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Deuteronomy 30:1-6

The choice was before the children of Israel.  They could choose obedience or disobedience, life or death, blessings or curses.  The choice seems obvious and logical.  Yet, we know they turned quickly away.  They were stiff-necked and looked away from the Lord, pursued other gods and trusted in other ways and nations.

The blessings and curses would come upon them so they might bring them to mind when the time comes that they were driven from the land.  They would find themselves scattered among the nations wondering what happened.  They would then recall what God said.  They would have the opportunity to return to the Lord, to once again obey His voice with all their heart and soul.

Then, the Lord would bring them back to the land.  He would have compassion on them and gather them again.  He promised then to prosper them, multiply them.  The Lord would give them a new heart along with their descendants that they would love the Lord again with all their heart and soul. 

Circumcision was given to Abraham as a sign of the covenant promises.  Circumcision of the heart is an idiom that speaks of a heart that is committed to the covenant promises.  It is the remedy for their afflictions of stubbornness and being stiff-necked.  See Romans 2:29.

They would live life to the fullest as He intended.

Deuteronomy 30:7-10

Pictured is a reversal of the curses.  As Israel is blessed the curses fall upon her enemies who had persecuted and hated them.  This looks forward to a day when they obeyed the voice of the Lord.  We have not seen this yet.  They’ve been partially restored, the work of their hand abounds, the fruit of their body flourishes, their land produces, yet, they remain a secular land. 

This will find its complete fulfillment when messiah reigns over them in the Millenium kingdom.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14

The word had been set before the people.  They had acknowledged and received it.  They were without excuse.  If they were not blessed, it would be due to their poor choices, stiff-necked attitude, and rebellious heart.  This wasn’t some great mystery they had to figure out.  They didn’t have to make their way to heaven to retrieve it or dive to the bottom of the ocean to bring it up.  It was near them.  It was a choice they had to make and stick to.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

It was as plain as day, as though the choice was laid out before them in the sunshine of the day.  There was no middle ground, no waffling, of running to and fro.  It was a choice, a commitment, a way of life.  It was full and abundant life with the goodness of God.  Or, it was sin, death, and evil. 

Moses then went on to expand the meaning of life and death.  Life was full and in the land under the Lorship and care of Yahweh alone.  If they served other gods, they would perish from the land.

Heaven and earth were witnesses.  This calls on the heavens and earth, under the command of God, to bring either blessing or cursing as outlined.  The call to choose life was to choose:

• Israel would live
• Love the Lord
• Obey the Lord’s commands
• Cling to the Lord
• Understand that He is life and length of days
• Remain in the land.

The Lord’s covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was there for them to receive.  It was a matter of choice.

©2007, 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater