Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy was good. Most of it is a big pep talk to this next generation of Israelites telling them, quite clearly, that if you love and obey God, He will bless you and if you don't He will not bless you! It was actually very applicable. In many cases, I felt like Moses was talking directly to me! Like the Israelites, I too am guilty of being  "rebellious and stiff-necked" and "turning to the right and to the left" when I should be going straight.

Deuteronomy was easy to read too. There is lots of repetition, because Moses tells the same things to this next generation that he had told to the previous! We even get the Ten Commandments again in Deuteronomy. I didn't mind at all; in fact it's helpful as some things are worth repeating! In fact, I'd be better off if I read the Ten Commandments daily for the rest of my life!

Actually Moses dying before crossing the Jordan into the land of milk and honey was good timing... not that I had any influence at all in the decision!  Don't you think Moses was ready to go to Heaven! (Old Testament people do go to Heaven, don't they?) He'd worked so hard for way more than 40 years trying to keep the Israelites intact and focused on loving God. He'd put up with whining, stubbornness, and unjustified attacks on himself as their leader. Did he ever get a break or a vacation? Moses was always on call. It was time to share the joy!

My favorite characteristic of Moses was that even though he never would have applied for the job that God gave him... and he even told God that he wasn't cut out for it... Moses ultimately met the challenge and excelled as the great leader of the Israelites. That really hits home for me, not the leadership part, but the challenge that God gives us daily to further his kingdom when we'd rather just remain in the status quo and/or presume that we're not qualified to contribute.