Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy 27

"Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, 'Be silent,
Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the Lord
your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow His commands and statutes
I am giving you today.'" Deut 27: 9-10

I remember one holiday morning, when we were giving presents to each
other, I told my children, "After all the wrapping paper has been torn
off, and you see what you've gotten, let daddy and mommy help you open
the packaging. There are small parts that may get lost or broken, if
the packaging isn't opened with care."

Well, it happens every year. An over-confident "zealous for fun"
child rips through a box and something gets broken or damaged before
it ever gets "played with". That's sad, because the trauma & grief,
which always follows, could have been avoided by employing a little
self-control.

Israel is about to open the "mother of all gifts". They're on the
verge of experiencing the fulfillment of God's promise. They're going
to enter the land that generations of Israelites longed to possess.
All the dialogue from Moses was leading up to one thing: It's actually
going to happen!

In a short time, Israel was going to transcend in a way very few
people-groups have ever seen. They were about to cease being a
nomadic group; and they were becoming a "nation". That is why Moses
tells them, "Today you have become the people of God." It's not that
they haven't been God's people; His presence with and love for Israel
had been undeniable. But at this moment, Israel was becoming a
Nation, with land and borders.

It's one thing to become a legitimate nation, like other nations.
It's another thing to be a nation, separate and holy unto God.

It is from this fever-pitched nationalistic emotional and spiritual
fervor, that Moses gives a biblical version of my holiday speech to my
children: Be quiet and listen! This "gift from God" needs to be
unpacked methodically, and carefully. Your enjoyment and blessing is
dependent upon your following the instructions. In fact, I want you to
write your own copy of the instructions!

Let's respond to today's passage, by renewing our vigilance to know
God's word: His instruction manual for life. By seeking His
instruction, and adhering to it, we can fully enjoy His gift of
deliverance through Messiah, Jesus.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins