Moses went on to narrate how the lands belonging to the Amorite kings, viz. Og of Bashan and King Sihon were conquered by the Israelites and how those portions of the land were given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, as per their request.

In return those tribes vowed to help their brethren to conquer the land on the other side of the Jordan, before they settled down into enjoying their own inheritance.

The Lord also told Moses to commission Joshua to be the one who would lead the people after Moses’ death, vs 28, Deuteronomy 3.

As we seek the good of our brothers and sisters, just as we would seek our own good, in all righteousnes, we experience a peace and unity in God’s house which attracts God’s presence, refreshing and anointing! Deuteronomy 4 emphasises the importance of obeying God’s laws implicitly and the dire consequences that we invite upon ourselves when we resort to idolatry of any kind, vs 2-5, 15-19,23,24! Infact, we are even expected to teach God’s laws to our children and grandchildren too, vs 9.

*In obeying these laws wholeheartedly they would have God abiding close to them, such that He would hear and answer their prayers, and they would become a wise and understanding Nation that other Nations would admire and take note of, vs 6,7! Disobedience and idolatry of any kind would, on the other hand, attract God’s judgment and punishment, and that too without any partiality, just like Moses himself experienced, vs 15-27!

The ten main commandments required them to love the Lord their God with all their hearts, souls minds and strength and to love their neighbours just as they loved themselves.

This meant that God and His laws would need to have the first place in their lives, and that they would not worship idols (disobey His commandments to do their own will) or dishonour God’s name or reputation by their sinful conduct, but that they would acknowledge God as their source and rest in Him at all times. It also meant that they would honour their parents, refrain from all kinds of murder, adultery, lying, stealing and coveting, Deuteronomy 5:6-21. As they refused to lean on their own understanding and implicitly obeyed these laws their prosperity would be great and Nations around them would marvel at their success and be attracted to knowing and following their God too!

Today, God expects the same obedience from us too, but only at a deeper level, because we have the Holy Spirit’s help to change us from within.

Let us be earnest to live up to God’s expectations and become those ‘signs and wonders’ for His glory that He intends us to be, so that as others around us see the good that we do, they too will be encouraged to glorify God by their lives, and thus share in God’s blessings too!

Rowena Thomas
Mumbai, India.