Deuteronomy: Lessons to remember as we walk to the Promised Land

CHAPTER 12:

As soon as I stepped onto the back porch, I knew something had gone terribly wrong. I do not have a screened-in porch at my home, but our little river house has one. I love it! I enjoy sitting there watching the river, appreciating the sights and sounds of outdoors from my comfy chair. However, my porch was a mess. There were white stains everywhere, which I later discovered was bird poop. The screens had all been sliced and poked with something sharp. What in the world had gone down in here? It didn’t take long form our neighbors to come over and fill us in. An owl had gotten onto our porch and couldn’t get out. They heard it banging around and helped it escape. It took a frantic moment of flapping and shooing, but eventually, the owl found its way out the door. I’m not sure how the owl got in. Maybe we left a screen door open; we just aren’t sure. It left quite a mess – one we haven’t totally fixed yet. My screen still has some slices and holes. Sometimes we let things in to our home accidentally.

Read Deuteronomy Chapter 12:1-7.

What were the Israelites to destroy? Why?

Where were they supposed to seek the LORD?

Read Deuteronomy 12:8-12.


Moses tells them they cannot do what they’ve been doing, which was just doing what was right in their own eyes. In other words, they were being slack. He warns them to do what is right when they enter the Promised Land. They were supposed to bring their offerings and ________________ (verse 12) before the LORD. I’m not sure what they weren’t doing. Bringing the offering or rejoicing, but whatever it was, their heart was not fully committed to worshipping the LORD. This, of course, was going to bring them trouble later.

Read on to find out what they were and were not supposed to do with their offering.

Read Deuteronomy 12:13-32.

What were the 2 warnings given to them in verses 28 and 30?

What is the warning is verse 32?

Why do you think people are so easily led astray, so easily distracted?

What sorts of things distract us from the Lord today?

What is your greatest distraction?


This chapter has two messages: 1) beware of the pagan gods and avoid them; 2) worship God in the way He has established. God knew the danger of walking into a land where other worship was happening. He knew this worship would intrigue them; they would want to know more. Once seen, once learned, these ideas would make their way into the Israelite’s worship of Him, and eventually lead them far away.

Here’s the thing: once you’ve seen something, it is hard to get rid of that image, that idea. It might be gross or disturbing at first, but the more you are exposed, the more you become desensitized. This about TV. The mature scenarios that fill our screens today would have been unheard of fifty years ago. We’ve lost our innocence. And what’s worse is that those innocent scenes don’t entertain us anymore. We crave the explicit. A desensitized person with no filter will always be available for the next level. Compromise of our morals always leads to corruption.

It makes me wonder about myself. How desensitized am I? What have I compromised? What will I tolerate next? I don’t want to continue on this cultural curse. I hear God’s words directed at me: “Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God” (v. 28).

Maybe this requires a detox. You know how people do on those diets to detox their bodies? They refrain from eating most foods and they drink herbal supplements instead to help get rid of impurities in their body, or even cravings for food they don’t need. I think we need a mental detox, a heart detox. We need to go on a cultural diet, stay away from the places and things that fill our minds with ungodly ideas, unholy scenes. We need to supplement our daily thoughts with God’s word to fortify our minds and grow our spiritual selves. We need to rebuild our habits, filling our time with things that honor Him.
I can’t think of a better time than now during this pandemic stay-at-home command. It is the perfect opportunity to refocus our lives on Christ. When things reboot and the world starts moving once again, we can choose the activities to add back. We can cast away the things that have kept us from our Lord. With prayer and petition, the filter on our lives and homes can be reset. It is so easy to be unwittingly allow something into our heart and minds that is destructive. Like the owl on my porch, it can leave things in shambles. It’s time to grab hold of Jesus and never look back, “for you will be doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God.”

Lesson to Remember: God is Lord over all.

A Way to Walk: Being lax in our worship will affect our walk with the Lord. Remember to worship by offering and rejoicing before the Lord.

Deuteronomy: Lessons to remember as you walk to the Promised Land

CHAPTER 11:

I just got back from the grocery store. Armed with face masks, gloves, and alcohol spray, my husband and I faced the dangerous journey into a possible war zone. It went fairly well. I found all the things I needed except paper towels. Upon exiting, my husband alcohol sprayed us and I carefully took off my gloves in proper OSHA fashion. We made it. I guess! Actually, who knows? As we unloaded the groceries onto our kitchen floor, I couldn’t help but think, “This could be a germ factory right here on the floor.” Seriously, there is no way to know, and you can’t go through life stressing over it. You can follow all the commands of the CDC, and you can heed all the warnings, but you are not promised anything. Like our recent local news, chapter 11 of Deuteronomy is full of commands and warnings, but unlike our news, it also offers promises.

Let’s remember where we left off. Back up and read 10:20-22.

What were the Israelites to remember?

Now read Deuteronomy Chapter 11:1-7. Look for the therefore statement.

Who was Moses speaking to in this passage?

What was significantly different about these people as opposed to their children?

In one generation, the Israelites who witnessed God’s great works in the exodus from Egypt would be gone. Why would it be important to remember and teach their children about these awesome events?

What should you be teaching your children or grandchildren about God?

Read Deuteronomy 11:8-12.

How is the Promised Land described in this passage?

Read Deuteronomy 11:13-17.

This passage contains an if-then statement. The “if” contains two parts and is found in verse 13. What two things must they do?

Is this a new command or a reminder of one already given?


Why is it stated again, do you think?

What does the LORD promise to them if they love and serve Him?

What is the warning?

Read verses 18-21.

What things will they need to do to remember the LORD?

What is the promise given in verse 22?

Read verses 22-25.

What is the if-then statement given here?

Read verses 26-32.

The Israelites have two choices. What are they?

I don’t think the LORD could have made it any clearer. The Israelites had two choices: blessing or curse. He even made them physically place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Nothing like a physical picture of something that isn’t tangible to make you understand. He wanted them to know He was serious and this was real. Blessing. Curse. Your choice.

Obviously, God wanted to bless them. He described it and gave specific directions. It’s the same thing He has been telling them throughout Deuteronomy: love, remember, fear, observe, teach, be blessed. That’s all He’s asking. It seems so simple, and yet . . . The Israelites had lived with the presence of God visibly in front of them. The pillar of cloud had been among their camp for forty years. They had seen what God could do, and yet . . . they had a hard time obeying. How much harder would it be for them in a land full of distractions, where they wouldn’t need to depend on the Lord, and when that generation who saw the miracles was gone?

Do you remember the disciple Thomas that walked with Jesus? He was the skeptical one, doubting that Jesus had risen from the grave. He boasted that he would not believe unless he could put his finger in the place of the nails and his hand in his side (John 20:25). When Jesus appeared to the disciples again and Thomas was present, Jesus offered his wounds for inspection. Thomas believed and declared, “My LORD, my God!” Jesus responded, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (John 20:28-29).

We have not had the privilege of the Israelites in living with the pillar of cloud in which the LORD Almighty dwells. We have not had the honor of walking with Jesus or inspecting his wounds like Thomas and the other disciples. And yet . . .there is evidence of our Lord all around – in creation, in the works of the Holy Spirit, in answered prayers. I think it is most fitting to consider John’s final words in chapter 20. I am sure it is the whole point in him writing this book: “Therefore, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20: 30-31).

Friend, these are turbulent times. Even if we follow all the commands of health officials, even if we heed every warning posted on the media, there are no guarantees. However, the promises of God are guaranteed. As promised, when we come to the end of our walk, we either have a blessing awaiting us or a curse. The choice is ours. But we must make that choice now. We cannot be like Thomas and boast that we won’t believe until we see it with our own eyes. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed! Will you place your faith in him as your able redeemer? Will you confess your sins and accept His gift of salvation? Will you follow Christ?

Lesson to Remember: God is faithful to His promises
A Way to Walk: Choose daily to walk by faith, following the Lord, for you know your blessing awaits!

Deuteronomy: lessons to remember as you walk to the Promised Land

CHAPTER 10:

My mom passed away almost 3 years ago at the time I’m writing this. She didn’t have much to leave her children: some household items we wanted, pictures, books, a little money in a bank account. My inheritance was not grand if you measure it by tangible items. But my mom did leave a legacy of other things: traditions, a sense of family, a spirit of adventure, and some really great mottos to live by. Such sayings included, “Everything should have a place . . . and it should be there” and “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” But the thing I am most grateful to have inherited from my mother is faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Despite all of her short-comings, my mom loved Jesus, and she wanted all of her kids to love Jesus as well.

Read Deuteronomy Chapter 10:1-9.

What event does Moses recall for the Israelites in verses 1-5?

Which tribe was set apart and what was their job?

The Levites will not receive any land as an inheritance in the Promised Land. What do they receive instead?

Inheritance. What does that mean? Webster’s defines inheritance as “the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations.” The Israelites would not acquire any land, but instead would acquire the LORD. Like the Levites, there is nothing in this world that is our inheritance. Despite the fact that we may be left some possessions from a relative or even some quirky sayings, our spiritual inheritance is not bound to this earth. No. We have a different inheritance.

Read 1Peter 1:3-5.

Who has secured this inheritance for you?

What words describe this inheritance?

Where is your inheritance located?

Our inheritance is secured by Christ, granted to us by faith, and protected by God. It is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is a living hope given to us in great mercy. Our inheritance isn’t land or money or castles or anything like that. Our inheritance is our heavenly Father. We get Him! I can’t even imagine what that will be like, but just look around you. Look at the beautiful land and sky, the flowers and trees. Think about the forces of nature that keep our universe moving in perfect order. Consider the love and grace He extends to wretched sinners. It is all a reflection of Him, a reflection of our inheritance. When we leave this fading earth, we will be walking into a glorious inheritance beyond our imagining.

Read Romans 8:14-17.

Whose children are we?

Who are we co-heirs with?

Read Colossians 1:9-12.

Verse 12 says that believers have been “qualified” to this inheritance. The previous verses list things that we should do because of this great gift. What are some things we should do?


Our inheritance should put a spirit of gratitude in our hearts. It should cause to desire Him more and grow in our knowledge of Him through study and prayer. We should want to reach out to others with the good news of the gospel. Thankfulness should fill our hearts. That is the attitude we should hold about our inheritance.

Have you considered God as your inheritance? Why or why not?

What holds you back from growing in your knowledge of Him?

What holds you back from sharing Him with others?

Read Deuteronomy 10: 10-22.

What does Moses tell he Israelites to do in verse 16?

Why are they to do this? (Look in verse 17.)


I remember reading this verse with my mom one day. Her take on circumcising your heart? “That hurts!” she said. Mom was right. Cutting the things away that hold our heart back from the Lord does hurt. It requires that we take the time to survey our life, to dig deep at what is rooted in our hearts, and remove the things that don’t belong. And if digging deep isn’t hurtful enough, then you must break those habits and form new God-honoring ones. Cue. Craving. Response. Reward. You must rebuild your habit loop. That takes time, but I can say this: daily time studying scripture, filling your mind with Christ,and prayer can all seriously impact your habit loop. God can and will help you. You will find Him if you search for Him. And who knows, maybe circumcising your heart and rebuilding your habit loop is all a walk in the wilderness meant to bring you closer to the Lord, closer to your inheritance.

This circumcising your heart process is called sanctification. It is the act of making you more holy than you were. If you are continually seeking the LORD in this life, you will be continually in this process. There will always be something the LORD is working on in your heart. “Sanctify me through and through” is the plea of 1 Thessalonians 5:23. It should be our plea too. Walk on, my friend, and be sanctified, for that is God’s will for you.

Lesson to Remember: God is your inheritance.

A Way to Walk: Allow yourself to be sanctified by circumcising your heart and rebuilding your habit loop with God-honoring activities.

Deuteronomy: Lessons to remember as you walk to the Promised Land

Chapter 9

My daddy loves his fireplace. As I write this, he is 91 and is still chopping wood and building fires. He is slower than he used to be, his fires aren’t as big and roaring, and sometimes he has a hard time getting one going, but he loves it. He will sit back in his recliner, feet up, and say, “This has been a good fireplace. I’ve really enjoyed it.” To him, a fire means home and relaxation, comfort and contentment. When I go home and sit in front of one of daddy’s fires, that’s what it means to me too. This is not the kind of fire mentioned in Deuteronomy 9.

