365 Reflections

Moses was deliverer, law-giver and prophet. And in Deuteronomy 32 he delivers for the people the prototypical prophecy with the same themes found throughout the later day Old Testament prophets. Where did they learn to see calamity and distress as signs of God's wrath for abandoning the covenant? They saw it first here in Moses. Reading through Deuteronomy 32 is like reading a passage in Jeremiah or Isaiah. It is a clear lesson for us still today. Those who would claim to speak for God must already know what God has said in the past. Deuteronomy 32:39 (ESV) “‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. One of the key themes for Israel in this song filled with dark themes is the fact that nothing will happen to them beyond the purposes of their God. God had blessed them: Deuteronomy 32:13 (ESV) He made him ride on the high places of the land, and he ate the pro...

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ( Philippians 2:14, 15 ESV ) It's easy to hear, and easy to read, and easy to say but it's another thing to do this verse. But we cannot help thing of how grumbling is what's kept the Israelites out of the Promised land in the Old Testament. Grumbling is serious. It's not even a physical sin. It's a verbal sin. It's funny how different we measure sins from how God measures sins.  I looked up the antonym of grumble online.  The answer was: "silence."  What's your complaint? Is God taking too long? Is God not answering your prayers the way you'd like? Is He letting life happen in a way you'd want changed? Think of how stupid that is.  He is God.  And you are His child.  He is a good Father.  A better Father than human fathers.  I t...