I am so excited that we have made it this far together. Deuteronomy is a book I have actually, in some ways, looked forward to studying. I am also very excited that I have made it through Leviticus and Numbers with you. Let’s keep moving!
Today’s first chapter, Deut. chapter three, we find Moses recounting the defeat of Og, King of Bashan. This was another battle that was totally the Lord’s. The Lord handed Og and his whole army over to the Israelites. They were reminded of the sixty cities they captured that were fortified with high walls, gates and bars. This land they took over was divided among the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh. Then Moses reminds Joshua that the Lord has brought the Israelites through all these battles and that the Lord will do the same for them in the land they are going.
Then we see Moses plead with the Lord one last time to go into the Promised Land. This reminds me of being a mother. There have been times when I have set rules that I didn’t want to follow through on because my child is pleading with me to change my mind. In my human ways I sometimes stick to my guns for prideful reasons or be lenient because of selfishness, or laziness. My intention is always to do what is best and right. Another way is to think about an action of you or your child that has a very difficult consequence. Like Moses, there is no “do over.” You can’t just take it back or do extra credit. Many times we may cry how “unfair” it is. The bottom line is that Moses was not going to enter the Promised Land but it did not mean God loved him any less and God still had much for Moses to do.
Chapter four is the Lord, again, commanding obedience and reminding the Israelites that He is God. I like verse two; “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” So, that means, just do what He said because He is God and He means it. The Lord wanted the Israelites to remember. He wants us to remember. Remember His miracles, His provisions, even His disciplines. We should tell our children about what the Lord has done. Teach our children His word. This is one of the most important things we can do.