Read Deuteronomy Chapter 9:1-3.

How does God cross over before the Israelites?

Who will destroy and subdue the people in these cities?

Why is it important for the Israelites to know that it is God going before them that will bring their success?

God often gives us the image of a consuming fire when He speaks of His judgement. Deuteronomy 4:24 speaks of God being a consuming fire in His jealousy when His people worshipped other gods. Isaiah 30:27 and Isaiah 33:14 speak of God’s judgement as a “consuming fire.” Lest you think this image is only found in the Old Testament, the writer of Hebrews included it in chapter 12: “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (v. 28-29).

All of these images of consuming fire are found as a result of judgement, judgement of a people who did not follow God, who “trampled under foot the Son of God,” and “regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified,” and “insulted the Spirit of Grace” (Hebrews 10:29). It isn’t politically correct to speak of God’s judgement nowadays. Most don’t want to hear about the powerful consuming fire that says, “VENGEANCE IS MINE. I WILL REPAY. . . THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE” (Hebrews 10:30). And yes, my Bible had that verse in all caps! No, we don’t want that God. We want the one who loves us and forgives us and overlooks our sin. That’s the God we want. The problem is . . . that isn’t the God of the Bible, not Old Testament or New.

How do you feel about God as Judge?

Why is it important that He is a judge?

Would you expect a judge in a court of law today to punish those who had broken the law? Why?

What would our society be like if judges didn’t punish, if everyone knew they could do whatever and never be punished?

If it is important to have a just judge who upholds the law in our society, wouldn’t it be important to have a God who is just as well? Explain.

Why does God let us see Him as this consuming fire, this God of judgement that will repay evil? The answer is two-fold. First, He wants us to know that He is in control and He deserves respect. Fair enough. After all, He is the creator of everything. Second, He wants us to know Him. How could we understand His forgiveness and grace and mercy if we had nothing to be forgiven from? It is our need for forgiveness and grace and mercy that makes us understand these characteristics in God. Without the need, we would never understand in quite the same way. Let’s see what the Israelites needed in the rest of this chapter.

Read Deuteronomy 9:4-29.

Moses was well aware of his audience. He uses the rest of this chapter to remind the Israelites of how UNrighteous they have been. They were a stubborn, rebellious people. They provoked God to anger with the golden calf so much that Moses had to plead and reason with God not to destroy them. Over and over they rebelled. Over and over they provoked the LORD to wrath. Sounds a little like someone I know. Me.

Can you think of any time you have rebelled against the Lord? Explain.

Moses would come before the Lord and plead for the Israelites. How did you work out your rebellion with the Lord? If you didn’t, now is a good time. Pray and talk to Him.

I love that God makes it so clear in Deuteronomy 9 that He was not acting on their behalf because of anything they had done. They were stubborn and rebellious. God made it clear that He was acting because of His faithfulness and what He had already promised to do.

I think this is so important for us to understand. So many people think that God won’t forgive them because of their past. “I’m not good enough,” they think. God would tell you: No. You aren’t good enough. No one is good enough. He saves you because it’s what He promised to do if you reached out to Him.

The Bible word for this is justification. Imagine a court scene where you have broken the law and are on trial. You admit your guilt and confess your sorrow over the wrong-doing. The judge looks at what you’ve done and passes a death sentence as payment for your actions. You know you are guilty. You know you were wrong. You know you deserve death. You don’t want to die, but you know. You hang your head in defeat and anxiety. The court room is silent as the sentence settles on you and you feel its weight. Then someone stands up. Jesus. He says to his Father, the judge, “Here. Send me. I’ll take the punishment for her.” The judge agrees and you are set free as Jesus is taken back in your place. It wasn’t anything you did that set you free. It was what Jesus did on your behalf that set you free. Because of his actions, you have been justified before the Almighty judge. This, my friends, is grace.

Read Ephesians 2:8-9.

How are you saved?

Why is it not because of something you have done?

Read Deuteronomy 8:14 from yesterday’s lesson.

How are Deuteronomy 8:14 and Ephesians 2:8-9 similar?


