Journey through Deuteronomy

[OracleX]

A few months ago I started to read the Bible from cover to cover and yesterday started in the 4th book of the law, Deuteronomy.  It has been nice break from sacrifices and offerings which was mosts of the previous two books.  Each day (time permiting) I will post verses from the chapter(s) that were read that day and some thoughts on them.  Please feel free to comment on the Words of God and think about what they are saying to you in your life.  Please add if you find a verse that is special to you that was not mentioned.

As I read my Bible there is a color system that I use to underline those verses that stand out to me.  All the verses that I quote will be in NASB and will use this color system.  Warning, Gods promises or attributes, salvation, commands and hope and encouragement.  Green and purple tend to be the same at times as Gods promises and attributes so often do bring us hope and encouragement.

Deuteronomy

3:22  'Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.'
A great reminder that the battle belongs to God and He is mighty and fights for us.  We need not to fight these battles of our life alone.

3:24  'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?
Another great reminder of Gods power and that He shows His power to us in mighty ways.  Also that there is no other god that can compare to Him.

3:28  'But charge Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him,  for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he will give them as an inheritance the land which you will see.'
I like this verse for a few reasons.  First the verses around this one shows the pain that Moses is going through because he is not allowed to enter the land promised to Isreal.  It is a reminder that even though God does forgive us, there are still consequences to our sin.  Even though Moses was the leader of the people at this time, he was pass the torch and encourage Joshua.  It shows the right attitude to have to someone who takes over something that we use to do.

4:2  "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. "
Another verse reminding us that what God has given to us is all that we need.  To take away from it or add it is a grave mistake as is talked about in the following verse.  This talks not only to Isreal and the law of the OT but I believe applies to all scripture that has been given.  We can not improve and add to Gods commands nor can we filter those that don't fit with our lifestyle or think that they no longer apply (talking more to the NT).

4:9,10  "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. "Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to  fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'
I like these verses as they remind us not to forget all that God has done for us and not only that but to pass it down from generation to generation.  I wonder how many people know their parents testimony?  Or how many of you know your grandparents or great grand parents testimony (if they have one)?  Passing on our histroy or our legacy seems to be something that has been lost today.

4:24  "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
A reminder and a warning that God wants all of us, not just part.  Also too that God does not take lightly to one of His followers worshiping any other god but Him. 

4:30,31  "When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them."
Awesome verses of promise!  God has promised and made a new covenant with us that He will not forget.  He is a compassionate God that watches over us through out all parts of our life.

4:35  "To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him."
Yet another reminder that there is no other god besides God.  He has shown us great and mighty things so that we may not forget His power and that He is there.

4:39  "Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other."
Again we are reminded that there is no other god besides God.  A thrid time it is stated.  I wonder if Moses was trying to say something?

4:40   "So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
A command, warning and a promise.

Thank-You Lord for Your Word and may it guard our hearts and our minds, in Jesus's name.  Amen.

 

 

[fieldmouse3]

What great verses! Thanks for sharing!

 

[OracleX]

 

5:7-12,16a,17-21 "You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 'You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. ... Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, ... You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
The ten commandments.  I wonder how many of us know what they are by memory?  It is interesting how God puts warnings and promises through out them.  Reminding us of the results of keeping or not keeping His commandments.

5:32,33  "So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.  You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess."
This is a reminder that we are to follow what God has commanded us to do.  Not to stray or do our own thing.  This was the key to Isreals survial.  Them straying from what was commanded by God was why they were delayed in the wilderness and had their land taken away from them.  I don't think we can take this verse as a gaurentee that if we follow what God tells us that we will live long and prosperous lives.  This was directed to the nation.

6:4  "The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!"
A statement of who God is and that He is one.

6:5-7 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."
Verses describing how we are to love the Lord our God.  Also a reminder that don't just talk about God or give attention to God on Sundays, but at every moment of the day.  That I think can only be done by those who are in His Word daily and are 'writting' the Word on their hearts.  Memorization of scripture I believe is the key to this as it can have a profound effect on the heart of a believer.

