I was discouraged a little bit when I first started reading Deuteronomy because I just felt like it was a lot of repeat of what I had learned in the previous chapters. Then it hit me - if God put it in the bible more than once - he MUST have a reason. With that one little statement, I was humbled....
Then just as I was humbled, God showed me some great NEW things that I was almost apt to "skim" right over. Thank you God for your patience with me.
I had a thought that even with all the great things that Moses did, his last purpose was encourage Joshua to become the leader the people needed. Moses spent his last days preparing the way for Joshua to inherit what Moses knew as the Promised land.
I loved the number of times that people were showed that GOD would be fighting the battle for them. In some cases, they had to show up to swing the sword but how much power of God's they must have felt. Think about all the men that fought opponents that for all reason should have one; but the victory was theirs because God willed victory for them. It would have made a blockbuster movie, I am sure!
I forget how many "other gods" the Isrealites were comfronted with. The more I read, my thoughts are changed about how those chosen men and women lived. They lived in a society inindated with a god for everything. Not much different than today. Their "simple life" was much more complicated than I often consider it to be.
I felt blessed by the number of times that God chose to express his love for us. His abounding love that will carry us like a father a carrys a son and for thousand generations to come. Such a precious love letter from my father!
I love that God let us see His watchful care for all generations. He not only is working things out for us but may be fulfilling something in our life to open a great blessing to our children. There is no greater thought in the world than to be reminded that God planned in the beginning how HE would bless my children. It gives me goosebumps!
Such a great reminder about how a "little sin" of allowing destable things into our home cause us to be like the rest of people. Instead, God tells us to abhor and detest these things.
I love Deut. 11:19 - I want to be reminded by God's word to let my actions speak to my children as well as my words.
I am still so shocked how much of the American judicial system is embedded within the words of bible. If we could just get back to living within God's laws we would not need so many legalities!
The bible says women can not wear men's clothing. When we use to wear decorated boxers to school (as shorts) my dad said this was forbidden in the bible. I thought he was joking, but it appears he was right! LOL
In chapter 24, it talks about how a newly married man should not be sent to war. Once again, there is reminder of God's protection over marriage. He wants us to be successful and to have time to be with one another.
I was so taken with Chapter 32. I loved the verse that says to "let my teaching fall like rain". I stopped to pray that God would shower me withHis teaching so that I daily fall more in love with His ways. It closes by saying "They are not just idle words for you, they are your life". How true I want this to be in my life.
To wrap us this chapter that I first began reading as if it was a "repeat" I read these words : "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are everlasting arms". Thank you God for your grace...Thank you for your mercy....and most of all thank you for your love!
