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So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!’ For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9)
Good day dear Friend! I trust this finds you well as it leaves me. I realize we are a day behind in our devotional readings! We'll catch up! May this and all God-things you do today bless you in a rich and wonderful way is my prayer. I ask prayers for little Benaiah Lee Carrizales, grandson of Rev. & Mrs. Steve (Vicki) Purdy. He was born two days ago and is having breathing problems. Pray for this little one to get strong and healthy. Eva Pennington will need rehab after her surgery; please pray for her and this decision that will bless her.
In recent days we have seen the farewell address by an American Senator, John McCain, who opted to no longer receive medical treatment and died soon after that decision. Senator McCain served his country well and left a standard that few will be able to meet. The sad reality, in my opinion, is that few are trying. Mr. McCain in his farewell address left behind his thoughts about what was and is important for this nation. Today's passage has the gist of Moses' farewell address. This man of God, called, strengthened and inspired by God, has seen the Promised Land but knows that he will not physically step foot on it. He had the big view of the land and his dream was that the nation of God, Israel, would be able to occupy it. It reminds me of another man, who had a vision of a new land, and when it was completed, he was already dead. Someone voiced, "It's a shame that Walt (Disney) did not live to see Disney World." And his wife replied, "He did see it; that's why it's here!" Moses saw the future of this great nation of Israel being a greater nation is they would remember all that God had shared with them during their formative years in the wilderness. Many joke that from Egypt to Canaan is a straight shot, but their wanderings made it take 40 years to get there. The reality is that those years served a purpose; God wanted to form the people. And true formation takes time.
Moses' desire is the same. God had shared with him the law, and through the law they could find life; a fuller, more abundant life compared to other nations. They were to live as people who not only knew God, but loved Him enough to live in the way God had asked. Moses says that when other nations would see all Israel was to do and be, they would know that God had blessed them. Moses' call applies to all nations, especially ours today; a great nation is made up of wise and discerning people. Wise people know to seek the truth and they know that the truth is found in God. Wise people know how to discern and discerning begins with prayer and spiritual reflection. It is easy to be carried away by the current of popular culture and to accept all things without wisdom and discernment; the wise know what outcomes and consequences can come to foolish, rash people; and a nation made up of foolish and rash people does not last very long. Moses' call also goes to the personal; "But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children."
God had shared the strong foundation for a great nation and it was up to the people themselves to build on that foundation. In the same way many a grandmother and grandfather say, "I wish I could see how my grandson/granddaughter will turn out!" the reality is if we lay out the solid spiritual foundation of integrity and good character, we can trust that the rest will fall into place, shaped and molded by the Lord Himself. Our job is to share what we have learned and know to be from God that blesses God and blesses us.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the solid foundation that You shared for Israel. And thank You for Jesus, Who sought to shape that foundation for believers today. May we live a life that inspired and guides those behind us so that upon the solid rock foundation of Jesus we can have a wise nation made up of wise and discerning people. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be the foundation for the little ones in your life; show them what solid looks like!
Eradio Valverde