You need salvation because you are a sinner. You don’t do anything to earn it. Salvation is a gift. All you have to do is realize you need it, confess this to the Lord, then reach out and take the free offering of forgiveness purchased for you by the work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus did this freely for you. Why? Because He desires for you to be with Him. He has already accomplished all the work, paid for all your sin, and justified you before the Father. Now he stands there holding out this free gift. Reach out. Take it. He is faithful. He will do what He has promised.

Lesson to Remember: God is faithful.
A Way to Walk: Walk in faithfulness and thankfulness before Jesus. He is worthy of all praise and honor and glory because he accomplished what you could not.

Deuteronomy: Lessons to remember as we walk to the Promised Land - Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8:

Imagine a place where the distractions of the modernized world are minimized because you cannot go where you’d like. No market visits. No entertainment. No work away from home. You’re stuck in a land where supplies are limited, food is short, drink is scarce. Sound familiar? Now imagine that you are told God put you there to humble you, to test you, to reveal what was in your heart, to reveal whether you would follow Him or not. Imagine!

The subtitle in my Bible for Deuteronomy Chapter 8 is “God’s Gracious Dealings.” Even though the Israelites were in the wilderness under these circumstances for 40 years, God was gracious to them. Let’s read and find out why.

Read Deuteronomy Chapter 8:1-5.

Verse 1 gives a “so that” statement. The Israelites were to carefully follow all the commandments so that ___________________________.

Verse 2 uses an important verb – “led.” Who was leading them and why is it important to know this?

In verse 3, how did God humble the people?

How was He also gracious and provide for them?

God gave them manna to eat, a food not known to them or their forefathers. This food came by God’s command to keep them alive. But it was not the manna that kept them alive, it was the Word of God that kept them alive. He wanted them to know that He was their provider. They needed to learn to rely on Him, not on what was around them. In the land they were about to inhabit, it was imperative they knew to rely on the LORD.
In verse 5, what are they to “know in their heart?”

Read Deuteronomy 8:6-14.

God reminds them to remember what He has done and who they are. He is about to give them a lot of things, all the things they’ve lacked in the wilderness and much, much more. They are about to be rich. But with wealth comes distraction.

What is the danger of multiplied possessions? (verse 14)

How does this danger apply to us today?

Are you guilty of not relying on the Lord, or not giving Him credit for your possessions? If so, consider how you might give Him honor for the things He has done for you.

Read Deuteronomy 8:15-20.

What is the warning at the end of the chapter?

You can’t say they weren’t warned. God clearly reasoned with the Israelites. He reasons with us as well, right there in His Word. I love that God reasons with us. He has given us a brain to think things through. We don’t just “believe” in ignorant bliss. No. He created us to logically reason; that is part of the image of God given to us.

The problem is that we allow our emotions too much control. Even Aristotle, in his ancient work title “Rhetoric,” pointed out that when given the choice to use logic or emotion to make decisions, most people will decide based on emotion. I think Jeremiah 17:9 says it best though: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” That’s true. Emotions stimulate and distract us even when we don’t realize that is what is happening. Anger. Love. Desire. Hate. Envy. Longing. The need for approval. Dissatisfaction. We are overwhelmed, seek to soothe and satisfy, then forget all we know to be logical and true. Our hearts become self-seeking.

That’s when the LORD sends us on a walk in the wilderness, a place where we must rely on Him to be our provider, a place where we can refocus our hearts on who He is and who we are called to be as children of God. I can’t help but wonder if that is exactly what is happening in our world today. Are we on a walk in the wilderness to help us remember who is our provider and savior?

Do you see the Church today refocusing their hearts on God? If so, how?

How might this time in the wilderness change the Church?

On a personal level, I have been on some walks in the wilderness. Looking back, the strange thing to me is that I didn’t even know I needed a walk. I wasn’t obviously doing some outward thing that screamed I needed to reign in a certain sinful behavior. My walks were all about heart issues that I’m sure only the LORD noticed. He saw some pride in me and we walked through it. He noticed some areas where I was trying to be in control, and He forced me to let go and rest in Him.

While some of my walks have been difficult and several have been life changing, I would not trade my walks in the wilderness for all the silver and gold in the world. Why? Because the steadfast presence of the LORD is so very real to me now. The love and affection He has for me is almost tangible. I know Him in ways I could have never known otherwise. My walks have been for my good and His glory.

