This week in Holy Yoga classes, we are exploring Moses’ words from Deuteronomy 30. For years, this has been one of my favorite passages in Scripture not because it is a feel good passage but because it is a soul-convicting passage. Moses is nearing the end of his life. He has reluctantly led the Israelites out of their Egyptian slavery; he has been like a father to them through all the trials and tribulations of 40 years in the wilderness. In Deuteronomy 30, Moses writes boldly, passionately and prophetically. His words call the Israelites to remember all that God has done, to remember His covenant, to remember His laws and the consequences of breaking the law:
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it” (Deut 30:15-16).
Seems pretty clear, doesn’t it? Obey God’s rules and be blessed in the promised land. Nevertheless, we know the plight of the Israelites, the plight of us still today. They forgot; they broke the covenant and worshipped other gods; they forsook the Lord and His commands and sought to do life their way. It didn’t work well. They did enter the promised land thanks to the courageous leadership of men like Joshua and Caleb, but they did not remain in God’s blessings due to their sin and rebellion.
Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. Just as God rescued His people out of slavery in Egypt, He will rescue them once again. They are rescued by the merciful and mighty hand of God, but they still have the responsibility to make choices for life, abundant life in Him. This responsibility is what I bear today; it is what makes this passage soul convicting. Am I choosing to do life God’s way, trusting in His promised blessings or do I do things Brooke’s way? What about you? Today, will we choose “life and good”?