A dominant mentality in Christianity is that the most important things a Christian can do are participate in church services, sing praises to God, and believe correct doctrines. However, we will see in today’s passage that Yahweh’s priority for Israel was different. Furthermore, the New Testament tells us His priority for us matches His priority for Israel.
In the 29th chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses predicted that, at some point in the future, the Israelites would rebel against Yahweh and be exiled from the land of Israel. However, in chapter 30, Moses went on to say that after that happened, Israel would turn back to Yahweh and be returned to the land.
Deut. 30:9 Then Yahweh your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for Yahweh will return to rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers,
Deut. 30:10 when you listen to the voice of Yahweh your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, when you return to Yahweh your God with all your heart and soul.
Notice the words “listen” and “keep”. The conditions that needed to be met to return to the land and experience prosperity were to listen to Yahweh and keep His commandments.
This has been Yahweh’s prime demand through all of history. The only thing Yahweh demanded of Adam and Eve was that they not eat from a certain tree (see Genesis 3). Yahweh destroyed the earth with a flood because the evil of man was great (see Genesis 6:5). Noah and his family were saved from the flood because Noah was blameless (see Genesis 6:9). Jesus and John said the way to love God is by obeying Him (see John 14:15 and 1 John 5:3).
Deut. 30:11 ¶ “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far from you.
Ponder the phrase “not too difficult”. The commandments that Israel received were not excessively hard. They simply had to choose to obey them.
We see something similar in the New Testament. The apostle John wrote “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Pay attention to the words “not burdensome”. Yes, it can be difficult to obey Yahweh, but oftentimes that is because we do not want to obey.
Deut. 30:12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and get it for us and make us hear it, that we may do it?’
Deut. 30:13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and get it for us and make us hear it, that we may do it?’
Deut. 30:14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
Look at the word “near”. The Israelites were gathered on the east side of the Jordan River. They were about to cross the river into the Promised Land. They did not have to go and search for the word of God. It was there with them. All they had to do was choose to obey it.
Deut. 30:15 ¶ “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and calamity;
Think about the contrast between “life and prosperity” and “death and calamity”. Israel had a choice to make.
Deut. 30:16 in that I am commanding you today to love Yahweh your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that Yahweh your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.
First, notice the connection between “love Yahweh”, “walk in His ways”, and “keep His commandments”. Obeying Yahweh was how they loved Yahweh.
That was true in the Garden of Eden. Some people ask why Yahweh created a tree from which Adam and Eve could not eat. The reason is that the prohibition gave Adam and Eve an opportunity to love Yahweh.
This is true for us today. The commandments in the Bible are an opportunity for us to love God.
Second, look at the word “that”. Doing what came before the word “that” would lead to what came after the word “that”. Obedience would have brought prosperity.
Deut. 30:17 But if your heart turns away and you will not listen, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them,
Deut. 30:18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it.
Deut. 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your seed,
First, look at the words “set before you”. Moses placed a choice before the Israelites.
Second, compare the words “life” and “blessing” with the words “death” and “curse”. Israel could choose to obey Yahweh, in which case they would experience life and blessing. Or they could choose to disobey, in which case they would experience death and a curse.
Deut. 30:20 by loving Yahweh your God, by listening to His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Once again, notice the connection between loving Yahweh and obeying Him.
Deut. 31:1 ¶ So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
Deut. 31:2 And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today; I am no longer able to come and go, and Yahweh has said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan.’
Look at the words “120 years”. Moses was 120 years old when Israel came to the entrance of the Promised Land. We know that the last 40 years of his life were spent wandering through the wilderness (see Numbers 14:33-34). Exodus 7:7 tells us Moses was eighty years old when he stood before Pharaoh. The book of Exodus does not tell us how old Moses was when he killed the Egyptian and fled from Egypt to Midian.
When Stephen spoke to the Sanhedrin, he said Moses was about 40 when he killed the Egyptian (see Acts 7:23). Then he said Moses lived in Midian for 40 years (see Acts 7:30). These verses in Acts are the only basis we have for saying that Moses lived in Egypt for 40 years, and then tended sheep in Midian for 40 years.
The doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture does not mean Stephen was inerrant when he spoke to the Sanhedrin. Inerrancy means Luke, the author, was inerrant when he recorded what Stephen said. Thus, while it is probable that Moses lived in Egypt for 40 years, then tended sheep in the wilderness for 40 years, we do not know that for certain.
Deut. 31:3 It is Yahweh your God who will cross ahead of you; He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, just as Yahweh has spoken.
Deut. 31:4 And Yahweh will do to them just as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when He destroyed them.
Deut. 31:5 And Yahweh will give them over before you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandments which I have commanded you.
Deut. 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or be in dread of them, for Yahweh your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Many Christians think the litmus test for being a good Christian is having correct theology, going to church, and praising God. However, first and foremost, God wants obedience. God’s only demand to Adam and Eve was that they obey. His top priority for Israel was that they obey. The most important thing Christians need to do is obey God.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”
Amen. Exactly. Obedience by the Power of the Holy Spirit in the fight of Faith.