'These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan'—Deut. 1:1 NIV
With these words, the book of Deuteronomy begins. What follows is a recounting of all the Israelites have been through and a challenge to the younger generation, who will possess the promised land. Moses, who once told God that he couldn't speak, delivers words more eloquent than any politician today.
'Don't forget.' Moses tells them. "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.—You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. Deut. 4:9-12 NIV
You saw no form, Moses says, so don't make a form of anything to worship. Don't even worship God's creation. "And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven." - Deut. 4:19 NIV
Moses, who has seen both the fire and works of God, wants that memory burned on the hearts of this new nation. "Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. - Deut 4:32-35
And finally, Moses reminds them that the success of their life in the promised land will be governed by their relationship with God. "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.." - Deut. 4:39-40 NIV
What more needs to be said?
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