My family will soon take a vacation to New England, the land I called home for every summer of my childhood and then some. We’ll cross Washington Bridge leaving Manhattan glimmering to the east, and wind through Connecticut’s tree-lined highways. Then we’ll hit the Massachusetts coastline, dotted with perfectly manicured hydrangeas and gray-weathered houses that stand at the sea. Finally, we’ll cross the border into New Hampshire, get off I-93, and I’m there. I know every beat of the drive, every bend of the road. I am at my most “me” when I stand among New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. I shut off every piece of technology (no social media, no email, no phone), and bask in what is, to me, perfection.
But we always have to go back to our current home, jolted back into reality. And I’m reminded that the gift of experiencing vacation in your favorite place means that reentry will always be a little painful: laundry, dishes, the flat landscape of my current state and the scorching southern heat, made all the harder because I just experienced something I find to be so very good.
On Mount Horeb, Moses experienced perfection beyond human imagination when he encountered God. The Lord’s radiance was so glorious, Moses had to cover his face. Moses glimpsed the glory of the Lord, the unimaginable sweetness of His perfect goodness.
And yet when Moses returned to the Israelites, he was jolted back into the reality of a broken world: the Israelites, led by Aaron, had constructed an idol, a golden calf. Moses, who had just tasted and seen the source of all good, saw a people who had turned away from God. Moses knew what they were turning away from, better than almost anyone who has ever lived. So his anger and mourning were deep, as were the Lord’s. The Lord threatened to destroy this people, but Moses begged the God who he had just met face to face to change His mind.
In today’s reading, Moses recounted this story to a new generation of Israelites as a reminder of a beautiful truth: God is real. He loves His people. And the shalom-filled life God gives in His commands is worth striving for. In Deuteronomy 10:12–22, Moses’s beautiful speech presents the scope of the gospel. He reminds his people of God’s requirements, of the call to follow Him we find in Jesus (Deuteronomy 10:12; Matthew 4:19). We see precursors of Paul’s instruction for believers to put off their old selves in Moses’s command for the Israelites to no longer be stiff-necked (Deuteronomy 10:16; Ephesians 4). And Peter’s explanation of how God made a people who were once not a people is a parallel to Moses’s reminder that “Your ancestors went down to Egypt, seventy people in all, and now the LORD your God has made you numerous, like the stars of the sky” (Deuteronomy 10:22; 1 Peter 2:10).
Moses’s zeal for the Lord, and earnest prayers born out of knowing the goodness of the Lord offered the Israelites a picture of what it meant for God to renew His covenant with them. Jesus is this God incarnate, who came to earth to write a new covenant and call us to follow after Him. Follow Him, and the sweetness of kingdom life is ours.
Maura I am sorry you have all this to deal with. I will pray for God’s peace and provision for you.
Just got work I had about five minutes before clocking in. MAURA, i’m praying for you.
I love what you said Kelly about if you wonder God’s will for Your Life- Simply stated but truly the truth. It all starts with just keeping our focus on Him, which is hard to do I have a tip as well that I cherish and that is my worship music! I started listening to Klove, or our local Christian station 20 years ago while go through a painful divorce It carried me in my hard times, and yet I still listened to it. It’s on my car station and my house music station. It continues to keep your focus throughout the day on what is important. And you know what, I have a 21-year-old and a husband that unknowingly will sing along to words that have settled in their heart! How awesome that feeling is when I hear that!! My grandchildren and friends hear it when they are in my house, and when I had a training studio, it was usually on there as well. So I encourage you to find a Christian station that has a feel you like, and tune in daily in your car, in your kitchen and see how powerful it is! Praise, Happy, Sad, Overwhelmed—There is a song for all! Have a good week everyone!!
PS–Still missing you so much Churchmouse and praying you are well. I just can’t imagine, because you have commented daily for years, and we miss you.
