Bible Reading Plan | Devotion for the week of June 12, 2022

Weekly Readings: Deuteronomy 1, 5, 6, 32,33, Psalm 123, 124

Remember that time when you bought that new piece of furniture that came with the labeling “Some assembly required,” and you thought to yourself “I’ve got this! I don’t need the instructions!” Then two hours later, drenched in sweat, exhausted, and with busted bloody knuckles you hang your head in defeat. As you finally pull out the project instructions, you discover that it’s only a three-step process, that, if followed, takes 10 minutes. I’ve been there. Shamefully, more than once. Why don’t we learn from our mistakes? Why don’t we trust in who knows best? Why don’t we follow the instructions of the maker?

Our Bible reading plan this week covers select chapters in Deuteronomy that effectively summarize Israel’s journey from the Exodus to the Promised Land. Deuteronomy in the Greek means “second law” which, interestingly enough is a mistranslation of the original Hebrew title ’ēlleh haddeḇārîm, meaning “these are the words.” Either way, both titles seem to appropriately apply to the content as it is the second presentation of the Law to the nation of Israel as the words of the Lord spoken through Moses.

In this text, a new generation of Israelites have just endured forty years in the wilderness and are now standing east of the Jordan river ready for entry into the Promised Land. The revelation that this journey from Mount Horeb (Sinai) should have only taken eleven days is a loud and clear reminder of the consequences of disobeying God. This new generation was getting a second chance at following the provided instructions and commands from the Lord. His faithfulness to His promises was going to prevail regardless of the nation’s lack of faith. The choice being laid out in front of them throughout Deuteronomy is whether or not they will be obedient to God.

The Book of Deuteronomy can be broken up into four major parts. Chapters 1-4 teach the Israelites about their history since the Exodus. This includes God’s defeat of their enemies and His gift of the Promised Land, followed by their responding doubt, fear, rebellion, and judgment. Chapters 5-26 teach the new generation the Law and rules for daily living that God provided at Mount Sinai. This includes the 10 Commandments, “the Shema” (Deut. 6:4-5), and the promise of blessings for obedience. Chapters 27-28 serve as the climax of the book. Here, God lays out the direct and explicit results that His people will experience based on their choice of obedience to His commands that He just laid out. Finally, the book concludes with Chapters 29-34 with the renewal of the covenant, the Song of Moses, and Moses’ final blessing on the nation. Moses dies on Mount Nebo and Israel, as a nation, now led by Joshua, is poised to try again at entering into God’s blessing.

On this side of history, we know what happened next beginning here and continuing throughout the rest of the Old Testament. God’s people rejected and disregarded His instructions, setting them aside to do what was right in their own eyes. As a result, every one of the disastrous consequences for disobedience laid out in chapter 28 came to pass over time. Israel never did get fully assembled as a nation, dwelling amongst the living God in the fullness of His covenantal promise. They were battered, eventually disassembled, and set aside until a future coming date of their eternal restoration. And it was all because of their own choices.

The point of this week’s reading in Deuteronomy, and the Old Testament as a whole, is not the doom and gloom of a fallen nation. Rather, it is to serve as a witness to the greatness and goodness of a God who sticks with His people despite the darkness and evil in their hearts. The living God is Holy (with a capital ‘H’) and He desperately wants us to dwell with Him in His Kingdom. But for our sake, He cannot allow us to enter His presence in our sinful state. The God who made us has all power and bids us to follow Him with faithful obedience. Deuteronomy is a history lesson that we need to remember. We cannot measure up on our own. So even today, we are presented with the same simple choice. Only now the instruction manual is the person Jesus Christ. Stop your struggle, recognize your sin, and let our Savior Jesus Christ complete the project that is you by the work of His Holy Spirit. –Dan Murphy