Received and Kept by Faith

A Glimpse of What's to Come

We come not only to the end of a book, but the end of a life, and in the many years that it has taken me to move through the Pentateuch, we have sat at the feet of Moses who has given us not just an accounting of the beginning, what man is, but also the very clear direction the Lord would have us head. These first five books give us clear pattern and trajectory for living lives that glorify and take delight in the Lord. Deuteronomy shows us that love and law are intimately related, for we must be shown how to love God, that love needs direction for those to whom the Lord has revealed Himself are called to keep covenant, blessing for those who do, curses for those who do not. Not only this but this final chapter reminds us that only one greater than Moses is able to do what even Moses could not, that One is Jesus Christ, the greater Moses.

A Mosaic Benediction

The source of the blessings of Israel, the Church's great benediction come forth from the good and gracious heart of Almighty God. As Moses ends his time on earth, his faithful ruling over the nation of Israel has come to an end, and it was time for Joshua to take the helm. As he finishes his prophetic ministry he blesses the tribes on behalf of the Lord. These blessings were not only real and were seen in the coming years of Israel, but are ultimately fulfilled in the ever-expanding Church whom Christ purchased and redeemed by His blood so that they might be eternally blessed by the One who made covenant with them.

Received and Kept by Faith

Moving towards the end, Moses proclaims Israel's success in entering the promise land and foretelling that Joshua will be the man to lead them. This work of deliverance is one given by God as a provision of the covenant of grace which He has made with Israel. Israel is encouraged to "be strong and of good courage." Whereas the first generation refused to enter the rest of God, this generation will be taken across by Joshua. Despite this deliverance and the continued reading of the law of God, Israel will by and large rebel against the Lord. What conclusion can we draw? That the only way to enter into the rest of God is to do so by faith in the new Joshua, Jesus Christ who only can deliver us into a state of eternal rest with the Lord.

Brought Back from Captivity

We come to the end of this section that might best be described as the covenant ceremony where in the Lord impresses upon His people, His special nation, that they are to live in the land according to His commands, that they do so as a holy, consecrated nation, set apart for His covenant purposes, namely to prepare themselves for the coming Messiah by walking in step with the Lord and proclaiming and showing the nations that salvation comes in no other Name save the Messiah. Here at the end of the covenant renewal ceremony the Lord, having drug Israel across the law, promises that through the Messiah Israel would return having been given new hearts and restored souls. The law, as glorious, beautiful, and true as it is does not present us with a path to salvation, to a new heart, but instead is trains us to see our utter need to be given circumcised hearts and reborn souls - this God will do through the Christ.

Seeing and Believing

You have just passed through the Red Sea, and have turned to see nearly the entire Egyptian army perish under the tide that was held back as you walked through on dry ground. What a moment, an unforgettable moment to be sure, yet having seen this only to reject the Lord's promises for more of the same, when called to enter in Canaan and giants lived in the land. It was not only the Red Sea, but so many instances of deliverance, provision, and supernatural interaction from the God who delivered you to begin with. It is not enough to see, to hear, to witness, but to believe and this faith, this laying hold of God's promises and trusting Him for salvation comes only to those whom He has chosen. What Deuteronomy teaches us is that not amount of seeing is believing, but that faith is a gift that comes not by merit under the law, but by grace under the altar.