Tuesday: Life and Good, Death and Evil, Blessings and Curses
Toward the end of the book of Deuteronomy, after a long discourse on what will happen to the people if they disobey the Lord and violate the covenant promises, Deuteronomy 30 begins with a promise that even if they fell into disobedience and were punished with exile, God would nevertheless restore them to the land.
That is, if they repented and turned from their evil ways.
Read Deuteronomy 30:15-20. What are the options presented to ancient Israel here, and how do these options reflect what we have seen all through the Bible?
Image © Dave OConnell at Goodsalt.com
The Lord is very clear: He, Yahweh, has set before them one of two options, basically what He did with Adam and Eve in Eden. In fact, the Hebrew words for “good” (tov) and “evil” (ra‘) in Deuteronomy 30:15 are the same Hebrew words used in Genesis for the tree of the knowledge of “good” (tov) and “evil” (ra‘). Here, as in all through the Bible, there is no middle ground, no neutral place to be. They will either serve the Lord and have life, or they will choose death. It’s the same for us, as well.
Life, goodness, blessing, in contrast to what? Death, evil, and curses. In the end, though, one justly could argue that God really offers them only the good, only life, and only blessings. But if they turn away from Him, these bad things will be the natural result, because they no longer have His special protection.
However we understand it, the people are presented with these options. It’s very clear, too, the reality of their free will, their free choices. These verses, along with so much of the Bible, Old and New Testament, make no sense apart from the sacred gift of free will, free choice.
In a real sense, the Lord said to them: Therefore, with the free will that I have given you — choose life, choose blessing, choose goodness, not death, evil, and curses.
It seems so obvious what the correct choice would be, doesn’t it not? And yet, we know what happened. The great controversy was as real then as it is now, and we should learn from Israel’s example what can happen if we don’t give ourselves wholly to the Lord and choose life and all that this choice entails.
| Read Deuteronomy 30:20. Notice here the link between love and obedience. What must Israel do in order to be faithful to the Lord? How do the same principles apply to us today? |
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Today's lesson very well presents two vital points in understanding reality:
1) There are only 2 options: life which alone comes from God, or death which is the consequence of being apart from God who is the only source of life.
2) God gives us freewill choice to choose which option we desire.
Thus, I agree with the lesson's summary statement:
There is one further point I would like to make more visible that is linked with I have written above. The two options referred to in point 1 are not merely because God arbitrarily made things that way (ie, because He is 'Sovereign' and therefore has the right to do so). Satan has sought to (mis)portray and perpetuate such a view of God via insinuating/implying that God could have made a different a different set of options, but arbitrarily decided not to. This leads people to think that there is actually life apart from God and therefore that being in harmony with God is not essential for life after all. Perhaps you can see that many people 'subconsciously' have fallen for this insinuation, and therefore don't see the necessity of God and living in harmony with the only way to true life. And perhaps you can also see how Christian teaching can seem to support this view of 'God's Way' being something that has come about because God has the right to make it that way rather than because that is the only way it can actually be.
When sharing with people, I propose that if God is in fact arbitrary - that He has only made things a certain way because He has the right and the power to do so when other viable ways actually exist - then Satan's insinuated allegations against God are true. And if this were the case, it would be 'game-over'. Therefore, if God is not arbitrary, then the reason we have only two options with no middle ground is because there are in fact only two options with no middle ground - because that is true reality*. This leads me back agreement with the lesson's summary statement.
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* Please note that I am NOT suggesting that reality is apart from God, nor somehow bigger than God.
Deuteronomy 30:19–20 ESV “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
First, the Lord is saying that heaven and earth– these permanent and unchanging created objects, quite in contrast to Israel’s fickleness– are watching you.
Then he repeats vs. 15: I set before you life and death. Blessings and curses. Choose life!
There is a sense of urgency here in Moses’ words. Very personal. Intense. Pleading. Warning. Promising. Their very lives depended upon it. This should have provoked a strong sobriety in Israel’s hearts. This was a solemn occasion.
While Israel truly did have two choices laid out to them, these were not amoral choices, like choosing either the red car or the blue car, where both have advantages and disadvantages. These were choices where life itself was on the line. Glory and honor were at stake. Goodness and prosperity were laid out.
A reasonable person would undoubtedly say, “Of course, they should choose life. There is no other good option.”
