Deuteronomy 30:1 – 32:47
There’s a massive tension in these chapters. In chapter 30, Moses sums up the choice before the people: “see, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction… now choose life” (Deut 30:15, 19), and yet in the same breath he hints that the people will choose death: “this day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you…” (Deut 30:19). This hint is expanded in chapters 31&32 as we are left in no doubt about what will happen: “these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.” (Deut 31:16). In other words God knows what’s going to happen and yet he clearly states that the people must choose. This apparent tension is one that the Bible insists we learn to live with – the sovereignty of God on the one hand (nothing is outside of his knowledge, nothing happens against his will), and human responsibility on the other (we make genuine choices to obey or reject the revealed will of God). And though it might mess with our brains a bit, it really couldn’t be any other way could it?
The really good news is that through Jesus for us and the Holy Spirit in us we now have even greater freedom (or perhaps “capacity” is a better word) to “choose life”. Deut 30:14 is now more true than ever: “the word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it.” Check out Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:25-27 & John 1:14 to get a better understanding of how blessed we are in Christ.
Have a great day!
Ah i love the new covenant, God is brilliant in giving us his spirit, so that we trust in and obey his son. It’s so much (ie totally) dependant on God, not on us.
Another thing i noticed was the link between Duet 31:6 and Philippians 2:14-16
see
They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation.
and philippians
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life..
Paul must have known they would know this verse – and they would realise..
Is it saying that through jesus, God has made us (former crooked n depraved and blemished ppl) as anew, as his children? – And that now we should live in the world like we have been made anew, cos we have been – so that the world sees..?
i think so.. maybe there’s more to it as well.. mm
anyway it’s pretty brilliant to see the lowliness where our works left us and then to see what God’s works have accomplished
G’day Ridgie Didge
Nice link – thanks for pointing it out (although just in case anyone’s confused, the Deuteronomy reference is actually 32:5).
In answer to your question/s, I think you’re right. In Christ we have been called out of darkness and are now able, through God’s work in us (Phil 2:13), to shine in the darkness. The “children” references are also striking and remind me of Hosea 1:10-11. Praise God that this was his plan all along!