Days 58&59: Deuteronomy 4-11

Moses continues his final (and lengthy) address to the people. Honestly, it seems a bit repetitious. He hits the same themes so many times I can't help but visualize the people getting a bit impatient (like me), but yet trying not to let it show because they want to give him the respect that his age and experience merit. I suppose it's about time they showed him some respect.

Anyway, what he is saying is obviously important to him...and I would say that it's important to God as well...that's why he keeps harping on it. He wants to make sure they get it. There seem to be 2 main themes:

1. Don't forget what God has done in the past.
2. Don't forget to obey Him now & in the future.

Actually, I suppose there's one more thing that seems to come up a time or two. He wants to make sure they understand that all of the good things God has done for them and will be doing for them are in no way deserved by them. Check these verses:

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. (8:17-18)

After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you...Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.  (9:4-6)

See what I mean? Sometimes I think this may be our biggest problem today. I think this may be at the root of why Christians have gotten the reputation of being judgmental instead of compassionate. I think it may be a factor in why some people get a little uncomfortable when some of "those" people (whatever their definition of "those" is) start getting involved in "their" church. It may even be at the root of why so few people feel compelled to share the gospel with the lost. We start to think we deserve all the blessings God has bestowed.

I don't think we would ever say that but I admit that sometimes, deep down in my heart of hearts, I think I have a bit of an edge on some people. After all, I've been in some sort of relationship with God and His church for as long as I can remember. I was raised in a Christian home with parents who have been married 59 years as of this year. I, myself have been married to only one woman for almost 37 years. I'm a good guy. I've never smoked, drank (too excess) or chewed or hung around with girls who do. Surely, I deserve God's blessing...right? I won't list my sins here for all the world to see (or the 3 people who might read this blog post) but suffice it to say that they are many. True, they may not be as numerous or as grievous as some other people, but there are plenty. There's no reason for us to think that we deserve anything from God other than condemnation. We don't. I don't.

We should "...understand, then, that it is not because of [our] righteousness that the LORD [our] God is giving [us] this good land to possess, for [we] are a stiff-necked people."

On a completely different note...I am struck with how many times Moses has said something like, "But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the LORD has done." (11:7) I think Moses must be getting old, or living in the past because if I understand this correctly none of these people saw any of the stuff he's been talking about. That generation is all gone. But they have no doubt heard the stories so much they probably fell like they were there. I'm sure there's a good explanation for this but I find it interesting.