Frontline Devotion for Saturday, March 25, 2006 by Don Kress

Deuteronomy 11:1-32

In today’s text, Moses continues to prepare the children of Israel for their entrance into the Promised Land.  He tells them: “From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today – love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you…” all will go well.  “That’s right.  If you diligently keep this commandment that I command you to obey – love God, your God, do what he tells you, stick close to him – God on his part will…” take care of you.  “I’ve brought you today to the crossroads of Blessing and Curse.”  (Quoted passages are from “The Message.”)

As the Israelites prepared to enter their new land, it was made clear to them that obedience to God was the condition of their national success.  God’s promise to the patriarchs of Israel of a land flowing with milk and honey was contingent upon the nation’s acceptance of its responsibility to maintain the covenant God made with Abraham (Genesis 18:18-19).  Obedience to God’s law was the condition to Israel’s future success.  If this was done, God would heap blessings upon this new country; if it was not done, the nation of Israel should expect a curse.

Moses’ commandments were too high; the people could not attain them.  We know from history how the rest of the story goes!  Have you ever wondered how the world might be different today had the Israelites been willing and able to do what Moses commanded on the plains of Moab more than 3,000 years ago?  I suspect it would be a far better place than it is.  Have you ever wondered how our country might be different today had we been willing and able to keep Christ’s commandments to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” and to “love your neighbor as yourself”?  (Matthew 22:37-39)  Everyday we make countless decisions – some small and some big – for or against God. Those crossroads cannot be escaped; they are fundamental to the Christian experience.  While there’s no doubt in my mind that things would go much better for me if I always obeyed Christ’s commandments, such an expectation is too high; I cannot not attain it even though I desire to do so.

But there’s a major difference between us and the Israelites of long ago.  Moses left them standing at the crossroads with a blessing and a curse; Christ leaves us standing at the cross with a promise and a gift.  All we have to do is accept them.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help me to understand the importance of obeying your laws.  Lord Jesus, thank you for being willing to suffer such a brutal death on the cross to free me from the penalty of my disobedience.  Thank you for saving me from the crossroads.  It is so comforting to know that you are not against me for my sin, but rather you are for me against my sin.  I am deeply, deeply grateful.  Amen.

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