6:13a  "You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him."
Fearing God I think is something that has been lost.  It seems like some of todays churchs make God out to be a big teddy bear or a genie.  I think that we some times forget that He is a holy and mighty God that will deal with the sin of this world in a terrific way.  How many people out there have a holy fear of God?

7:9  "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
A great verse describing who God is and the results of those who love Him and follow him.

8:2,3,5,6  "You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. ...  Thus you are to know in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him."
Lots of stuff here.  Again Moses is reminding us to remember what God has taught us.  So many reminders!  We are such a forgetful people.  Verses 2 and 3 are great reminders of what God does to try and get us back on the straight and narrow.  God will lead us through our own wildernesses when we stray from Him.  God loves us and tells us that He disciplines us as we would lovingly discipline our own children.  This verses speaks to a God who deals with us in a very personal way.  God is not a impersonal God.  Then it finishes off with yet another reminder to fear God and keep what He has taught and to walk in His ways.

8:18  "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."
Yet another reminder telling us that our wealth and success comes from God.

Although these verses are talking to the nation, the same principles apply to us today.  God has not changed, He is the same and will always be as He is.

 

[OracleX]

9:4 "Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you.
A reminder that it is not our works, it is not our strength or our wisdom that has achived great things, but it is Gods power. A warning against pride and forgeting what God has done.

10:12 "Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,"
This command is repeated again.

10:17 "For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe."
Very cool passage laying out who God is and attributes of him.

10:19 "So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. "He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen."
God commanding us to love one another and then reminding us who has done the great and awesome things which we have witnessed. Although this is talking to Isreal and talking to the things that God did for them, I think that God has revealed Himself to us in great and mighty ways aswell. It may have not been as a pillar of fire but never the less we have seen Him work in our lives in real and meaningful ways.

11:1 "You shall therefore love the LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments. "
Another reminder to keep Gods commandments and love God.

11:7 " but your own eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD which He did."
Repeat: Although this is talking to Isreal and talking to the things that God did for them, I think that God has revealed Himself to us in great and mighty ways aswell. It may have not been as a pillar of fire but never the less we have seen Him work in our lives in real and meaningful ways.

11:13 "It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul,"
God warning us again to listen and obey His commandments and to love Him. Another repeat using 'with all your heart and all your soul.'

11:16 "Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them."
A warning to not be deceived by others and server other gods. This applies to us in that we make our own Gods. Video games for me was/is a god. It was some thing could take over and keep me from me from my responsibilities.

11:18a "You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul."
Again the same commandment to impress the Word on our hearts.

11:19 "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up."
Again the same commandment to teach our family Gods Word and to talk about it at all points of the day. Not to be a Sunday Christian.

11:22 "For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him,"
The same warning to love God and walk in His ways.

11:32 "and you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the judgments which I am setting before you today."
A reminder to do all that God has told us. Not just what we like or are comfortable with.

13:4 "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him."
I love this verse. You shall follow, fear, keep, listen, server and cling to God. And here again it is mentioning to fear God.

14:1a "You are the sons of the LORD your God;"
We are part of the family of God.

14:2 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. "
God has chosen us for His own speaking to the nation of Isreal but shown in other passages of the Bible all who follow Him are chosen.

14:21b for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. "
A repeat of 14:2a.

 

[OracleX]

15:5 "if only you listen obediently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today."
Again God is warn to listen and obey. There are so great parallels between this and Romans. Just because we are part of Gods family doesn't mean we can do what we want. It is not a condition of our salvation but just as we love our children, there are consquences for not following what we ask them.

16:17 "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you."
The Lord blesses us all differently and we should all respond accordingly.

18:13 "You shall be blameless before the LORD your God."
The straight and narrow and keep a very short account with God. We will always stumble at points in our life (day) but keeping a short list with God and being forgiven is the only way. Can someone else please comment on this one? If we have asked forgiveness for our sins, are we blameless before God till the next sin we commit?

