ELUL MEDITATIONS DAY 24

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AS NUMERIOUS AS THE STARS IN THE SKY

In Deuteronomy Chapter 10, we encounter a great moment in time. Most people just pass right over the words without stopping to notice. It is a moment of great historical significance, a moment Israel longed to see. This major miracle happens at the end of the chapter.

THE LAST SPEECH OF MOSES

When we first begin to read Chapter Ten, Moses is still talking to Israel. They are about to go into the Promised Land. There is a lot to say. He knows this will be his last address to them. Moses is reminding Israel of their great and awesome history.

The scriptures record the story of the time God told Moses to chisel out two stone tablets. These were to replace the ones that were broken at the scene of the golden calf. God then instructed Moses to come back up to the mountain. He was also to make a wooden ark. God had Moses to write those same words that were on the first tablets which were broken upon the stone. Then God told Moses to put them into the ark. Moses did all of this. Now Moses is reminding the people of the importance of every step of this process.

He reminded the people of how they traveled on after that time. They moved from the wells of Bene-Jaakan to Moserah. It was there that Aaron died and was buried. Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took his place as High Priest. Then the Israelites traveled to Gudgodah, then on to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water. The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry The Ark of The Covenant. They were to minister and to pronounce God’s blessings over the people. Moses reminds them of this fact too.

TWO FORTY DAY PERIODS OF TIME

It is important to remember how Moses stayed on the mountain for 40 days and nights, receiving the commandments.

This happened twice, first in the time period that annually leads up fromPassover to Pentecost, then again in the Fall during the days of Elul leading up to The Ten Days of Awe. Forty days plus ten days make up each annual time period.

Now we observe the time of the first forty days each springtime. This serves as a reminder to examine our lives against the commandments of God. We are reminded by the counting of the Omer. It is a time to repent of our individual sins, from Passover to Pentecost, when God blesses us with the gift of His Spirit living within us.

The second forty day period contains the days of Elul, leading to the Ten Days of Awe that happen every Fall. These days remind us to examine ourselves against these commandments God gave to us – again. We must remember to repent as a nation; after the Feast of Trumpets and before The Day of Atonement.

GOD IS WATCHING US

As I write we are inside the season of Elul. Many articles of this blog have turned toward the state of national repentance for the nations of the earth.

God is watching us today just as He was watching those old Israelites who were about to cross over the Jordan.

We too, are at a crossroads in our nation. Know that we must return to God. We must return to living out His commandments and His ways of life. It is essential for our souls. This is essential for our future life in eternity with God.

STAY FOCUSED ON GOD’S WAYS

The people of Israel were reminded by God and Moses to stay focused in the new land of promise.

We, the people of America, must learn how to stay focused on God’s ways for our own God-given land of promise too.

Also, and most important, we must learn and teach our children “the fear of the Lord.”

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Deuteronomy Chapter Ten spells out what God has asked of all of us.

We can read about it in verses 17: And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Moses goes on to mention that everything belongs to God. Yet, God has set his affection on the ancestors of Israel and loved them. He chose them and their descendants above all nations.

As Moses continues to give his last speech, we are reminded that God will defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and love the foreigners.

For forty years the people saw the awesome way God performed His ways. Now they must remember.

TIME FOR FULFILLMENT OF THE COVENANT

And the last thing Moses mentions in Chapter Ten of Deuteronomy is something very significant.

Remember the promise that God gave to Abraham?

There on the banks of the Jordan, the time of fulfillment had arrived.

For Moses looked out on the people of the nation of Israel and saw that God had made them as numerous as the stars in the sky!

VERSE

Genesis 15:5 – He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

PRAYER

Father, You have promised us so much. As we travel along this journey called “life” help us to remember that You are faithful and true. You always keep your promises. This is our great blessing from the One Great God. We are so grateful for how you lead us and guide us. Our future is in You hands. Amen