The nature of God does not change (Mal. 3:6). Nor does human nature. Because of these two facts, when we study God’s work in the Old Testament, with Israel, we see the same behaviors and reactions from God as we see in the New Testament. The specifics are different. Israel had a different covenant, a different type of covenant. But the principles are the same.
As we have studied through Deuteronomy, I have tried to point out specific passages that help us see aspects of the nature of God or of man that are equally true for New Testament Christians. We have not always been explicit in making such parallels, our devotional would be much longer if we did that. However, we hope that our thoughts are helpful to you. We consider chapters 10-12 now. It would only take about ten minutes to read these three chapters.
Moses picks up, in chapter 10, with the events at Mount Sinai, specifically God giving Moses the Ten Commandments, a copy of which Moses deposits in the ark of the covenant as a continual reminder to the Israelites of their need to respect the commandments of God (10:1-5). Speaking of the ark, God chose the tribe of Levi to care for the ark and oversee worship (10:6-9).
“What does the Lord require?” Moses asks in 12:12-13. Five actions: fear, walk, love, serve, and keep the commandments. God chose Israel on whom to shower His love because He loved their forefathers (12:15). Thus, Israel as a whole was to “circumcise” their hearts (12:16). This was genderless, including women, and was an interior dedication to God, not just a physical sign. God is impartial (12:18) and calls on Israel to be impartial in loving their neighbor (12:19).
Again in 12:20, God calls on Israel to: fear, serve, cling, and swear by His name. The last verse in chapter 12 shows us that God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham: Gen. 15:5; 22:17.
“Love” and “obey” are two key terms that are connected together, again, in 11:1. Even though this was not the generation that came out of Egypt, these Israelites have seen God’s wonders worked from Egypt to the present (11:2-7). Therefore, they should keep God’s commandments (11:8). The blessings they would enjoy in Palestine are greater than what they experienced in Egypt (11:9-12). If they love God with all their heart and soul (11:13), He will bless their crops (11:14). They should be careful not to fall prey to idolatry (11:16-17).
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In thoughts reminiscent of chapter 6, in 11:18ff, Moses challenges Israel to make the commandments of God a part of their very being, their thoughts, and way of life. It is on the basis of faithful obedience that God would give them this land, a broad and wide land that would be full of blessings (11:24-25). When they arrive in the land, they were to read a series of blessings (from Mt. Gerizim) and a series of curses (from Mt Ebal), to remind them how important obedience is to God. Joshua fulfills this command in 8:33-35.
Chapter 12 deals almost exclusively with idol worship. Israel was to destroy idols in the land (12:2) and not imitate their worship places, practices, or patterns (12:31). In fact, God would choose a place, where He would place His name, and it is there that Israel would have to worship (12:5). Eventually, that place would be the temple in Jerusalem.
Some, who hold to an “open God” theism read passages like Jeremiah 32:35 and believe that God was surprised when Israel offered human sacrifices. One fundamental problem with the “ignorant God” thesis is that in Deut 12:31, God plainly warns Israel not to offer human sacrifices. Clearly, it did pass through His mind! It seems that a better way to read Jeremiah 32:35 is as hyperbole. Human sacrifices were so far removed from what God desired from Israel that God could say it had never entered His mind. We do not have to resort to an “ignorant God” to make sense of the two passages.
Finally, in 12:32, Moses gives Israel God’s law on the “silence of the Scriptures.” Fulfill God’s commands. Do what God says do, nothing more and nothing less. May we follow that principle as New Testament Christians.
Paul Holland
