Category: Deuteronomy

Deut 7:17 You say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?”
I’ve been studying Ezekiel 37:1-14 with my church this week. These verses from Deut 7 put me in mind of that section of Ezekiel. In both, God is asking them to do something that feels impossible, something that, humanly, they can’t see a logical way to do. Ezekiel is told to prophesy life into the dry bones and the Israelites are told to drive out a nation that is much stronger than they.
Deut 7:18a “But do not be afraid of them….”
But in both cases, God is the one doing the telling. God is the one with the plan, the vision, and the sovereignty to make it happen. With Ezekiel and with the Israelites, God needed them to be willing to trust that God knew what He was doing, and that He could get it done, that all they needed was the strength and faith to do what He asked of them. 
Deut 7:18b “…remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the fact that You don’t need us to understand how You will act, You just need us to do what You are calling us to do. Thank You for understanding our feeble humanity, for loving us fiercely despite our flaws. Thank You for calling us to do our part in faith. Give us the strength to obey. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 7:21 “Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.”
Have a blessed day.

Deut 5:3 It was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us….
Lord, Thank You for being present, for wanting an active, living relationship with all of Your children. Thank You that “I tried” or “I knew her father or her mother; that’s good enough” is not Your answer when it comes to pursuing us, to being in relationship with us.
Deut 5:4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.
Lord, Thank You for Your active communication with us, even when we don’t listen like we should. Thank You for the myriad ways daily that You let us know You are with us, that You encourage, guide, and direct us.
Deut 5:6 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for all the chains of slavery You have broken for us. Release us from every bondage, especially the bondage of fear and uncertainty, especially in these troubling times. Help us to turn our hearts and minds to You. Help us to seek You with all that we are and all that we have. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 5:7 “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Have a blessed day

Deut 4:28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.
There is an adage that says: Either man says to God, “Thy will be done” or God says to man, “Thy will be done.” Think about that for a moment. Either I follow God’s will, acknowledging His sovereignty, or He lets me have my way and all the chaos that that entails. Jesus, Help me.
Deut 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
But even if I lose my way, demanding my will instead of my Creator’s, all is not lost. God is merciful. He provides me a way back to Him, but I have to seek Him with all that I am and all that I have. I have to put aside my will, my plans, for His. Jesus, Help me.
Deut 4:30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey Him.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for providing me a way back to You. Thank You that You are loving and merciful, that You love me enough to give me what I think I want so that I can realize Your way, Your will, is so much better than anything I can imagine. Draw me closer, Lord. Help me to seek You always. Amen.
Deut 4:31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Have a blessed day.

Deut 3:22 “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God Himself will fight for you.”
Deuteronomy seems to be a book of remembrance. Moses, on the cusp of a promised land he will never enter, is recounting for the Israelites how they got to where they are. It was at times a painful retelling, but God’s presence and faithfulness are abundantly evident throughout. He brought them this far. He’s not going to abandon them now.
Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.”
We are on the cusp of a world we have never known. The future is definitely difficult to discern. But if we look back at how we ended up where we are, I know with certainty that even though the retelling might be painful at times, we will see God’s presence and faithfulness abundantly evident through our own stories as well. He’s brought us this far. He’s not going to abandon us now.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this time of stillness and reflection You are calling us to in our own lives. Thank You that when we look at how we got to where we are today, Your love and steadfast presence are obvious. Thank You that You are fighting for us, even now. Help us to be still and know that You are God. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 1:30 The LORD your God, who goes before you, will fight for you….
Have a blessed day.

Deut 2:7a The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands.
One of the choir members at my church sings an absolutely gorgeous rendition of the song “I Shall Not Want.” The words of the song are deeply powerful. “From the love of my own comfort, From the fear of having nothing, From a life of worldly passions, Deliver me O God.”
Deut 2:7b He has watched over your journey through the vast wilderness.
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and yet, God was always with them and they lacked nothing. “From the fear of death or trial…” These are uncertain times. There is so much fear, so many unknowns. And yet, God IS with us, even now, even in this. We do not walk alone. We lack nothing. “Deliver me, O God.”
Deut 2:7c These forty years the LORD your God has been with you….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are here with us, that You are watching over us, that because we have You, we lack nothing. Help us to live that truth, Lord. Help us to shine Your light. Deliver us, O God. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 2:7d …and you have not lacked anything.
Have a blessed day.

Deut 29:3 With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders.
I am very aware, on this side of the veil, that I see through a glass darkly. I have seen, experienced, lived events that made utterly no sense to those who serve a loving, compassionate God. I’m not sure how heaven works, if all those questions will be answered immediately upon entering, if they will just no longer be important.
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.
And while I know that there is so very, very much that I don’t understand, in varying degrees I am getting better about giving situations to Him, about saying, “I hate this. It is not my will. I don’t understand it. I don’t like it. But I know that You are loving and compassionate. I know You love me. I know You have a plan for my good and Your glory. Help me to trust and obey, even through my fear, anger, and confusion.”
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.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your steadfast love and unending grace. Thank You for being big enough to handle my fears and insecurities, for the rock-solid faith I have in You. Help me to trust and obey, even when I am confused or scared or angry. Thank You for Your fierce, all-encompassing love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Deut 29:6 “…I did this so that you might know that I am the LORD your God.”
Have a blessed day.

Deut 30:15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.
It has been an unusual day, as evidenced by the fact that it is currently 6:35 pm, and I am just typing my devo reflection. I did my reading this morning, and these verses from Deuteronomy stuck with me. Life is about choices. Everyday. My choices determine how my day will go, how my life will go, whether people are built up or torn down in my presence. Help me, Jesus.
Deut 30:16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today…then you shall live….
This morning I had the choice to help two 12 year olds cook breakfast instead of write my devo reflection at the usual time. I chose to be an encouraging, helpful presence. It was good. As I was packing the car to drive home, I chose stress and temper over calm. I sincerely regretted that choice and ended up apologizing to my loved ones repeatedly. With every decision I face, I have a choice that will affect me and others for better or worse. Help me, Jesus.
Deut 30:19a …I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the opportunity to choose life, love, hope. Help me to make good, positive choices that encourage and uplift those around me. When I make choices that negatively impact me or others, give me to grace to apologize to them and to forgive myself. Draw me closer. Amen.
Deut 30:19b …Choose life…. 
Have a blessed day.