Deuteronomy Chapter 29
In verse 19 of this chapter there is a phrase that sums up the problem of mankind – “I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.” It is that stubbornness that keeps us from having a more intimate relationship with God. It is that stubbornness that gets us into trouble when we think we can manage things on our own and we do not need God. And sadly, left unchecked it can be the thing that causes us to spiral downward into a pit that we cannot climb out of.
God often stated that the people of Israel were stubborn. This was something that God said kept Him from giving them spiritual understanding. They saw His miracles, and they saw the wonderful things that He did for them, but they lacked understanding. Their hearts were too stubborn or too hard to let the truth in. Deuteronomy 29:4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.
So, while Moses is reviewing the covenant between God and His people, there is a knowing that the people would break the covenant. And there is the warning for the people of Israel as well as us today that when we turn our back on God and reject Him, there will be judgement. The judgement may come immediately, or it may come on the other side of eternity. No one can reject God and escape His judgement.
Let's Reflect
1. Israel had experienced the miracles God did in Egypt with the ten plagues. They had seen manna and quail appear daily for their nourishment. But there were other miracles that happened too that they maybe didn’t even think about. According to verse 5 what other miracles of provision had God given them?
2. Even when they got to the land of Moab on the east side of the Jordan there were kings that came out to attack them. What miracle did God give the Israelites?
3. As God through Moses renewed the covenant with this new generation, he reminded them it was for all of them including the foreigners (sojourners) who had decided to live with Israelites. What man did God first make the covenant with?
4. According to verse 15 the covenant would be for future generations as well as those standing before the Lord that day. What words did Moses use to explain that the covenant would apply to future generations of Israelites?
5. Israel had seen the pagan worship of idols and other gods, and they were warned not to allow any to seek after it. He described it as a worm or a root that grows and produces poisonous fruit causing that person to turn their back on God. God was warning that just because He had given them His covenant promise it did not mean that they should have what feeling when they went after other gods? See verse 19.
6. People often think that they can get away with rejecting God just like a drunkard might get away with his drunkenness and be counted with the sober (the moist with the dry). God warned that He cannot let them get away with it. According to verse 21 what will God do?
7. Verses 22-28 speak of a judgement that would befall to the nation of Israel when the people, turned their back on God. Later in the Bible we find this is exactly what happened to the nation of Israel. According to verse 23 the promised land, the land of milk and honey, in the future would look like what?
8. While it is true that there are things that we do not understand about God, the secret things, the words of God are the things He has revealed to us, and they are ours. The words of God belong to us. What words of God has He has revealed to your heart today, that you can hold on to?
