A legacy worth living for....

Deuteronomy 12 - 34

The finish line is just around the bend!  I can see the end of this book as I round the corner! 

Although there have been many truths and encouraging passages in this book, there has also been an awful lot of rules and regulations for a time period that is really hard for me to relate to.

I found myself "skimming" as I read about how the Israelites weren't supposed to plow with an ox and a donkey together, or wear clothes made of wool and linen woven together. 

Seriously? 

Are we supposed to apply these rules today?  Do we ignore them?  Simply dismiss them as they are for people "a long time ago in a land far away...."? 

What was their purpose?  How do we decide which rules do apply today? 

So many questions...and like I mentioned earlier - it makes for a long read.

That's why I get so excited when a passage, or a promise, such as the following, comes along!  

"Do not be afraid as you go out to fight today!  Do not lose heart or panic.  For the Lord, your God, is going with you!  He will fight for you against your enemies, and He will give you victory." (Chapter 20:3-4)

That, my readers, is a GREAT promise! 

Moses is using the last days, weeks and months of his life to tell the Israelites over and over again, that God will either bless them greatly...or curse them greatly.  It's their choice. 

And just like we do as parents, he spends double time in warning mode - telling them in great detail of how they will be cursed. 

He explains how easy it is and how it brings God great pleasure to bless them, if they only "love the Lord and keep His commands, laws and regulations by walking in His ways."

He reminds them that God's laws aren't secrets, or held in distant places but have been revealed in a very clear way.

He even writes a song for Israel to memorize!  An easy way for them to remember his teachings!  How funny is that?  I used to do the same thing with my children when they were younger to help them study for tests! 

Before He died, Moses made sure the people of Israel knew that Joshua was their new leader and a prophet.  He wanted to be sure they knew they weren't going to be "shepherdless."

...and so ends the life of Moses.  Just like that.  I came to the paragraph and read of his death.  Four verses. 

Like a breath. 

It reminded me that we are all the same.  People will read of our death, in the paper - a couple of paragraphs (if we're lucky)....just like Moses.

Our life, like Moses', will be as a breath.  A mere vapour in the big scheme of things.   

Moses left a great legacy.  He was a human instrument in the creation of the nation of Israel.   He lead them our of slavery, unleashed the ten plaques against Egypt, he guided the freed slaves for 40 years, he carried down the law from Mount Sinai and he prepared God's people to enter the promised land. 

But above all that, he was a man that loved and obeyed God.

I'm pretty sure I won't free a nation in my lifetime, (although that's for God to decide) but do pray that my legacy is that of Moses.

I want to be known as someone who loved and obeyed God.

...with ALL my heart.

Because He first loved me.

Deuteronomy 4

In chapter 4, Moses begins getting into the laws and regulations the Israelites will be living by in the new land. 

Before he digs into them, he tells the people one of the purposes of these laws.  He says that if they obey them carefully, their wisdom and intelligence will be displayed to other nations.

He says, "What great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on Him?"

He also warns them - if they don't obey God, they will be scattered and destroyed, worshiping idols of other nations.  Almost immediately his warning turns into prophesy.  He's actually telling them that this will happen and when it does, when those bitter days have come upon them far into the future, they will finally return to the Lord and listen to what He tells them. 

"For the Lord God is merciful - he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant He made with your ancestors." (4:30,31)

It really is a beautiful chapter outlining God's wonderful love and never ending faithfulness and how He's chose to reveal Himself to us through trials, miracles, wonders, awesome power, war and terrifying acts! 

Moses asks them - "Has anything this great ever happened before?  Has any nation heard the voice of their god - or been rescued by their god?" (4:32,33)

I think not!  If only people (not just then, but now) would open their eyes and see for themselves how great is our God!  They just can't get past the rules they have to follow and commands they are called to keep. 

I was at small group last night and we talked about how people get so stuck in the past, to the point where they can't move forward.  They chose to stay buried beneath the rubble of their hurts and sin.  If only they knew the freedom that comes from letting God grab hold of their heart and heal them. 

It's so sad to me the people that go through life without God.  Without the hope of a brand new future and eternal life.  Who wouldn't want that?  They just can't understand that they can know the creator of the universe in a very real and personal way.  They assume He's far off and distant and it's a "made up" relationship that we've created.  

What they don't realize is the more you experience God in a personal way, the more you want to return that love.  Following His commands is a way we can do that.  We don't do it out of guilt (well, some do) and we don't do it to make others feel bad (unfortunately some do that too). 

We follow Him because we love Him, we want to return His love.  

It's like a friend that keeps on forgiving you over and over again.  You've been caught talking behind her back numerous times.  You've stood her up, ditching her for other plans or other friends.  You use her, keep her around for what she can give you, lend you or do for you.  You apologize, sometimes because you mean it...most times because you are just expected to.  

And she forgives you.  She continues to forgive you.  She keeps loving you.  Keeps giving you gifts, lending you things.  Running errands for you, when you don't even ask.  She sticks up for you and speaks greatly of you, even when you aren't around.  

