Hebraic Musing – Do We Make Choices, or Non-Choices?
Before
Moses passes his leadership role to his successor, Joshua, in Deut.31; Moses desperately
delivers his final message to his people as he concludes in Deuteronomy 30:15
NKJV “See, I
have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” But is “Sets before you” a choice one has to
make, or is he pointing out two options for outcomes? After all, it does not make sense that one
would choose “Death, evil, perishing and curses.” They happen, but usually not by deliberate
choice.
In the
next verse Moses references the familiar Shema*… “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.” Deut.10:16 Moses is
telling the people make a choice by taking
action by (1) Loving the LORD,
(2) Walking in His ways and (3) Keeping His commandments, statutes and
judgements.**
Then
Moses continues on in v.17 with the default life style if we don’t take action. “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.” Dt.30:17-18 So if
you do not take the actions called for in the Shema prayer, then Death AND no
inheritance in the “promised land”! He’s
telling us there are consequences for (1) not Loving the LORD, (2) not Walking
in His ways AND (3) not Keeping His
commandments, statutes and judgements.**
To make
sure we all get the message, Moses calls on two witnesses (required by Jewish
law to convict one of a crime). “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today
against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing;…”
Deut. 30:19a What were the first things God created? Heaven and Earth. BTW –
Where can you hide from Heaven and/or Earth?
THEREFORE
Moses pleads with the people. “… therefore
choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love
the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and
the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD
swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deut.30:19b-20 NKJV
Should
we be choosing life by clinging to the Lord, you know, like when a parent is
going to leave on a trip and the child might cling to a parent; grabbing a leg
or waist and not wanting to let go?
Cling to the Lord!
Maybe
this message explains why my all-time favorite Bible verse is Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to
you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, …. But as
for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Points to ponder
How many times a day do we exercise our power to
choose? Or to not choose?
Can you hear and feel Moses pleading with us to
“Choose Life”?
How might we cling to the Lord?
What happens in our lives if we just follow our
natural inclinations?
What are the
most important choices you make in life?
How often?
“Love the LORD your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Yosef a.k.a.
Joe Brusherd August
10, 2021
Author: “Hebraic
Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly “Hebraic Musings” insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/
Note – Inspired by Corey Corrick’s
message July 18, 2021 at Immanuel Baptist Church.
* The Shema is a familiar prayer
said to be recited thrice daily from Deut.6:4-5 4 “Hear, O Israel: The
LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” In Hebrew it starts with - Sh'ma
Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.
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