Choices - Week 5
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Moses gathers Israel to renew the covenant before they enter the Promised Land.
He reminds them of God's faithfulness—from the Exodus, through the wilderness, to victories over their enemies—and emphasizes that God has sustained them every step of the way (vv. 1–9).
I have led you forty years in the wilderness. The clothes on your back have not worn out, and the sandals on your feet have not worn out;
The sustainability power of God!
Chapter 29: Remain faithful to the covenant or face its consequences.
Chapter 30:
Moses tells Israel that even if they are scattered because of disobedience, God will restore them if they return to Him with all their heart
Moreover, the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.
This points to the New Covenant and the power of Pentecost
Moses said: God will circumcise the heart.
Jeremiah: God will write His law on the heart.
Ezekiel: God will give a new heart and put His Spirit within His people.
These passages all describe God transforming His people from the inside out.
Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
Deuteronomy 30:11–14 teaches three foundational truths:
God has made himself known - His will is not hidden or unreachable.
His Word is Near - It is to be internalized ("in your heart") and openly confessed ("in your mouth").
Revelation calls for response - God's purpose in revealing His Word is that His people would trust Him and obey Him.
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
Death: The word encompasses both dying and the state of being dead
Life: The word carries the sense of vitality and living
Vitality = energy, vigor, flourishing
Moses is calling Israel to choose more than vitality. He is calling them to choose:
Fellowship with God.
Covenant faithfulness.
Blessing and flourishing under God's care.
The source of life Himself.
Moses tells them to Choose life…
This is what Moses means by choosing life…
loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Loving the Lord your God
This is covenant love. It involves loyalty, affection, and wholehearted commitment.
To love God means:
Putting Him first.
Delighting in Him.
Trusting His character.
Seeking to honor Him.
Obeying Him
The Hebrew idea of obedience often carries the sense of listening with the intention of responding.
Biblically, to obey is to:
Hear God's voice.
Trust what He says.
Act on it.
Holding Fast to Him
This Hebrew word means:
To cling.
To stick closely.
To remain attached.
To cleave.
It's the same word used in Genesis 2:24:
"A man... clings to his wife."
It describes close, enduring attachment.
Spiritually, it means:
Remaining faithful.
Depending on God.
Refusing to turn to idols.
Staying with Him through hardship.
Moses is talking to Isreal, but I want to talk to us right now…
There is still a choice to make….
What does "life" look like to you?
Are you just surviving?
Are your daily decisions moving you closer to Christ or farther from Him?
When life becomes difficult, where do you instinctively turn?
What choices are shaping the person you are becoming?
The deeper issue is who occupies the throne of our lives.
Do you love yourself more than you love God?
Who receives the best of your time, attention, and affection—you or God?
If loving God is choosing life, what does your life reveal that you've chosen?
(Food Example)
Jesus said…
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Zōē (The Life of God)
Zōē (The Life of God)
More than existence—it is the life of God at work in you.
He promises more than health or energy. He offers:
A restored relationship with God.
Spiritual vitality through the Holy Spirit.
Joy, peace, purpose, and hope.
Joy
Joy
Not based on circumstances, but on Christ.
Peace
Peace
Not the absence of problems, but the presence of God.
Purpose
Purpose
Knowing why you live.
Hope
Hope
A confident expectation of God's promises.
More Abundantly Means:
Overflowing
Beyond what is necessary
Exceeding the ordinary
Extraordinary
More than enough
Surpassing expectation
Rich, full, abundant
I am choosing life… And Life is Christ.