Just some side thoughts or food for thought about some things that I didn't quote.
- God said that there would be no poor among Isreal in the land He was givening them as He was going to bless them that much. Won't it be wonderful when He returns this Earth to a state like that?
- The is a lot of talk throughout Deuteronomy about the legal system and how many witnesses it takes to put some one to death for a crime. Not only that but the witness is the one to throw the first stone then the rest of the people.
- In chapter 18 there is a lot of talk against things like witchcraft, wizards, fortune tellers and the sort. Those are things that still exist today and God very sternly warns about staying clear of them.
- There is some great verses in chapter 18 that deal with false prophets. Basically if someone claimed to be a prophet and something they said did not come true, they were put to death. Wonder how many of these 'phone fortune tellers' would still be in business if this law was still in place?
- At then end of chapter 19 there is the famous verse 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth ...' It comes along with a command to put evil away from you.

 

[OracleX]

20:1,3,4 "Do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. ... Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'
God is with us. As long as we are fighting in His war on His side, we have nothing to fear.

20:18 "So that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the LORD your God."
The verses before this talk about letting nothing remain from those they conquer as the results are stated above. When we become Christians, how many of us put away the things we use to do before we were saved? Some we should as they will drag us back down and cause us to sin.

I am not going to quote the verses but they are 21:18-21. A very interesting passage talking about rebleious children and that they were to be stoned. Gulp. Good thing we live in the NT or else I would have been stoned a few times growing up.

Another verse that I will not quote but is interesting is a verse that commands us not to cross dress. 22:5

23:14b "... therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you."
Again a call to holiness and purity as God will turn away from those who do not listen or obey His commands and love Him.

Another interesting passage is 24:16 where it states that every man shall be put to death for his own sin. We are all responisble for what we do.

26:7,8 "Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction and our toil and our oppression; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror and with signs and wonders;"
God hears our prayers and answers us. He is a mighty and wonderful God that can save us from our afflictions.

26:10,11 "Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O LORD have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God; and you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household."
Being greatful and thankful for all that God has blessed us with.

26:16 "This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul."
Once again a reminder to listen and obey with all our heart and soul.

 

[sbbqb7n16]

Great thing to do: Look for Jesus and parallels between NT and OT in this book... it's pretty eye-opening to do. I'll see if I can find one to post and you will see how Jesus is like everywhere in the law!

 

[sbbqb7n16]

Deut 12:4 "You shall not act like this toward the LORD your God.
Deut 12:5 "But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.

Jesus was the one who came. Jesus established God's name above all the tribes. Jesus said "seek and you shall find."

Deut 12:6 "There you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock.

Jesus is our "burnt offering," the firstborn of His family. Because of Jesus we no longer have to sacrifice, but we trust and believe in Him. We no longer are required by law to tithe because Jesus has given us the right to become children of God who are exempt (Matt 17:24-26). But now we joyfully give to His kingdom because Jesus gave all for us.

Deut 12:7 "There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you.

Jesus said "Lo, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me." Jesus is our blessing and our righteousness, and it is in Him that we rejoice.

Deut 12:8 "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;
Deut 12:9 for you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you.

Jesus said, "Come to me all ye who are burdened and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart." It is in Jesus that we find our inheritance.

You see! In just 6 verses we can see Jesus over and over... I just stopped there for sake of room Isn't God great!?

 

[Blessed-one]

wow, thanks for sharing guys, the posts are very helpful.

 

[OracleX]

Deuteronomy Continued

27:15-28:1 "'Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who moves his neighbor's boundary mark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who lies with any animal.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' ...
Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth."
This is almost like another listing of the ten commandments and other warnings. It is also interesting that all the people were to be in agreement of these things and say 'Amen.' This I think can be similar to the unity that we are called to have in the church. Then at the end of all the curses there is a warning that ends with a promise. So many times your read warnings and warnings, but most of the time God turns around and gives a promise for those who obey.

28:14,1520,45b,47 "and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: ... The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke, in all you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken Me. ... because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. ... Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things;"
God once again starts out by commanding that they listen and obey and not stray from the path that He has laid out. Then follows up with warnings and consequences for not following Him. More curses and they will serve their enemies. But coming up are the promises for those who love and obey Him.

