Scripture

You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Observation

Moses addresses the people of Israel and offers them a choice between life and death, prosperity and disaster, blessings and curses.

If they love the Lord and worship Him alone, obeying His commandments, then they will live and multiply.

But if they refuse to listen, and instead worship and serve other gods then they will certainly be destroyed. They will not live a long, good life in the land.

Application

God gives us all the choice between blessings and curses, life and death, heaven and hell.

This is not complicated, although we do try to make it so. It is a choice- do I worship God alone and live for Him alone? Or will I serve some other god, or even myself?

The choice is obvious where false gods and idols permeate the streets, such as in India where shrines to the local idols are on nearly every corner. The presence of false gods there makes the choice so easy.

In the West, the false gods take more subtle forms such as money, pride, security and so on. Some of these seduce us with the notions of worldly wisdom. It is wise to save for a “rainy day” but when our peace comes from knowing we have money in the bank, then we are not trusting the Lord any more.

We must make a daily decision to serve the Lord in all we do, to worship Him only.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, my life’s direction is in your hands. Please hep me to trust you, to serve and worship you alone. Let my heart never be turned away to other gods. Amen,

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+18.14-22

Scripture

“You will know, because if the Lord says something will happen, it will happen. And if it doesn’t, you will know that the prophet was falsely claiming to speak for the Lord. Don’t be afraid of any prophet whose message doesn’t come from the Lord.”

Observation

Moses is addressing the people of Israel. He tells them that they are entering a land where the people practise magic and witchcraft. But they are not to do these things. Instead the Lord will give them a prophet just like Moses.

God’s prophet will speak the Lord’s message, and anyone who disobeys this message will answer to the Lord.

A prophet who falsely claims to speak for the Lord, or a prophet who speaks on behalf of another god, must be put to death. The Lord will validate His prophets by ensuring that what they predict will come to pass.

Application

The ministry of prophet is misunderstood by the church today as much as it was by Israel in the past.

There are many so-called prophets who are not prophets at all and do not speak for the Lord. We know this because they make predictions that do not come to pass. The Lord says we should not “fear” them. That is, we should not pay attention to their words or recognise their self-appointed role as prophets.

Where people claim to be speaking for the Lord, whether as prophets, preachers or teachers, we must exercise the spiritual gift of discernment of spirits. We should ask, “Is this person speaking by demonic spirits, by human thought or by the Holy Spirit?”

The enemy seeks to devour the people of God, and one of the key ways of doing this is to use false authority to lead people astray.

This is not to say that we should abandon all prophecy. The existence of false prophets implies the existence of true prophets. These are the humble, faithful speakers of God’s word. They hear God and speak it out to the church.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, let my heart and mind be truly open to you. If I am speaking may I only speak your words. If I am hearing may I discern when it is you speaking through them. In all prophetic experience may your name be glorified. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deuteronomy+34.1-12

Scripture

There has never been a prophet in Israel like Moses. The Lord spoke face to face with him and sent him to perform powerful miracles in the presence of the king of Egypt and his entire nation.

Observation

Moses goes up to Mount Nebo from where the Lord shows him the land and territories which would soon belong to Israel.

Moses dies there and the Lord buries him. He was a great prophet who performed powerful miracles, far greater than anything any other person did.

Application

Moses was a man who knew true intimacy with God and consequently was able to do truly amazing things. Later on Jesus would say that John the Baptist was even greater, but the least in the kingdom of God was even greater still (Matthew 11:1).

The level of intimacy with God and therefore the level of power in the Holy Spirit is potentially greater for the christian than was possible even for Moses.

Moses parted the Red Sea, bur Jesus promises that if we have even a mustard seed of faith, we will tell a mountain to move and it will do so.

Every born-again christian has the Holy Spirit within them. Wherever I go the Holy Spirit goes with me. Therefore, as I listen to the Holy Spirit and act in faithful obedience, great things will happen.

The Lord spoke face to face with Moses. This is a relationship hat developed over many years. To see the great deeds of God we need to nurture our relationship with Him, seeking His face every day.

Prayer

Blessed Father there is nothing that you cannot do through me as I walk in humble obedience to you. Please help me to know you more and more and to trust you more every day. Amen.

Scripture

“If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.”

Observation
Moses tells the people of Israel that the Lord will raise up for them a prophet just like Moses. The people are to listen to him just as if the Lord himself has spoken.

If a prophet presumes to speak a word not from the Lord or speaks in the name of other gods, he is to be put to death.

The test of a prophet is that words they speak in the name of the Lord come true. If it doesn’t happen the people are not to fear such a man.

Application
God is raising prophets amongst His people. He has always done this because we need to have a clear understanding of God’s will for us.

There is a two-fold test of prophecy and the prophetic ministry:
does a prediction come true?
Does a person speak in the name of the Lord and no other god?

We should not fear those who claim to be prophets but fail in either of these tests.

We don’t stone false prophets any more, but when someone does go astray we need to see that they are restored to the path of God’s truth.

Prayer
Raise up your prophets Lord. Help them to speak truly and your people to discern wisely. Amen.

Scripture

For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the mighty deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Observation

Moses pronounces blessings on all the tribes of Israel and then climbs Mount Nebo. There the Lord shows him all the land He has promised to the people of Israel.

Moses dies there and the Lord Himself buries him, but no one has ever found the grave.

Joshua is filled with the spirit of wisdom, and the people accept him as Moses’ successor. No prophet has since been as powerful as Moses, nor has anyone performed the mighty deeds of Moses.

Application

Moses was exceptional in his fellowship with the Lord, meeting with Him face to face like a friend. He performed matchless acts of power and passionately pursued intimacy with God.

What God did in Moses, He will do in each of us. He has given us all the Holy Spirit. The Spirit dwells in every believer and releases His power in response to our need and our faith.

We don’t have to seek the Lord on special mountains because His Presence is always with us. As we surrender our hearts and minds to God, we will see mighty miracles take place.

Prayer

Holy Spirit thank you for the knowledge that you are with me. Help me to surrender entirely to you. Amen.

Scripture

“No the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.”

Observation

Moses exhorts the nation of Israel to choose the way of the Lord which is life. He says the commandment is not too hard and not too distant. They will not have to cross the sea or go up to heaven to receive it because God has placed it in their mouths to recite and in their hearts to obey.

It is a choice. Obedience brings life and prosperity. Disobedience brings death and adversity.

“Choose life,” he implores, so that they and their descendants will live long in the land they will enter.

Application

Although christians are no longer under the Law of Moses, there are principles here that apply to us.

Obedience to God brings life and prosperity. If we follow the way of Jesus, choosing to obey rather than rebel, we will know fullness of life.

Obedience is a choice, and so life is a choice. In the daily decision we make, large or trivial, we can choose to honour God or to choose the way that feels comfortable. The sum total of our decisions takes us either closer to God or further away from Him. The choice is mine to make.

God’s ways are not difficult to understand. We don’t need to chase the latest guru or study for years at theological college. God has placed His word in our heart. We have the Holy Spirit. All that is needed is to listen to Him.

Prayer

Today Lord I choose you and your abundant life. Help me to make decisions which bring me closer to you. Amen.