Deuteronomy 27 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, ‘Be silent, Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the L_rd your G_d. Obey the L_rd your G_d and follow His commands and statutes I am giving you today.’” Deut 27: 9-10

I remember one holiday morning, when we were giving presents to each other, I told my children, “After all the wrapping paper has been torn off, and you see what you’ve gotten, let daddy and mommy help you open the packaging. There are small parts that may get lost or broken, if the packaging isn’t opened with care.”

Well, it happens every year. An over-confident “zealous for fun” child rips through a box and something gets broken or damaged before it ever gets “played with”. That’s sad, because the trauma & grief (which always follows disobedience) could have been avoided by employing a little self-control.

Israel is about to open the “mother of all gifts”. They’re on the verge of experiencing the fulfillment of G_d’s promise. They’re going to enter the land that generations of Israelites longed to possess. All the dialogue from Moses was leading up to one thing: It’s actually going to happen!

In a short time, Israel was going to transcend in a way very few people-groups have ever seen. They were about to cease being a nomadic group; and they were becoming a “nation”. That is why Moses tells them, “Today you have become the people of G_d.” It’s not that they haven’t been G_d’s people; His presence-with and love-for Israel had been undeniable. But at this moment, Israel was becoming a Nation, with land and borders.

It’s one thing to become a legitimate nation, like other nations. It’s another thing to be a nation, separate and holy unto G_d.

It is from this fever-pitched nationalistic emotional and spiritual fervor, that Moses gives a Biblical version of my holiday speech to my children before opening presents: Be quiet and listen! This “gift from G_d” needs to be unpacked methodically, and carefully. Your enjoyment and blessing are dependent upon your following the instructions. In fact, I want you to write your own copy of the instructions!

Let’s respond to today’s passage, by renewing our vigilance to know G_d’s Word…His instruction manual for life. By seeking His instruction, and adhering to it, we can fully enjoy His gift of deliverance through Messiah, Yeshua.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Wednesday, July 9, 2014