These passages today bring to completion a few things: the end of the Pentateuch (1st 5 books of the Bible), the end of the Israelites journey to the promised land, and the end of Moses’ life.  Most of this section covers more of the law.  As I read these pages today and as I look back over all of the first five books I am struck by one thing…Where would we be were it not for the grace of God and the freedom from sin that Christ brings?

I’m not sure what stood out to you in today’s reading, but for me it was chapter eight.  Throughout all of these chapters there were tons of great passages, but I loved the beginning.  These verses remind me who it’s really all about.  In Deuteronomy 8:10-19 Moses reminds the Israelites (then) and me (now) that it’s all about the LORD.  Here are a couple of the verses that stood out to me in this section (bold words are my emphasis).

¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. ¹² Otherwise…your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God…¹⁵ He led you through the vast and dreadful desert… He brought you water out of hard rock. ¹⁶ He gave you manna to eat in the desert… ¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant…

In today’s scripture reading we begin the book of Deuteronomy.  This is the fifth book in the Pentateuch that was attributed to Moses.  Much of the first few chapters seem like restatements of things already written.  It goes back over the history of what happened to the Israelites and Moses.  It covers the 10 Commandments again as well as an accounting of the travels of the people on their way to the promised land.  Here are a couple of passages that really stood out to me:

• Deut. 4:29 – “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (this sounds a lot like Jer. 29:13)
• Deut 6:5 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
• Deut. 6:6-8 – “These commands that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up…”
• Deut. 6:13 – “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only…”