Deut 29:2 …Your eyes have seen all that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land.
“The LORD has been so very good to me.” What a beautiful way to live life, praising our Savior for His many blessings. If I were to count them all, big and small, I would be counting for a very long time because He is that good, that kind, that loving, that steadfast—to me, to you, to all His children, even now.
Deut 29:3 With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders.
More than once in the midst of our current madness I have had to remind myself that God is still sovereign, that He is still on His throne. I do not believe He unleashed this virus, but I have no doubt that He knew it was coming. I have no doubt He can use all of this, every single bit, for His glory and our good if we allow.
Deut 29:4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your sovereignty. Thank You for the realization that You ARE so very good to me, even now. Thank You for the understanding that You have not given me a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear all that You are doing. Help me to make peace with Your mystery while I cling to Your truth. Draw me closer. Amen.
Deut 29:5 Yet the LORD says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.”
Have a blessed day.
Hard lessons…. (devo reflection)
Deut 28:45a All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed….
God is sovereign and all powerful. I am not saying that He can’t curse us in all these ways outlined in Deut 28, but I think that much more often, when we refuse His sovereignty and guidance, He typically chooses to curse us by letting us have our way.
Deut 28:45b …because you did not obey the LORD your God and observe the commands and decrees He gave you.
For instance, look at the story of the prodigal son. When the wayward son comes home and receives the royal treatment, the faithful son is angry. He has followed the rules, but he feels he has been cheated. The father says, “My son…you are always with me, and everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31). When the prodigal left home, he was cut off from the father, his love, support, and resources. The other son never lost that connection.
Deut 28:46 They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your sovereignty. Thank You for drawing us closer to You, always. Either we say to You, “Your will be done,” or You give us our way and allow us to learn hard lessons. Help us to choose wisely, Lord. Help us to choose You. Always. Amen.
Deut 28:47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity….
Have a blessed day.
Next steps…. (devo reflection)
Deut 27:1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today.”
Moses was as close as he would get to the Promised Land. Because of his disobedience while they were in the wilderness, he would not be allowed to enter. I wonder if he was feeling the weight of that as he was reviewing all the commands for the Israelites as they stood poised to enter their Promised Land. Was there a sense of urgency? A sense of “I must remember to tell them….”? Was there peace? Confidence? That he had done his part and they would be ok?
Deut 27:2 “When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster.”
I often feel this way at the end of the semester, especially with my seniors. I try to teach them skills that can be applied to any situation, not just English—good work ethic, getting along with people you may not like, looking at all sides of a situation, listening to people you disagree with. Always towards the end I wonder if I’ve taught them everything I could have, should have. Did I do enough to help them toward the next steps? I wonder if Moses struggled with similar feelings?
Deut 27:3 “Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the work that I do. Thank You for the ability to work with these young people before they leave the shelter of high school. Be with me as I try to prepare them. Be with them as they cross out of high school and into this new phase of life. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.
Deut 27:4 “And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.”
Have a blessed day.
Treasured…. (devo reflection)
Deut 26:16 The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Since Deuteronomy chapter 4, Moses has been reminding the Israelites of the LORD’s commands. Now he reminds them why he was reminding them—so that they can carefully observe those commands with all their heart and with all their soul.
Deut 26:17 You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in obedience to Him, that you will keep His decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to Him.
God created us to praise Him, to obey Him, to glorify Him. And He wants to bless us richly for our obedience and praise. But He will never force us. He wants a rich, intimate relationship with us, and that cannot grow from force.
Deut 26:18 And the LORD has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the ability to choose You. Thank You for considering us Your people, Your treasured possession. Thank You for allowing us the freedom to grow and mature in our relationship with You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 26:19 He has declared that He will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations He had made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as He promised.
Have a blessed day.
Here with me…. (devo reflection)
Deut 25:1 When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty.
I find myself really struggling in these last few chapters of Deuteronomy. I would say I’m having a hard time seeing God, but He’s here, providing rules for His chosen ones so that they understand what is expected of them.
Deut 25:4 Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
Rules are important. But so is compassion, love, and mercy, and I guess that’s what I’m struggling with. We have all the rules in Deut., but we don’t see any compassion, really. Well, we see God’s compassion of not wiping out a disobedient people, but we don’t see compassion within the rules.