Good Morning Sisters, I always am a bit aghast at Moses coming down the mountain to find the golden calf and can only imagine how devastating that must have felt. I got to spend the weekend with all my Lovely girls, and I would ask for prayers for my older grands as the social media and videos that have become a lot of their life, have really been hard on them, a lot of scary R rated movies that no child, much less adult should ever watch. Please pray for them to have The strength to turn away from these things, when the parent they are primarily with sometimes has told them they are chicken if they don’t want to watch. Please pray for me wisdom to say what I need to and send me any good Christian devotions that might be out there for girls age 8 through 11. I wish there was an online kids read truth. Also, they are starting at a new school, pray for good friends and teachers like Angie. ☺Please also pray for me today, I have an initial status conference for my divorce, I am sad to say, and though I can’t stay in this, my second marriage feeling the loss of all I had hoped it would be and the reality of how much it will take for me to afford to be on my own. So Thankful for these months I have with at my Sister’s house, Please pray for His provision, as I need to move out at the end of October, and eyes to see and my heart to hear what He is providing. I am specifically asking for at least a 2 bedroom place, with a yard or a park close by and big enough that when my girls all come for visitation with my daughter, until she can move closer, it is doable. Colorado prices are a bit insane, but we know the God who has all of it in His hands and always provides in amazing ways, is my God. I am so looking forward to His answers. Asking for a lot of here. Thank you all, I so appreciate it. I am a bit overwhelmed. So, if I am not responding much, please know I love you all and am praying for and with you. And your words as always are blessing me. His Love, Peace and Joy to you my Sisters.
Deuteronomy 9:22,29 is what stood out to me today. When Moses prayed he referred to the Israelites as “Your people” “Your inheritance” whom You brought out. It was a great reminder that for us who have received Jesus, we too our His people, His inheritance – brought out of our sin and bought by the precious blood of Jesus! God did so much for us – how is it that we find it so hard to simply obey Him. It is all He requires. My prayer is that I will daily fear God, walk in His ways, love Him and serve Him with all my heart. Sadly, I know I will fail because I’m a sinner yet, I rejoice in knowing that God is faithful to forgive me and cleanse me from all my sin! (1John 1:9) Every day is new and fresh. Every day is another opportunity to do it right – to love, honor, obey and serve Him. Praising God for this new day and the next, and the next, and the next!
@Melanie – praying for your dad’s surgery and a speedy recovery.
@Foster Mama – praise the Lord for answer to prayer! I will continue to pray that God will keep on working in each heart.
Also praying for other requests that were previously made. Blessings to all my SRT sisters and prayers for all those in the path of hurricane Ida.
Thank you so much for your words, Sarah Joy. I think this was for me, because I was feeling very purposeless being stuck at home, like a soldier without a mission or mission field. I will endeavour to intentionally invest in those around me at home. This meant a lot, and seemed quite relevant. Stay faithful.
I’m convicted by the heart of Moses in today’s reading (Deut 9:13-14, 26-29). He could’ve taken the easy way out, allow God to just get rid of this exhausting people and take the blessing for himself. But he didn’t, he cared deeply for not only God’s chosen, but also God’s name among the nations. Would I “argue” with God like Moses did if the same offer was on the table for me and my descendants?
This series is repeatedly making it clear how great the scope of Gods love is. He was so angry with His people’s repeated acts of rebellion He wanted to destroy us but he showed us mercy and sent His Son to Die for us in order to save us!!!! It’s unfathomable. He loves us so very much. All we have to do to be saved and to be made righteous is to believe that Jesus died and rose again for our sins. Once we are saved we are to walk humbly with Him. He repeatedly tells us how we can love him in return. If we love Him we are to be OBEDIENT to Him. Keep His commandments. Love God (the first 4 commandments) Love others (the last 6). This is why I continue to stress the importance of remembering the forgotten 4th commandment to keep the 7th Day Sabbath Holy!!!! We are saved by Jesus blood alone keeping the commandments can’t save us! But now that we are saved we live our lives in love and obedience! The commandments are our wedding vows to our Loving God.
Love your analysis “the commandments are our wedding vows to God” It makes so much sense now. ❤