Posts with the tag “old-covenant”

As we reach the conclusion of Deuteronomy, we find ourselves standing at a profound moment of unfinished business. The narrator leaves us with a haunting observation: there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. Joshua is ready to lead, but he's not the one they were truly waiting for. This isn't a slight against Joshua—it's a divine breadcrumb leading us forward through Scripture's grand narrative. We discover that the entire Old Testament is filled with this beautiful tension of promises made but not yet fulfilled: Adam and Eve waiting for a son to crush the serpent's head, Abraham longing for the land and the son who would be a blessing to all nations, and David was promised a son who would sit on an eternal throne. But here's where it gets breathtaking: all these promises, all this unfinished business, finds its resounding 'yes' in Jesus Christ. He is the prophet greater than Moses who speaks face to face with God—because He is God. He leads us not into a strip of land between the Jordan and Mediterranean, but into a kingdom that will never end. He doesn't just command us to circumcise our hearts; He actually does it through the new covenant. The Scripture wasn't meant to be studied for self-righteousness or mere knowledge—it was always pointing us toward Christ. So we wait, but we wait well: in reverent remembrance of what God has done, in faithful dependence on His provision, in covenant obedience to Christ's commands, in patient endurance through suffering, and in hope-filled anticipation of His return. The question becomes deeply personal: are we waiting well, or are we growing impatient with God's timing?   Read More

This study takes us to one of the most poignant moments in biblical history—Moses' final ascent up Mount Nebo, where he would see the Promised Land but never enter it. Yet this isn't ultimately a story about Moses' disappointment or God's harshness. Instead, it reveals three unshakeable truths that anchor our faith in both life and death: God's Word endures forever, His work always gets finished, and His will always prevails. We discover that Moses' exclusion from the land wasn't arbitrary cruelty but purposeful wisdom, pointing forward to the reality that no human leader—not even Moses—could provide the ultimate rest God's people needed. Only Jesus could do that. The passage reminds us that our mountaintop experiences with God aren't about our significance but about encountering the God who is significant. When we grasp that God's will is greater than our desires, wiser than our understanding, and not thwarted by our faithlessness, we can finally stop trying to shape God's will to fit our plans and instead shape our desires to align with His purposes. The most stunning revelation comes when we realize Moses does eventually stand in the Promised Land—centuries later on the Mount of Transfiguration, alongside Jesus, discussing the exodus Christ would accomplish. Our hope isn't in our perfection or our ability to finish what we start; our hope is in the God who completes what He begins.  Read More

In Deuteronomy 33, we hear Moses’ heart for Israel and his desire for them to know God’s blessing. What makes this remarkable is that Moses had every human reason to be frustrated with these stubborn people, yet he prays for God's presence, power, protection, and provision to rest upon them. The central message cuts to the core of our faith: there is no God like ours, and there are no people like us whose greatest joy is found in His providential care. Moses' blessing isn't rooted in Israel's worthiness—they were stubborn and faithless—but in God's character and His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This same principle applies to us today. We don't receive blessing because we've earned it, but because of an inheritance secured by someone else—ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who earned the blessings and willingly took our curse. The spiritual lesson challenges us deeply: Do we desire God's blessing on others with the same fervor we pray for ourselves? Moses models selfless intercession, desiring God's best for people even when he won't share in their earthly reward. His prayer reminds us that our joy isn't circumstantial but rooted in who God is and what He has promised.  Read More

The Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 31-32 confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: we are prone to wander from God even when surrounded by His blessings. This ancient song, commissioned by God Himself, serves as both a warning and a witness against Israel's future rebellion—yet it speaks powerfully to our own hearts today. We discover that God knew His people would forsake Him, worship idols, and squander His gifts, yet He still gave them His Word to guide and guard them. The song reveals God's greatness and glory, mankind's rebellion and corruption, God's gracious provision despite our unworthiness, and His just judgments. Most strikingly, it shows us that God's anger toward sin is matched only by His mercy toward His people. The passage reminds us that we didn't earn God's favor through our righteousness or power—like Israel found in the desert wilderness, we were spiritually destitute until God lifted us up. This Word wasn't meant to remain ink on pages but to become flesh in Jesus Christ, the living Word who shows us the way to abundant life. When we're tempted to take credit for our blessings or drift toward modern idols, this song calls us back to dependence on the One who kills and makes alive, who wounds and heals, who alone deserves our worship.  Read More

