I've talked about studying the Bible before, like when I shared the 3 questions I use when reading a passage, which is why I'm excited to share more specifically what I'm currently reading and learning. Foreverrrr ago (a.k.a. 9 months ago! Yikes!) I posted what I learned in Leviticus, as I'm reading straight through the Old Testament. It's taking me forever because I don't want to rush it (and because it's such a long book!), and it's been so good!
Leading up to this book, Moses has brought the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt and after they God led them on the longest tour of the desert until the faithless haters died off, they are now about to enter the extra-fertile, super nice land God had promised would be theirs.
Here are a few things that have stuck out to me from this book:
1. Deut. 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. To me, this is a call to not be complacent with what God has done for us. God led the Israelites through the desert for 40 years, providing for them and guiding them even when they were faithless (hello, golden calf incident), and Moses is reminding the people not to forget what God has done.
2. God saves us and then calls us to grow. Deut. 10 talks about how God loves us and has saved us, and because of that we are called to cut off our old ways (vs. 16 specifically says "circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer). He hasn't just saved us from slavery (for Israelites, in Egypt, and for us, in sin) so we can sit there doing nothing. He's saved us and then called us to love him and love others.
3. The entire book is about the choice the Israelites have to accept all God's laws and teachings and live in the land he's about to provide for them, or turn and do whatever they want (which will lead directly to destruction). Moses warns them about this over and over! Deut 30:19-20 ...Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. My daily choice is to do whatever the heck I selfishly want to, or to follow Jesus and do what he has called me to do (a.k.a. be loving, patient, gentle; to tell others about him; etc.)
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