expression of who we are?

What is a way that you can start living a daily life for Jesus Christ? Take time out of your daily routine to have fellowship with God. Abide in the story that God has placed you in. It will never be an instant fix to live life for God but He looks at your heart and knows your true desire.

It is Maundy Thursday today. Take time to watch the following video. Think about how you can live out the commandment to love one another Jesus Christ gives us in John chapter 13. It can be a step close to knowing Jesus in a new way.

I pray that God will draw you closer to Him as you earnestly seek to abide in Him and live your life to pass on what you know to be true to those around you. Do not stray from the truth that you see in scripture. Just as Moses tells the Israelites to guard against idols so do we still need to guard ourselves. I leave you with a quote that I love from Rich Mullins:

If my life is motivated by an ambition to leave a legacy, what I would probably leave is a legacy of ambition. But, if my life is motivated by the power of God’s spirit in me and the awareness of the indwelling Christ, if I allow His presence to guide my motives, that’s the only time I think we really leave a great legacy.

-RICH MULLINS

I love how God’s faithfulness is shown in chapter 2 as Moses recounts the travels in the wilderness. The Israelites traveled through Seir where the sons of Esau dwelt and Ar where the sons of Lot dwelt. In each of these places that the Israelites traveled through God did not give any of the land because it was promised to the sons of Esau and Lot. This is another example of God being faithful to provide for people. God finally the land of Heshbon to the Israelites. The people of Israel were faithful to obey God by leaving no survivors from the battle. When the people remained obedient to God they had His blessing and the direction was clear for them. As I progress through reading the Old Testament it will be apparent when the Israelites stray from obedience to God.

How did Moses speak to all the people? It is all too easy to think of our modern day amenities like public address systems and loud speakers. Were there scribes that wrote all he said and heralds that spoke the words? It seems such a small thing to speak to millions of people today but how did it happen back then? It adds to my wonder and amazement of God and the story in the Old Testament.

The chapter 20 tells how the people of Israel grumble again because there is no water to drink. Moses and Aaron go before God where He instructs them to assemble the people and before them Moses was to talk to the rock and water would come forth from the stone. However Moses instead struck the rock with the rod that was in his hand. Moses and Aaron disobeyed God by showing their unbelief. With this unbelief Moses and Aaron were not allowed to bring the people into the promised land. Does my unbelief hinder me? I wonder what ways I have showed a lack of faith and belief before God and I miss out on blessing that God wanted to give me. I know that God’s love for me is not dependent upon anything i do because He loved me in my sinful state long before I was ever born. Lord, please grant me the faith to trust and believe you when it seems like the way seems impossible.

Chapter 20 ends with a changing of the high priest. God tells Moses and Aaron that Aaron would soon die. How would that make you feel if God tells you that you are going to die and be gathered with your people. Moses, Aaron, and Eleazar walked up Mount Hor where the garments of the high priest were taken off Aaron and placed upon Eleazar. Was this a tearful moment at the parting of a family member and friend? The end of the chapter tells about how the people of Israel upon realizing that Aaron was dead mourned and wept for 30 days. This story of the death of Aaron should bring hope to believers today. Hebrews 7:23 says, “The former priest, on the the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing.”  Aaron and every one of his descendants was going to die and that was a fact. When Jesus Christ came he was of a new order of priest not descended from the Levitical line of priests. He died once for all upon the cross. He was not hindered by death from continuing as the High Priest. Jesus Christ is the one true way that we can find hope for our future because He leads the way overcoming death for us.

In Numbers chapter 11 you can see the worn leader Moses as he laments to God about the headstrong and unbelieving Israelites. He wishes for death instead of being a nursemaid for the people. In weariness it is hard to remember the wondrous power that God has. Moses forgets that God’s power is limitless. When the people complained to God about lacking meat in chapter 11 God provided an abundance of quail. There quail was piled three feet high all around the camp for a days journey in all directions there was quail. That is a lot of meat. I hope and pray that I would have been thankful for the food but the Israelites took the food and ate it with out giving thanks to God. God’s anger was kindled and the camp was struck by severe plague.

Following the story of unbelief in Numbers chapter 11 we are given another account of people complaining against God in Numbers 12. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because they felt that God was not just speaking through Moses by saying, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken though us as well?” Here is what God says in response:

Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, shall make myself known to him in a vision.
I shall speak with him in a dream.
Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?

Numbers 11:6-8 NASB

God was angry with Aaron and Miriam. Miriam became leprous after God departed and she had to live outside the camp for 7 days and then she became whole again. I am amazed that in the midst of seeing God’s wonder day after day that humans can still grumble and complain about what God is doing or how He does things.

What does Numbers 11 and 12 have for us to apply in our daily lives? I think it is crucial that we focus on God alone and find our satisfaction in Him. It was all too easy got the Israelites to look back upon their lives and think that their bondage in Egypt was better than living by faith daily with God. I’ll admit that it does take time to seek God daily today just as collecting manna for food took a lot of time. Developing a vibrant relationship with God can take time but what we reap in return is more precious than anything. Why should I choose a life of bondage to a life in sin when true freedom is mine in Christ Jesus? Heed the warning in Numbers and seek out and be thankful for that daily feasting we can have in God.