In Deuteronomy 30, we're reminded of God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with us. The central message revolves around the idea that while we are called to participate in this covenant relationship, it is God's power alone that produces faithfulness, knowledge, and life. We're challenged to consider the two paths before us - blessing or curse, life or death - and urged to 'choose life' by loving God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him. Yet, we're also comforted by the realization that our ability to do so stems not from our own strength, but from God's transformative power. This passage beautifully illustrates how God's grace works in our lives, changing our hearts and enabling us to love and obey Him. As we reflect on this, we're invited to trust not in our own abilities, but in Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the covenant on our behalf. This message reminds us that our hope lies not in our perfection, but in God's perfect hold on us through Christ.  Read More

Deuteronomy 29 challenges us to consider the depth of our commitment to God. The passage reminds us of Israel's covenant renewal, but it's so much more than an ancient ritual – it's a mirror for our own faith journey. Are we truly living out our covenant with God, or are we clinging to nostalgic memories of past spiritual experiences? This message urges us to move beyond superficial religious activities and seek a wholehearted commitment to the Lord. We're reminded that God's invitation to a covenant relationship shouldn't be taken lightly – it demands our entire being. The striking parallel between Israel's journey and our own spiritual walk invites us to examine our hearts. Are we like those Israelites who had seen God's miracles but still lacked 'eyes to see and ears to hear'? This calls us to pray for God to give us new hearts, capable of truly understanding and following Him. It's a sobering yet hopeful message, reminding us that while wholehearted commitment is necessary, it's God Himself who enables us to live faithfully in covenant with Him.   Read More

In Deuteronomy 28, we're confronted with the profound reality of God's blessings and curses. The chapter lays out a stark choice for God's people: embrace covenant faithfulness and experience abundant blessings, or turn away and face devastating curses. This isn't about earning God's favor, but about living in alignment with His will. The parallels to Eden are striking - just as Adam and Eve faced a choice that would determine their fate, so too did Israel and so do we. The message challenges us to consider: are we truly living in a way that invites God's blessings or deserves His curses? It's a sobering reminder that our choices have real consequences, both in this life and eternally. Yet, even as we grapple with the weight of this responsibility, we're pointed towards the hope found in Jesus Christ, who ultimately bore the curse so that we might receive the blessing.  Read More

In Deuteronomy 27, we're reminded of the profound importance of committing wholeheartedly to God's covenant. The chapter details a ceremony where the Israelites were to confirm their commitment to God's law, emphasizing the gravity of their covenant relationship. This ancient ritual holds surprising relevance for us today. Just as the Israelites were called to publicly declare their allegiance, we too are invited to confirm our commitment to God, not through stone monuments, but through faith in Christ. The passage beautifully illustrates how our spiritual journey involves planning, pondering, and performing our commitment to God. It challenges us to consider: Are we merely going through religious motions, or are we truly living out our faith in every aspect of our lives? This message urges us to move beyond superficial religiosity and embrace a genuine, transformative relationship with God, rooted in Christ's finished work on the cross.  Read More

In our study of Deuteronomy 14, we're invited to see God's laws not as restrictive burdens, but as loving boundaries set by a caring Father. The food laws and funeral practices discussed aren't just arbitrary rules - they're designed to set God's people apart as holy and treasured. So we are challenged to consider how we live as God's children in a world that often pulls us in different directions? But this message ultimately points us to Christ, who perfectly fulfilled these laws and offers us the opportunity to become children of God through faith in Him. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to live in a way that reflects our status as God's holy and treasured possession, not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude for the freedom we've been given in Christ.  Read More

In this powerful exploration of Deuteronomy 4:44-5:5, we're invited to grapple with the complex relationship between God's law and Christian faith. As we delve into Moses' second sermon to the Israelites, we're challenged to consider: What role does the Old Testament law play in our lives today? This message beautifully unpacks how the law was a gift to Israel, instructing them in covenant faithfulness. Yet, as followers of Christ, we're called to a nuanced understanding. The law reveals God's unchanging nature and our need for a Savior, while also providing wisdom for loving God and neighbor. As we navigate between legalism and disregard for God's commands, we're encouraged to see the law through the lens of Christ's fulfillment. This perspective invites us to appreciate the richness of God's word while living in the freedom and grace of the new covenant.  Read More