Archive for November 21st, 2014

21 Nov

Deuteronomy 7

Posted by asorensen in Deuteronomy. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

In Deuteronomy 7, Moses reminds the people that God is going to bring them into the Promised Land as He “clears away many nations before you”.  God is the source of victory.  In this case, he cleaned out “seven nations more numerous and mightier than yourselves”.  It included:

  • the Hittites
  • the Girgashites
  • the Amorites
  • the Canaanites
  • the Perizzites
  • the Hivites
  • the Jebusites

All larger and more powerful than God’s people.  But they had one major flaw.  They did not have God on their side.

God was clear that there were some rules that had to be followed as He enabled His people to conquer the enemy.  “You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them….You shall not intermarry….you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire”.  God wants His people to be set apart – not to fit in and be part of what was there.  God has called them to be different.  “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth”.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments”.  God continues to remind His people that obedience is a key attribute to walking with Him.  “You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today”.  It isn’t rocket science.  God has a plan.  He expects and requires us to be on board and walking with Him.

When we do – it is an amazing promise.  “He will love you, bless you, and multiply you….You shall be blessed above all peoples”.  God doesn’t just shower a little blessing on obedience.  He pours it out in fullness.  And he also promises to be with us and help us keep on.  “You shall not be afraid….the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm” – they all point to the power of the God of the Universe and the reality that He alone is in control of all things.  God has demonstrated His power.  We need to walk with Him and allow Him to make that real in our own lives.