But this was often not the case, was it? Israel was (as we are today!) forgetful people...! They could lose sight of truth. Of what is good. They could easily think that bad is good and good is bad. In other words, they could become deceived.
Good morning Everyone!
Blessings for a new day.
Please, I have a quick question: Is all well with Maurice?
I pray that by God's grace, he's okay.
Let's continue to choose life by walking in obedience to God's word moment by moment.(Phil 4:13).
Thank you for your concern Athlene. All is well. I have a very busy week this week and Sabbath School Net has had to take a back seat for a few days. I have been travelling to Sydney every day to help with my son shifting into a new apartment. Hopefully, after this week I can be my normal retired self again and get back to commenting.
My brother @maurice i pray for you for the lord to give the strength to relax after a busy schedule. Windows of grace don't stay open forever. There’s a limited time where God gives you an opportunity to rise higher. When you have the faith for it, that’s the time to act. Don’t talk yourself out of it; don’t make excuses. Keep on choosing life....you have the peace of the lord.
Remember weare not robots, but we are also not passive observers. We are partners together with God. We have a choice to make. God has set before us life or death. God longs for us to choose life, but we have to choose for ourselves when we read verses 15–19. God will not force us to choose Him. We are not automatically saved by being part of the covenant people.It is easy to fall in one ditch or the other. We either try to work our way to heaven or we presume upon God’s grace and do whatever we want while assuming we will be saved no matter what. Neither is a love relationship. A true heart change and realization of God’s love will cause us to grow in ever deeper repentance and ever increasing joy as we allow God to show us what needs to change in our lives.
I have heard from a preacher when the Titanic was sinking with all the wealth of the world lying around a woman grabbed bunch of oranges when she got on to the lifeboat.
What is wealth to you?
19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’ 20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ 21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:19-21
We cannot grab on to God and the world. Today examine and chose life, goodness of God, and His blessing which has no end.
I am very busy this week and have really run out of "comment time". We are spending most of this week helping our son move to his new apartment that he has bought. So Mum and Dad have had to spend the week moving the small stuff to the new location, and cleaning out the old flat that he is vacating. Sometimes, parenting lasts a long, long time.
Making choices for life is sometimes not all that simple when you are young and think you are invincible. Many young people make wrong choices without considering their consequences for life. Smoking, drugs, alcohol, promiscuous sex offer an attractive and alluring invitation to live life to the full, hiding the fact that life is much more than just the rush of a moment.
We had an incident here in our town just this morning. A young man, still a teenager , under the influence of ice, was seen by the postman knocking over letterboxes. The postman tried to stop him but he was attacked and injured. Finally after even more serious property damage, he was arrested by the local police. I guess that after he has come to his senses, this youth will have a huge bill to pay and will be asked to spend some time at the pleasure of her majesty (In prison, for those who do not understand Australian idiom). A wrong choice by a young person, who now has to live with the consequences of his choice for a long time to come.
We like to think of the choice between life and good, and death and evil in spiritual terms. However, it has a very practical application. Somewhere, we need to get though to our young people that they are making those life and death choices now. Healthy living, social behaviour and responsibility, and honouring God and serving our fellow man. These are the sorts of choice that Moses was talking to the Children of Israel about. And they are just as relevant today as they were 2500 years ago.
It is not easy trying to convince young people that their choices have far reaching consequences. But it is one of those areas where we have to preach by example if we want to get the message across.
Let the young people see in our life how its worthy to chose serving God and its benefits .It’s good to be grateful for what God has done, but you can’t put your faith on hold. By choosing life we are deliberately choosing to be stretching, growing, pursuing Gods agenda for our life, knowing that there’s more in store. God has new mountains for you to climb, new friendships, new levels of influence. We are the generational custodian of Gods intended life when when we chose life. The young people within our spheres of influence will imitate what we portray.
It is very interesting to me as to how Deuteronomy 30:20 mentions only Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These three personalities were not Jews or Israelites. Jacob became known as Israel after his experience of wrestling with the angel and his name was changed then to Israel. But Abraham or Isaac were never Israelites or Jews themselves. And Deuteronomy 4:29,30 is very clear that God would be there for "anyone, Jew or Gentile," who would seek God with all their hearts and souls and the promise is there that "They would find Him."
Deu 4:1 ISV "Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and the ordinances that I'm teaching you to observe so you may live and go in to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is about to give you.