Deut 25:5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your presence. Thank You, even when I struggle, that You are here with me. Help me to draw closer to You always, Lord. Help me to shine Your light, even when I am confused or unsettled. Amen.
Deut 25:13 Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light.
Have a blessed day.
Anger and preconceived expectations…. (devo reflection)
Deut 24:8a In cases of defiling skin diseases, be very careful to do exactly as the Levitical priests instruct you….
I found it interesting that my two primary readings today, Deut 24 and 2 Kings 5, both dealt in part with leprosy and healing. When two readings deal with similar themes, it’s often a sign that there is an issue there that needs exploring or addressing within myself. And since leprosy is not a condition I am afflicted with, I’m forced to look more closely at Naaman’s behavior.
Deut 24:8b …You must follow carefully what I have commanded them.
Naaman came to Elisha for help, but clearly he had a preconceived notion of how that help would be given. He expected Elisha to talk with him face to face, and he expected a cure that involved more than “Go and wash in the Jordan.” His anger at not receiving what he expected almost cost him his healing. That is an incredibly sobering thought. Anger and preconceived expectations are both issues for me. I hear You, Lord.
2 Kings 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for pointing out areas that are keeping me from You. Your timing, as always, is impeccable. I hear You. I am listening. Draw me closer. Amen.
2 Kings 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”
Have a blessed day.
God IS greater…. (devo reflection)
Numbers 11:23 The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” (NIV)
Deut 23, the chapter I read this morning, is a continued recitation of laws, rules, and expectations. On the cusp of entering the Promised Land, the Israelites are being reminded of what’s expected of them so far as behavior goes. The Israelites are fallibly human, just like all of us, so reminders are important.
Numbers 11:23 The the LORD said to Moses, “Has My arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!” (NLT)
As I did some reading in Numbers this morning, I thought about other reasons why reminders are important. Human beings are forgetful and short sighted. We panic easily at times and we are often quick to forget that God is with us always, especially when confronted with trials. But God IS with us, greater than anything we will ever face. We’d do well to remember that.
Numbers 11:23 The LORD answered, “I can do anything! Watch and you’ll see My words come true.” (CEV)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of Your love, sovereignty, steadfastness. Help us to trust You, to lean into Your presence. Always. Draw us closer. Amen.
Isaiah 59:2 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
Have a blessed day.
The condition of our hearts…. (devo reflection)
Deut 22:22 If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die….
Deuteronomy is all about rules, and I am a rule follower, but one thing I’ve noticed about rules is that it can easily become about others. If I am making sure you follow the rules, I’m concerned with your behavior and not my own.
John 8:3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery….
Reading Deut 22 brought to mind John 8. There is a sharp contrast here. Deut is about rules and laws, necessary, especially given the Israelites’ behavior in the wilderness. Jesus brings us grace, mercy, and compassion. He cares about rules, but He cares more about people.
John 8:4-5 ….they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your grace, mercy, and compassion. Thank You that people are more important than strict letter of the law and that You care more about the condition of our hearts than about us policing each other’s behavior. Help us to never lose sight of what’s truly important. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Have a blessed day.
Gifts and talents…. (devo reflection)
Deut 21:23 …You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. (NIV)
Lord, Every good and perfect gift is from You (James 1:17). All that I have, all that I am, all that I can do is Your gift to me. Thank You.
Deut 21:23 …In this way you will prevent the defilement of the land the LORD is giving you as your special possession. (NLT)
Lord, You have given me these gifts and these talents because You love me. Help me to use them to praise You and to shine Your light because I love you.
Deut 21:23 …The land that the LORD your God is giving you must never become unclean. (God’s Word trans)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder to safeguard these gifts I have been given by You and to use them to glorify and praise You. Thank You for who You are and for who I am in You. Help me to glorify You always. Amen.
Deut 21:23 …You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. (ESV)
Have a blessed day
Fighting for me…. (devo reflection)
Deut 20:1a When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours….
Lord, You know every battle I will ever face. Thank You for being with me always, for fighting for me.
Deut 20:1b …do not be afraid of them, because the LORD God, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you.
Lord, Help me to be still in You, to seek You and to know You, to trust You and obey You.
Deut 29:3 …Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.
Lord, Help me to understand that not every battle I think is worth fighting really is worth fighting. Thank You for this day and this scripture and for this unshakable knowledge that You are with me always. Help me draw closer. Help me to be still in You. Amen.
Deut 20:4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
Have a blessed day.