Deuteronomy 26:1-29:1 God lays out two paths for people—the path of life or death, wisdom or foolishness, blessings or curses. Some people take these promises to Israel and attempt to apply them directly to themselves. They think if we obey God we will have an abundance of wealth and health. The problem is we cannot claim a promise that God did not give to us (we are not Israel), while also minimi...  Read More

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 I continually teach my kids to treat others how they want to be treated. My children, like all of us, are prone to treat others how they are treated rather than treating others with love, kindness, and grace, regardless of their actions. Since we all have been hurt by others, it is easy to multiply this pain rather than be beacons of light and love. Deuteronomy 21-25 challe...  Read More

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 The Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) has justice as a key theme. Not only as we look at the Bible, but also as we look at our country, we see the pervasive cry for justice. Yet so often I do not think we fully understand what justice is or for what we are asking. In our reading today, the concerns for justice cover issues like false witnesses, idolatry, selfish kin...  Read More

Deuteronomy 13:1-16:17 Discernment is a skill that is necessary for the people of God. We need to be able to think through all areas of life and determine God's leading. Our reading today begins with discernment around worship. God's people are called to worship him alone and refuse to participate in idolatry. We need to be crystal clear about who God is, what he has done, and how to rightly respo...  Read More

Deuteronomy 10:1-12:32 God consistently calls the Israelites to fear him, to love, and obey Him. God tells them exactly what will happen if they turn away and worship other gods. A choice is laid before them. If they love him, walk in obedience, hold fast to Him, then they will be blessed—God will drive out the larger and stronger nations. If they choose their own way, if they disobey the commands...  Read More

Deuteronomy 6:1-9:29 Christians need to live with their heads on a swivel. We need to be constantly looking back to what God has done and looking forward to what he will do. Much of Scripture follows this pattern. It is a call to remember what God has done and trust him for what is yet to come. As Moses recounts what God has done in Deuteronomy, he is also looking forward to what God will do by br...  Read More

Deuteronomy 3:21-5:33 As Moses begins to recount the instructions of God for Israel, he begins with a critical statement. He tells them not to add or subtract from what God has said but to accept the revelation as he has given it. The temptation to lessen or increase the demands of God is universal. In fact, at the beginning of history, Satan tempted Eve by getting her to take away from what God h...  Read More

Deuteronomy 1:1-3:20 Today begins the book of Deuteronomy. The name literally is deutero which means two and nomy from nomos which means law, so essentially the law a second time. The book will recount the works of God and his law which was given to the Israelites as has previously been described in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. If you wonder about the importance of this part of the Old Testament...  Read More

Numbers 34:1-36:13 We have made it to the end of the book of Numbers which places Israel right on the edge of the Promised Land. They are not yet in the land, but God is already telling them how they should divide it. These commands regarding the future prove that Israel will not only enter the land, but it will be theirs. God is prophesying what will happen; therefore, Israel should believe it. M...  Read More

Numbers 32:1-33:56 We encounter two names listed as examples of lives lived out of deep commitment and trust in God. Caleb and Joshua “followed the LORD wholeheartedly” (Numbers 32:12) and were the only two allowed to enter the Promised Land from the original group that had left Egypt. Amid a sea of grumbling, discontentment, and idolatry, we see two men rise above. Regardless of the community aro...  Read More

Numbers 30:1-31:54 God tells the Israelites to go to war and take "vengeance on the Midianites” (Numbers 31:2) If you remember, Midian and Moab attempted to curse Israel and when that failed, they led them to idolatry and sin. God was unwilling to allow that sin to grow, fester, and multiply, so he called Israel to act. To understand this command and subsequent destruction, remember we do not get ...  Read More

Numbers 27:1-29:40 It may feel at times like parts of the Bible are on repeat. The Israelites are taught once again about the number of offerings they are to make. They are to offer two animals a day and then on various days throughout the year offer many more. We have heard these instructions before, so you may be wondering why it is in here again. I think one of the main reasons is because we ar...  Read More