Deut 4:28-29 is addressed to the Israelites - not the gentiles
The LORD is bringing the Israelites into the Canaan because that is the land that He promised to Abraham and his descendants in His Covenant with Abraham. Not because they were many or righteous but because of the Covenants He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Gen 12:7 ISV Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "I'll give this land to your descendants." So Abram built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Deu 6:10 ISV "When the LORD your God brings you to the land that he promised to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he will give you large and beautiful cities that you didn't build,
Deu 30:20 ISV Love the LORD your God, obey his voice, and cling to him, because he is your life—even your long life—so that you may live in the land that the LORD promised to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
Deu 11:8-9 ISV "Keep all the commands that I'm giving you today, so you can be strong enough to enter and possess the land that you are crossing over to inherit (9) and so you'll live long in the land that the LORD your God promised by an oath to give your ancestors and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
However, Shirley, even though those verses of Deut. 4:28-29 are addressed to Israelites, Deut. 4:29 and 30 mentions very clearly that "in the latter days," those who would then call upon God with all their hearts that God would hear and deliver. Here are two verses way before verses 28 and 29 that mention God's people in "the latter days." That means you and me. I am a Gentile SDA Christian and therefore, according to the Apostle Paul, I am Abraham's seed, because of Jesus and Abraham was not a Jew, he was a Gentile Man of God.
Hi Pete, I agree that if we seek the LORD with all our heart and soul He will adopt us into His Chosen People irrespective of our ancestors. Gal 3:29; Acts 2:39, 3:25; Rom 4:13.
You are correct that the LORD called Abram out of Ur to travel to Canaan and to be the father of the Chosen People who were to spread abroad the knowledge of the LORD. The LORD entered into a Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his children - Israel. One of Jacob's sons was named Judah of whom Jesus was a descendant. Gen 12:3, 18:18, 22:18.
Deut 4:29-31
29But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. 31For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.
Good morning Dr. Ashton,
I was laughing while reading your comment.I am saddened by a similar situation when young adults as well as grown-up turn away from God who is constantly seeking us but choosing evil, suffering and death unfortunately which are the consequences instead of choosing life,blessing and happiness. Liked it, preach and live by example as parents. Small children; small problems. Grown-up adults;Grown-up problems, isn't something we all have to deal with in this dying world, alas!
I want to ask some questions: 'What is essential for the believer to focus on? Is it on the 'requirement to obey the law', or the singular, 'life-enhancing' focus on 'loving God more, appreciating His Gift of Grace for Life more, and believing His assurance that He will fulfill His Promise to the faithful, those who love Him and keep His commandments?'
Trust is extremely precious! Who says that we can trust anyone or anything outside of the Father and His Son? Everyone and everything is compromised; we cannot even trust ourselves, though the adversary tries mightily for us to think so - Prov.28:26 ESV. Only the heavenly Father and His Son, our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus and Their Word are trustworthy!
Why would we still want to cling onto our own understanding - it being the fruit of the tree of knowing 'good and evil'? God has already proven to us that 'we will surely die'! Why not singularly focus on the Tree of Life - His Word, His Way, His Life?
Is not the spiritual war being fought over the heart of man, who man gives his ear to, listens to and receives his guidance from? Should we continue in the same way that led our original parents to sin, continuing to doubt our Maker and the Word He speaks to us which represent Life?
I think it is time for the Christians to 'grow up' and 'man up', stand up for the Truth of God's Word in a world drowning in the effects of Christians being lukewarm and those who wholeheartedly believe the lie; no, man cannot govern himself and live!
Our age still holds the same question: "Do we believe, and what do we do with that which we believe"? Do we still partially put our trust in the fruit of the 'Tree of the knowledge of good and evil', or do we fully trust the fruit of the Tree of Life?
God is patiently waiting, but man's lifetime is short! Rev.2:7 ESV.
Could it be that our obedience is simply the fruits of our Love for God. In other words, do we have to try to be obedient or because we Love God and desire His ways we become naturally obedient?
Good morning Maurice,
I'm elated to know that all is well. God be praised!
Blessings to your son in his new Apt. I pray that he allows God to lead in all areas of his life and be a source of influence for good to all those he comes in contact with.
May we continue to walk in obedience today as the Holy Spirit leads.
Maranatha!