Eventually something inside you clicks and see what a great friend she truly is.  In fact, never has there been as great of friend as she.  For some reason, she loves you so much...and you just gotta love back.   

You start doing things for her.  You meet her for coffee, even when it might not be convenient.  You take time out of your busy day to pick up some things for her when she's filling ill.  You watch her kids.  You drive her places.  You lend her your car.  You do all of these things because you love her.

Not so that she will love you.  

...'cause she already did. 

And that is why we follow God's commands.  Not so that He will love us.

...but because He already does.

And eventually ya just gotta love back.

What? Only 4 per customer??

Exodus 16 - 31

Ugh!  So. many. rules.  What is it about about rules?  It doesn't really matter how old you are, rules just stink!! (Well most, anyway...)

When you're young, it's "make your bed, brush your teeth."

In high school it's "be home by 10:30, do your homework". 

Even now, I'm almost 40 and I hate to hear, "only 4 per customer".  I mean really!! 

I've heard many "rumors" about ALL the commands and laws in the Old Testament and I must admit I've never taken the time to actually read them. 

Oh, I've started many times...but then I wake up the next morning with my bible resting comfortably on my chest and a "crooked glasses" imprint on my face.

Of course, I've read the Ten Commandments.  Even memorized them as a kid - but they're just "old testament."  Aren't they?  Jesus came to "replace" old law.  Didn't he?

Jesus often referred to the commandments, even going so far as to suggest we go beyond - making them, not only "action" rules, but matters of the heart. 

"Don't commit adultery".  Jesus took it a step further.  "Don't even look at another woman with lust."  

Makes sense, really.  I mean why would I expect God to bless my marriage, if I'm not honouring it with my whole heart? 

God wants to do awesome stuff in our lives but we have to do our part too.

But...uh...I keep - well...kind of, try to, keep, the commandments.  Let's see, I certainly don't murder!  I haven't committed adultery.  I don't steal...much.  Hmmm...what have I stolen in the past month?  Year?  I just keep forgetting to put that dollar back in the cash box, I just never seem to have one on me at the right time. 

Hmmmm...what about stealing time?  How often do I surf the net at work?  How many times a day do I check facebook at work?  and if my boss doesn't mind, why do I turn it off as he walks by?  

What about coveting?  Uh...I'm not even going there.  Let's just say I try to be happy when my friend gets a new hot tub in her back yard or my sister's husband makes breakfast in bed for her for the third time this week!  Yeah.  Guess I'm still working on that one.

Do I keep the Sabbath holy?  Thinking back on the last four Sundays...did I even rest for 5 minutes?  Besides church...what makes my Sunday stand out from the rest of the week? 

Moving on down the list...oh good, here's one!  I would NEVER worship Buddha or melt all my gold and make an idol shaped as a calf.  Imagine!  Nope!  No idols for me!!  Hmmmm...if someone were to observe me for a day, what would they see as my "god"?  Facebook?  A clean house? A great blog?

God gave us commands for a reason.  

They protect us, profit us.  We often think about rules as something that takes away our freedom, however when we follow rules, commands or laws - it actually make us free. 

Think about society for a second, the same is true.  If we break the law - we lose our freedom.  Alternatively, when we follow the law, we remain free!  

So, reading on, past the "Ten Commandments" passage God continues listing a ton of rules and ceremonies.  Rules that I can barely read through, let along follow.  I believe they made a lot of sense at the time.  I'm sure there was a reason and purpose behind each of them.  Especially the one about not boiling a young goat in its mother's milk.  Seriously, have you ever wondered what their reaction was?  "Aw, man!  It's just NOT going to taste the same if I don't boil my young goat in it's mother's milk! No fair!  Well...there goes supper."  (I may have to look into that command...see if I can find the history behind it.  Weird.)  

But the commandments are different, somehow.  The other laws He gave to Moses to pass on.  However God, Himself, spoke to the people concerning the commandments.  "These are the big ones", He was saying.  "The ones I really want you to get."  He didn't want to chance anyone getting them messed up through mis-communication.  

And really when I think about it, they're not unreasonable. You know?  If we could look at them from God's point of view, "Come on, guys, don't kill each other.  It's not nice.  And really, you need a day to rest so you can be your best heading into a new week.  While your at it, stay true to your wife.  Trust me when I say if you cheat on her your entire family will be broken."  

They only make sense. 

Sure, I believe that Jesus came to be the final sacrifice so we didn't have to kill stuff anymore to say sorry to God....or to thank God....or to worship God.  But at what point did we decide it was OK to take something that wasn't ours?  To long for a house or car like our neighbors?  Or to misuse the name of the Lord?  

From this day forward, I will no longer look at the commandments as "old testament" or "something I memorized in Sunday school" but I will recognize them as words so important to my God that He spoke them His very self to His chosen people.

...and had Moses transcribe them in stone.  Twice.