Deuteronomy chapter 11 continues the theme Moses began in the previous chapter, obedience, faithfulness and commitment to God. As with a marriage, there is an expectation of exclusivity. The marriage vow, “To love, honor and obey” may seem archaic to some, but these are the same terms Moses uses to describe our covenant relationship with God. A marriage takes two committed people, and God is ALWAYS faithful. Moses begins, “Love the Lord your God and keep His requirements“. The words used are all very personal. “Love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul…you will be enticed to turn away… then the Lord’s anger will burn against you… hold fast to Him… faithfully obey…He promised you… fix these words of mine on your hearts and minds.” 1 John 4:11 explains the result: “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another“.
The family begins with the relationship between husband and wife, then they have the responsibility to the children. “Remember today, your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: His majesty and mighty hand, His outstretched arm … it was not your children who saw … but it was your own eyes that saw all the great things the Lord has done … teach them to your children … at home and when you walk … when you lie down and when you get up … write them … so the days of your children may be many“. For many of us, our lives are so much different since we accepted Christ as our Lord. We understand the words of Moses very clearly, “The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come“. We must be careful not to assume our children know that they too must make a choice. 3 John 1:4 beautifully describes a parent’s love: “I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth“.
The chapter ends with the choice set before Israel and all of us as well. “I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse the blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord … the curse if you disobey the commandments … and turn away“. Earlier in the chapter God promised, “Everywhere you set your foot will be yours“, in other words, they would only receive the land if they took a step of faith. Hesitation would get them nothing. And we too are make a decision when we say, “I’m not ready yet”. In Luke 12:16-20, Jesus tells a story about a rich man who believed he was set for years to come. The man said to his soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat drink and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?” The final words of the chapter urge, “Be sure you observe all of the laws and decrees I am setting before you today“. 1 John 3:23 says, “And this is His commandment: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another“. Amen!