Nathan Neighbors
Follower of Christ, Husband, Father, & Youth Pastor
At this point in the story of the people of Isreal, they had been wondering in the wilderness for forty years. They had been taught so much by The Lord through Moses. He had given them instructions on everything from hygiene to tithes and offerings. As the book of Deuteronomy comes to a close Moses says his final words to the people and then he gets a glimpse of the promise land. After Moses dies, Joshua becomes the leader and it’s Joshua who will lead the people into the land that they’ve spent these 40 years walking towards.
The passage of scripture from this section that keeps coming to my mind is Deuteronomy 30:19-20. The Lord set before them a choice. They could choose life or death…blessings or curses. The Lord pleads with them to CHOOSE LIFE. He says, “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and so that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…”
No truer words have ever been written. May we choose life today and everyday. Because the Lord is our life. Nothing else is better.
Guest Blog written by: Savannah Elgin
How many times does someone say “did you remember to do this” and then you say “oh no. I am sorry. I forgot.”
Everyone has forgotten to do something; in our passage today, God didn’t want his people to forget.
God starts out by reminding us about him leading his people around the desert. Then he tells why. He wanted to humble them and so he could see if they would keep his comandments. He continues giving examples of his have and goodness.
Guest Blog written by: Brad Kempson
When I look at everything the Israelites went through in getting to the promised land, I am amazed. They went through all of these things and even though there were some hard times, they still stayed with God.
Moses sent 12 spies to check out the land and the people there. When they got back, most of them were afraid and upset that there were such big enemies that they knew would beat them. God was upset with them because they didn’t trust him. Only Caleb could see the land they were promised. Caleb believed that God would help the Israelites with everything that involved the land.
God sent the Israelites to wander more years because they didn’t believe in him. The children of the Israelites would enter the land, but no one else would.
Moses asked God if he would see the land, but God was upset with Moses so God sent him to look at the land, but he wouldn’t enter the land.
The Ten Commandments get reviewed in this passage. The Israelites need to be reminded as they are about to enter the promised land, and we need to be reminded as we go on with our lives in this world now to follow these rules and be with him.
After all that the Israelites went through, all of the battles and years of wandering, God states with them. He will always be with us too. All we have to do is believe that He will do what He tells us He will.
Nathan Neighbors 