The caveat here is that I walked with Him. I sought Him out. I searched for Him . . . and He led me through the wilderness. I can’t imagine where I’d be if I had traveled alone. Not here, that’s for sure; not in the blessed place of it is well with my soul.

When have you ever walked through the wilderness?

What did you learn about God?

What did you learn about yourself?

Our walks are discipline from a loving Father. They are meant to help us remember who we are in Him, and remember that He is our provider. God is good. He will give us what we need, which is not always what we want. But like the Israelites, we must heed the warning: do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments lest you perish because you would not listen.

Love Him. Remember. Fear. Observe. Teach. Be blessed because of your walks.

Lesson to Remember: God is our provider.
A Way to Walk: Remember your walks through the wilderness and hold tight to the lessons you learned there.

Deuteronomy: Lessons to remember as you walk to the Promised Land - Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7:

I just finished watching the news. It was all about the coronavirus, the possible death toll, the news that the next two weeks are going to be really bad. Warnings are everywhere. Uncertainty weighs heavily on everyone. How will this work out? When will it end? Will my family and loved ones be okay? How will I keep my children sheltered and safe and unaffected as much as possible? When the future is ominous, our fears can take over. That is what happened to the Israelites when they first attempted to enter the Promised Land. Their fear of the unknown won their hearts instead of their fear of the LORD who was guiding them. Chapter 6 ends with the reminder that God had reminded the Israelites to observe His law, to fear Him, and this would be for their survival in this land they were about to enter.

Read Deuteronomy Chapter 7. Make a list of the warnings and the blessings as you read.

In verses 2-3, Moses gives a list of “shall nots.” What would these things prevent from happening? (Look in verse 4.)

Verse 6 tells why? Why are they to follow these commands?

There were so many blessings listed. Which blessing from the LORD is most interesting to you? Why?

The last images in this chapter are another warning. This warning is about bringing the graven images of false gods into their homes. It would be a snare to them, a trap they couldn’t escape. Moses told them, “You shall not bring an abomination into your house . . .” (v. 26). Our homes are where we live, where we dwell. The things in our home are personal to us. To bring a graven image into their home would be mean they liked it or wanted it or both. This would trap them.

I started wondering . . . what do we bring into our homes that is an abomination to God? We don’t have graven images of other gods, I don’t think. But if our worship begins in the heart, begins with our love for God, then what do we have that might trap us and keep us from following God? Music? Television? Movies we watch? Secret things on a glowing screen? What is in our homes?

Is there anything in your home, close to your heart that is taking you away from the Lord? If so, pray and ask the Lord for help removing this idol.

Read verses 6-10 again.


The Israelites were not blessed by God because they had done anything special or were large in number. No. They were blessed simply because God chose them and had promised their forefathers. They were blessed because He is God, He is faithful, and He is full of lovingkindness. The same is true for us. God chose us out of love and faithfulness. He delivered us from sin and bondage and death. He calls us to a life focused on Him, but it requires we fight the cultural distractions thrown at us from every angle. He promises to be with us, to bless us. If we walk away, we are still chosen; He is still faithful. We have simply decided we like the distraction more than the blessed truth. Have we walked away from God's lovingkindness? Is He trying to bring us back? I can't help but wonder.

There is a line from the song “Highlands and Heartache” that says, “There is no less God within the shadows.” This is true. Even when we choose the darker path, God is still there in our midst. He is still here among us with the virus, as well. Why? Because He is who He says He is. . .and we are His. He wants to bless you, but He requires that you follow Him. Can you hear him whispering in the dark, “Oh that they had such a heart in them . . .” Come out from the shadows. Set your eyes on Jesus, and walk with Him through the land He has given you.

Love. Remember. Fear. Observe. Be blessed. That is God’s plan for us.

Lesson to Remember: God is faithful
A Way to Walk: Be aware of the things you let enter your home that take you away from Jesus. Remove those things. They are a snare to you.

