February 15: Deuteronomy 1-4

As Scott promised yesterday, today offered a rich and detailed passage. Moses recounts the Israelites' recent spiritual history and how their rebellion upon the spies' report drove them to wander in the desert. Moses provides some insights to the burdens of leadership and how the Israelites' rebellion played into Moses's inability to reach the Promised Land, a source of undoubtedly great disappointment. From Moses's discussion, we see how sin causes strain in human relationships and how it thwarts our enjoyment of God's blessings -- chiefly, His presence.

The latter portion of the passage delves into this character of sin: that it draws us away from God's presence. Moses highlights how idolatry is the greatest threat to Israel -- not physical enemies or economic challenges or water rights. Moses tells them: "Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." When I first consider God's jealousy, it struck me as odd. We often associate jealousy with a negative or sinful behavior in ourselves, but, for God, His jealousy is part of His righteousness. He desires our allegiance and praise, not because He is petty but because it is ultimately right. Worshipping anyone or anything but Him interrupts His sovereign plan. Because He is holy, He abhors any other type of worship.

Despite Israel's falling short, God is gracious. This grace is, by definition, a free gift and one that we cannot earn. Moses prophesies that the people will be scattered among the nations should they pursue idolatry but that God will bring them back: "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey Him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath."

Moses's closing remarks here deal with God's singularity: "You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other." While this point is clear, how often we need to be reminded of God's uniqueness. It reminds me of one of my favorite praise songs:

"There is none like You;
No one else can touch my heart like You do.
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You."


QUESTIONS

1. What idolatry do you see in your own life? You could check for this by sitting still for three minutes and seeing how your mind or heart wanders. Consider why your heart focused on this or that.

2. How are you doing in seeking God? May we wake each day with our heart's desire to be to follow Him and to bask in His presence.