Whoa! There is some pretty intense stuff in there. Never accuse the bible of candy-coating anything...we get the raw in your face version of truth. If you follow God, things will go well for you. If you don't, well...
28:12 - Because Moses is talking to a people - a nation - I thought alot about America throughout these chapters. I know the fit is not perfect, because the Israelites were people in a covenant relationships with God...but there is still a great deal that is applicable to the U.S. - especially if you are talking about Christians in the U.S. who are in a covenant relationship with God! If a nation has been blessed by God with an abundance of resources - they should use that to help others in need. Wealth is not given to corrupt (It often does, but that is not the goal)...it is given so that the wealthy may be able to bless others.
28:25 - They became a "horror to all the kingdoms of the earth." I can't help but think about the poor countries of the world who look at the United States as vile and evil. I realize part of the issue is propaganda from the media sources in those countries, but some of it we bring upon ourselves. There are countries that have extreme poverty and sickness, yet they can look disgustedly upon the US because of the corruption they see coming from us. What can believers do to change that?
28:47 - This is an interesting verse. Do you think the abundance of things actually led the people away from God? Were they so blessed that they eventually rejected God? Is that what too much of a good thing does to you? Sometimes I think human beings are absolutely insane. When God allows people to be blessed...when He gives us more than we need...we start to think we don;t need Him anymore. The abundance of goodness can sometimes lead us to evil. Why do we do that?
28:55ff - These are some of the most disgusting verses in all of scripture. Moses is prophesying that there will come a time when people are so desperate for food that they will be hoarding the flesh of their children only for themselves! That is insanely repulsive! When people allow themselves to turn their back on God and serve only themselves - they walk the path of selfishness. The basest instinct of selfishness is survival at all costs...they reject God and they become like animals, thinking only of themselves and how to stay alive.
29:14 - This covenant was made for all the generations of Israel...even the ones who were not there or not born yet. I like this verse, because we are a part of those people who are not there. Through Jesus Christ we have been given access into this covenant...we are a part of the people of God and it is a beautiful thing.
29:19 - When you know what you are supposed to do and you do not do it, you heap curses and dire consequences on your life. How many times have I made excuses in my life for not doing what I know I am supposed to do? Listen to the person in the verse saying, "Hey, it's all right, I'm gonna be safe." They are walking in the stubbornness of their heart...walking away from God and thinking everything is perfect. That's a dangerous place to be.
30:18ff - This sums up everything in chapters 28-30 very well. The choice is right there for every one of us. What are you going to choose - life or death. It really is that simply. Yeah, there are a bunch of laws that are covered in the OT books we've read so far, but it all comes down to a simple choice - life or death. God or yourself. If you choose to give yourself fully to God, those other things are going to fall in place, and you will experience the abundant life that comes along with being connected to God. If you choose to serve yourself only, you choose the emptiness and death that comes along with that.
6 comments:
Ch 28: That is 14 versus of blessings for obedience and 54 verses for curses for disobedience. I agree with your comments on how this chapter may relate to our country. When I was reading it I was looking more from a personal veiw point. I know that I am not completely obedient but I don't see evidence of curses. I know we are under a different covenant but one would think the blessing and curses would still be evident in some way. Maybe the curse is the lukewarmness so evident in Christians lifes.
Ch 30:19-20. God is a God of second chances. He always has been and always will be. We get to choose.
Thanks Mr. T
28:64- Jesus drastically changed things. Today, we are called to be scattered throughout the Earth-- by God-- to teach the gospel. We are a unified nation through Jesus Christ. It's good.
Nice Matty
Brandon,
I really like the format and content of your blog, it is so unique from other blogs that I have seen.
I would like to invite you to contribute to the resource library for the ministry that I work for. We work with youth pastors to strengthen their walk and their ministry and I think that your insight would be a great contribution to youth leaders.
If you are interested you can check out the resource library at www.calledtoyouthministry.com/resource
and you can contribute via the contribute link on the page.
If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.
Keep up the writing!
Thanks so much,
God bless,
Betsy
betsy@calledtoyouthministry.com
I remember doing a sermon for my preaching class at DCC over these chapters. Like what has been said before, it seems like this is a very "black and white" part of the bible: obey = good, disobey = bad, your choice plain and simple. Like I said in the post for yesterday, 27:8 said write the law out "plainly" on the stones. Chapters 28-30 spell it out in exactly this way, its plain that if they Obey it would be good, and not if they didn't.
28:12 we have mentioned reading this text from a nationalistic point of view and it caught my attention in a similar way. Many people look at the U.S. and see a powerful nation in terms of wealth and money. In 28:12 God says not to borrow from other countries (I wonder why?) is it because if one borrows money it is a sign of weakness that one can't provide for himself? God said not to borrow because He wanted Israel to rely on him for their provision. If this is the case, does this make the U.S. NOT the most "powerful" nation like we claim to be... I haven't seen our national accounting books, but aren't we like 13 trillion $ in debt? What does that say about our "strength" or, how "smart" does that make us?
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