Moses gave three addresses (speeches) to Israel before his death and prior to their entering the Promised Land. The majority of the book of Deuteronomy is a transcription of those three speeches. Moses’ first speech reflected on God’s faithfulness in the past (Deuteronomy 1:1-4:43). His second speech reminded Israel about the importance of God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 4:44-28:68). The final speech of Moses challenged the nation of Israel to recommit themselves to obeying God so they would be able to experience God’s goodness once they occupied Canaan (Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20). This third speech of Moses is introduced by these words, “These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb” (29:1). These words of introduction have caused some scholars to believe that the words to follow were an additional covenant to the one they had already received forty years earlier in Horeb at Mount Sinai (see Exodus 19:1-24:18; Leviticus; Numbers). Other scholars believe that this third speech of Moses is simply a renewal of the covenant between God and the people of Israel. In my opinion, this third speech seems to be a renewal of the covenant God had already made with Israel in Exodus 19-20; furthermore, there are no additional covenants given which were not already made in Moses’ other speeches. Regardless of the viewpoint a person chooses, Moses’ words were meant to remind Israel about God’s past faithfulness to them and His desire to be their God (29:12-13). Israel would now need to recommit themselves to obedience so that they could be blessed in the land they would soon occupy.
In his opening words to Israel, Moses reminded them that God had miraculously delivered them from Egypt (29:2-4) and led them safely through the wilderness for the last 40 years (29:5-9). God’s faithfulness had brought them right outside Canaan and now Moses called them to commit their hearts to God prior to entering the Promised Land. Moses spoke these words to the nation, “…that you may enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into His oath, which the Lord your God makes with you today, that He may establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God to you, just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (29:12-13). Moses knew that God would be faithful in fulfilling the covenant, but Moses needed to know if the Israelites were ready to fully consecrate themselves to God. If any individual in Israel became guilty of breaking this covenant by worshiping idols (29:14-19), God’s wrath would be poured out and that man would be removed from Israel (29:20-21). The danger in one man’s idolatry is that it would spread throughout Israel and cause many to be led astray. If this occurred, God would not withhold His anger against Israel but unleash the curses upon them. When foreigners witnessed God’s wrath upon the nation of Israel, they might inquire concerning God’s purpose in judgment (29:22-24). Israel was to respond to their inquiry by admitting to forsaking the covenant of the Lord (29:25-29).
Moses revealed that Israel would eventually experience captivity because of their rebellion against God (30:1); however, if they chose to return to God and obey His covenant, He would deliver them from captivity and return them to their land (30:2-5). The change in Israel would need to take place in their hearts (30:6). In addition to delivering Israel from captivity, God would also destroy their enemies and once again make Israel prosper (30:7-10). These words show that God is a God of judgment, but also a God of compassion and mercy. On the basis of what they had heard, Moses urged Israel to make the right choice in obeying God. Moses concludes his speech with these simple words, “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess” (30:13-18). Obedience would bring God’s richest blessing, but disobedience would bring God’s curses upon them. The choice was now with Israel.
Dear God, help me to cling to You because in You there is life.
