What Would You Say?

“Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.” Deut. 10:15.

Deuteronomy, a book of remembrance, review, and renewal, contains Moses’ farewell messages to the new generation literally sitting on the edge of the Promised Land. It is an end of wandering, and a beginning of entering the Lord’s abundance, a remembering the past so as not to repeat it and a hope for the future, a review of what the Lord required of them, and a renewal of a covenant broken by their parents. The time had come.

“And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them…On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you…take your journey, and go…” Deut. 1:3,5-7a. Is it your turn, your time to quit wandering and start living? Our Father God shows you how and empowers you to do so. The decision is yours. It’s time to turn from the world, take your journey with Him and go forward.

Unlike Numbers, which spanned forty aimless years, Deuteronomy covers a period of approximately one month, similar to the time of Leviticus. The audience in Deuteronomy, the congregation of a new generation, differs from Leviticus’ priestly audience. Deuteronomy is for the congregation, us.

In Deuteronomy, Moses, the Lord’s called savior of Israel, the priestly intercessor for the wayward children, the leader of a new nation and the prophet of God to a new generation, finishes the work of the Lord. Now it’s time for him to go.

• “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt,”(Ex. 3:11).
• “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.”(Lev. 20:7).
• “Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” (Num. 14:19).
• “These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness…And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee…” (Deut. 1:1;30:1). “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD…And the children of Israel wept for Moses…thirty days…” (Deut. 34:5,8).

 “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;” Heb. 3:5. When do you find it hardest to be faithful? Will you hear the words, “…Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”  Matt. 25:21.

For You:

• What would your last words be to the generation following you?
• Moses’ epitaph reads faithful. What do you want your epitaph to read?

Personal Request: Our friends received news in the night of their son’s going home to be with the Lord. He has entered into the joy of the Lord. Even as we rejoice in hope, our hearts are broken for their pain in a life that to us was cut short. Whatever word of the Lord you would like to say to the next generation, don’t wait to say them, and please, would you pray for our friends and their family. Thank you.