Setting - Moses warns Israel not to intermingle with those people who live in the land which they will posses (i.e. Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, etc.). Moses also states how Israel will have no reason to fear any nations or their prosperity.
Content - Moses reminds Israel that they are a chosen people, a possession of God. This is because of the covenant that God made with their forefathers Abraham, Jacob & David. Moses once again is emphatic about keeping God’s commandments. If they don’t follow the commandments, then God will destroy them, as He would do with the other nations when they (Israel) are following His commandments.
Moses then explains how Israel is not to fear other nations or their prosperity. They need to remember what the Lord did in Egypt (v. 18), "you shall not be afraid of them; you shall well remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt "...God will confuse the nations (v. 23), "...until you have destroyed them..." and because (v. 24), "...no man will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them."
God (v. 12), "...will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you..." God’s intent is to fully bless Israel and make them an unstoppable nation.
Additionally, Israel is not to intermarry with other nations (v. 4), "For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods..."
Application - Once again we see that God is in the ‘business’ of blessing and supporting those that love Him, (2 Chr. 16:9a), "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." But we do see that there is no grey area with God. Israel follows His commandments, they are blessed, if they don’t, (Deut. 6:15b), "...otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth"
I want to be blessed by God. I see what blessing He provided Israel and I want the same. This requires me to diligently follow Him. I feel that I have been immensely blessed, even though I realize that I don’t deserve it, but I want the blessing to continue. God never told Israel that He would hold back the blessing after a curtain time of following Him; His blessing didn’t, and doesn’t, have a limit.
At the other end, even though God is merciful, He is a destroyer. Israel wasn’t suppose to covet what the other nations had (v. 25b), "...you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God" In modern day, this means, don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. What this means is allow for God’s blessing instead of us trying pursuing the blessing. Another way to state it is, contentment rather than covet.
Content - Moses reminds Israel that they are a chosen people, a possession of God. This is because of the covenant that God made with their forefathers Abraham, Jacob & David. Moses once again is emphatic about keeping God’s commandments. If they don’t follow the commandments, then God will destroy them, as He would do with the other nations when they (Israel) are following His commandments.
Moses then explains how Israel is not to fear other nations or their prosperity. They need to remember what the Lord did in Egypt (v. 18), "you shall not be afraid of them; you shall well remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt "...God will confuse the nations (v. 23), "...until you have destroyed them..." and because (v. 24), "...no man will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them."
God (v. 12), "...will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you..." God’s intent is to fully bless Israel and make them an unstoppable nation.
Additionally, Israel is not to intermarry with other nations (v. 4), "For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods..."
Application - Once again we see that God is in the ‘business’ of blessing and supporting those that love Him, (2 Chr. 16:9a), "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." But we do see that there is no grey area with God. Israel follows His commandments, they are blessed, if they don’t, (Deut. 6:15b), "...otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth"
I want to be blessed by God. I see what blessing He provided Israel and I want the same. This requires me to diligently follow Him. I feel that I have been immensely blessed, even though I realize that I don’t deserve it, but I want the blessing to continue. God never told Israel that He would hold back the blessing after a curtain time of following Him; His blessing didn’t, and doesn’t, have a limit.
At the other end, even though God is merciful, He is a destroyer. Israel wasn’t suppose to covet what the other nations had (v. 25b), "...you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God" In modern day, this means, don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. What this means is allow for God’s blessing instead of us trying pursuing the blessing. Another way to state it is, contentment rather than covet.
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