Deuteronomy: Lessons to remember as you walk to the Promised Land - Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6:

My husband likes to do his homework before making a big purchase. Take our refrigerator, for example. He received lots of advice from friends and YouTube and family members. In fact, he spent hours and hours reading and listening to what others had to say before he made a decision. When we finally arrived at the store, I had a choice between two refrigerators because those were the only two that met his mechanical expectations. I’m just sayin’ . . . It was a good thing I liked one of them. God gave us a mind to think things through and reason them out for things like refrigerator purchases, but more importantly so that we can reason out our thoughts about Him.

The Israelites are perched on the edge of the Promised Land in Deuteronomy. They are about to enter into a place that will offer all kinds of advice on how to do things even if they aren’t seeking to know. God knows they will need some clear directions on how to follow Him. They will also need to know the benefits. God’s simple directions and benefits are outlined by Moses in Deuteronomy 6.

Please read Deuteronomy chapter 6, and as you read make a list of things the Israelites were told to do, were told NOT to do, and the rewards promised.


Have you ever baked a cake? What is the first ingredient, the one you start with? Flour, of course. Then you add milk and eggs and flavorings. If you did not have flour, you would not end up with a cake. Milk and eggs and flavorings alone would make something totally different. A custard maybe, but not a cake.

There were many things God told the Israelites to do, but they all hinged on one main ingredient. Without this, their worship would not be the same.

What was the first thing the Israelite’s were supposed to do? Look in verse 5.

It all starts with love! Love is the key ingredient for all the rest to happen. There are four words for love in the Greek language, and each has slightly different connotations. Eros is used for romantic love. Philia is used for brotherly love between peers. Storge is used for a parent’s love for their child. Agape is used to describe the love of God.

We tend to always think of love as a feeling. This feeling of love comes with baggage. It is sometimes based on need: intimacy, companionship, and/or support. When someone needs these things, you give your love. Earthly love is also based on returns. Will you get intimacy, companionship, or support in return? If so, you may offer your love for this payment. Lastly, our earthly love is based on worth. Is the object of your affection worth your love? If so, you will give it.

Agape love, the love that first comes from God, doesn’t just feel; it is an action. It is defined as “an intelligent, purposeful attitude of esteem and devotion; a selfless, purposeful, outgoing attitude that desires to do good to the one loved” (Wilkin 34). Agape love does not need anything; it does not want anything in return; it does not count the worth of the one being loved. Agape love gives affection and devotion regardless of whether love is deserved or will be returned. This is exactly how God loves us.

<i>Read Romans 5:8.
How is this a love of will and not a love based on need, reciprocity, or worth?

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
These verses are often read at weddings. Why do you think people want these verses read at their wedding?
How do these verses highlight God’s love for us?

Read Luke 6:35.
How is this an example of agape love?

Read Matthew 22:35-40.
How are we to love the LORD our God? How are we to love those around us?

This is known as the Great Commandment. Our obedience to everything God has called us to do is built on agape love for Him and for others. Like a cake without flour, without love, we do not get worship of the one true God. Without love, our obedience is for nothing.

God had good things in store for the Israelites. He placed a clear plan in front of them. Love Him. Remember what He had done. Fear Him. Observe His laws. Teach the children. Be blessed. This pattern was designed to preserve them. Seems simple enough, right? But in a world full of distractions, it is very difficult. Today is no different.

Love-Remember-Fear-Observe-Teach. Do we do this today for our Lord? Do I do this? What happens if we don’t love Him? What happens if we forget? What happens when we don’t regard Him as holy, don’t follow Him? What happens if we neglect to teach our children about Him? What happens when we forget that we were slaves to sin, that the Father sent His son to do a mighty work on the cross, and bring us from a world of captivity and death into eternal life? What happens?

“Oh, that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever” (Deut. 5:29).

It all begins with the heart. Have you searched the Lord enough to find Him the object of your agape love? If not, it isn’t too late. The pages of His Word are full of His glory. And He is always listening when you call on His name. Take the time to build a heart for your Lord. All the rest will follow.

Lesson to Remember: God desires good for you

A Way to Walk: Love the Lord. Remember what He has done for you. Fear Him, for He is the living God. Observe His commandments and follow Him. Teach your children to do the same.







Wilkin, Jen. In His Image. Crossway: 2018 ,p. 34.