Choose life that you may live!

God is about to let Israel enter the much awaited Promised Land. Like a loving father, God is speaking with Israel before they leave.

Those of you, who have little children in your lives, have many conversations similar to this: “If you throw your toys at your sister, then we will not go to the park.” This is exactly what God is doing in Deuteronomy 30:17-20.

Verses 17 and 18 are if/then statements. God warns Israel if they worship other gods (verse 17) then they will perish (verse 18). We are given this same warning in the New Testament, in Romans 6:23 it says, “For the wages of sin is death.”

Israel can choose to sin. We can choose to sin. But sin always leads to death.

In verse 19 God says, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you.” Don’t just read past this scripture without fully bearing the weight of what is being said here. God, the creator of heaven and earth, is saying, “I am making this covenant between you and me. And heaven and earth are witnessing it.”

God goes on to say that he puts a few options in front of us that we get to choose from:

The first option is life and blessing.

The second option is death and cursing.

“I will take life and blessing, thanks!”

Easy choice, right? God goes on to encourage Israel to make the right choice by saying, if you choose life, then you and your family will live and you may love the LORD.

Why do we struggle with choosing life? God promises blessing and the opportunity to love God.
In verse 20 I can hear God begging Israel to choose life. God says, “Cling to God, He is your life. And you will be blessed. This is such a wonderful promise from a wonderful God. I Pray that you girls are blessed this week. I love you and cannot wait to see you girls!!

Xoxo
Ash B

Deut 30: 17-20
(17) “But if your heart turns away so that you for not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, (18) I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. (19) I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death , blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendents may live; that you may love the LORD your God , (20)that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your father, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”