In chapter 11, Moses continues speaking to the people of Israel. He reminds them of the importance of obeying God’s requirements, laws, regulations, and commandments. He says, “Listen! I am not talking now to your children, who have never experienced the discipline of the Lord your God or seen his greatness and awesome power.” (Deuteronomy 11:2) Moses shares the miraculous signs and wonders God performed, and then said, “They weren’t there to see what he did to Dathan and Abiram (the sons of Eliab, a descendant of Reuben) when the earth opened up and swallowed them, along with their households and tents and every living thing that belonged to them. But you have seen all the Lord’s mighty deeds with your own eyes!” (Deuteronomy 11:6-7)
Because the people of Israel know the great things God has done for them, Moses warns them to be careful to follow the Lord’s commands. He then begins to describe the land God is giving them, a land that is not like Egypt where they had to dig ditches for irrigation and plant their own seed. Instead, “It is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain--a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it day after day throughout the year!” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12)
Moses then states, “If you carefully obey all the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, and if you worship him, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons so you can harvest crops of grain, grapes for wine, and olives for oil. He will give you lush pasture land for your cattle to graze in, and you yourselves will have plenty to eat.” (Deuteronomy 11:13-15)
Wow...that’s what I’m talking about! Lord, you know you are good!!!
Moses then tells the people not to worship other gods, for if they do, the Lord will shut up the sky, crops will fail, and the people will die in the land He gave them. Moses then tells them to commit themselves completely to his words, and teach them to their children, talking about them at every given opportunity…”so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.” (verse 21)
Moses continues, “Wherever you set your feet, the land will be yours. Your frontiers will stretch from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north, and from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you, for the Lord your God will send fear and dread ahead of you, as he promised you, wherever you go in the whole land.” (Deuteronomy 11:24-25)
Moses completes the chapter with giving the people of Israel a choice between a blessing and a curse, stating that if they obey they will be blessed, and if they didn’t they would be cursed.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us to teach our children and family about you and your awesomeness, so that we may forever receive your blessings. We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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