28:58 "If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God,"
A great warning that speaks wonderfuly of God. Awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD. Also once again, fear is brought back into the picture just in the name of God.

29:6 "You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the LORD your God."
This could be used as a warning to those who like to drink. It talks not only to wine but to strong drink (liquir) that these things can keep us from knowing God. If they can keep us from knowing God, is it worth the risk to us them?

30:2-4  "and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back."
A great example of God warning then promising.  I love this passage because it shows how merciful God is.  We can stray and fall and sin and screw up our lives and God will punish us.  BUT He doesn't stop there!  If we turn our eyes back to Him and seek Him, He will restore us.  We can go 1000 miles away from God, but He is always 1 step away from us.  What a wonderful and forgiving God we serve.

30:14  "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it."
God is not far away.  Jesus said I am the Word and this says that the Word is near us.  I am not sure if this proper context or not?  The word talked about here is the OT law, but all is inspired by God.  If we daily read and study His Word, it becomes very near us in that it is on our toung and heart and not only that but in reading and studying it helps us observe what is written.

30:15,16  "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it."
God starts off by saying what He has done then follows with a warning.  He has placed before us a choice and we must choose.  Either we choose Him and have life or we choose ourselves and have death.  God will judge us based on what we have choosen.

30:19,20a  "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days,"
Again a choice is given and promise is given for those who choose life.  This also states too that when you choose God that we are to love Him, obey Him and hold fast to Him.  We are to stick to our choice and hold fast to the One we have choosen.

 

[OracleX]

31:8 "The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
A wonderful description of God and promises of God. God will not fail or forsake us. We have no reason to fear or be dismayed because we server a great and mighty God!

31:12,13 "Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law. Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess."
Evangelism in the OT.

32:4 "The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He."
Another wonderful verse of the attributes of God. I love how God is called the Rock through out this whole chapter. Our solid and firm foundation.

32:10,11
"He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
That hovers over its young,
He spread His wings and caught them,
He carried them on His pinions."
Yet again another passage describing our loving and caring God.

32:39,40
"See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
'Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven,
And say, as I live forever,"
More attributes of God.

32:47 "For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess."
The Word that God has given us is not useless and infact will lead us to life.

33:27 "The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you."
A wonderful verse describing our refuge in God and His protection over us.

 

[OracleX]

Other comments and thoughts on the book.  I have finished reading through it for the first time and never realized how wonderful of a book it is.  There are a few things in particular that I have taken away from it:

• God has given us commands to follow.
• These commands if not followed bring judgement from God.
• These commands when followed bring blessings and promises of God.
• We are a terribly forgetful people.  God reminded the people of Isreal over and over and over again to listen and obey.
• We are to love God with all our hearts and soul.  This is also stated over and over again.
• We are to fear the Lord our God.
• There are so many attributes of God in this book.  It is a great book to read if you are searching to know God better.
• We are part of Gods family and we are to be set apart as a holy people before God.  We are to be holy and blameless in the sight of the Lord.  We are to put away anything unpure so that we may stay pure in the sight of the Lord.
• God not only punishes us for our sins but He forgives us and restores us.  He chasens us as a loving Father chasens His children.
• God has given us a choice - choose life or death.
• God gave us His Word that it may be on our hearts and toung that it may keep us from doing evil in the sight of the Lord.  We are to speak of the Word through out the day.
• We are to teach our children and bring them up in the Word of God.
• I really feel for Moses after reading this book.  How hard it must have been to lead the people when they were so double-minded.  And that out of anger he sinned against God and was not allowed in to the promise land.  God does forgive but there are still consequences for our sins.  I can't help but feeling sad that he was never able to enter the land that took so long to get to.  Not only that but to have God tell you before you die that the people you have lead will go a stray and will be scattered.  It is also interesting to that God Himself buried Moses who although was old was still strong.  It was as if God called him home to be with Him.

Hopefuly this will be of help to those who read this book.

Now on to Joshua!