11:1 It is extraordinary that our magnificent, universally powerful God only asks for our love. God's every command and guideline is given for our benefit. We must not take for granted that our creator is brilliantly artistic, compassionate, and attentive.
All of the days of our lives, all of the books in this Bible... everything just comes down to love: to receiving love, to giving love. Moses reminds the children of Israel and his reminder is pertinent to our lives now. When we are lost, confused, broken, sad, happy, curious... whatever we are, whenever we are, we have a Spiritual Father loving us within and through every moment. How could we not love Him in return?
To love Him is to follow Him and do the works of His will, and Moses will continue to orate that crucial message.
11:2 Moses wants each individual to know that he is speaking specifically to them: him, her, you. Because no matter who we are, we can benefit from this advice. No matter who we are, we need to hear it and absorb it over and over again.
Throughout our day we might interact with people who we think could use this reminder... and they do need it. But so do we. God is reaching out to you. He made these commandments for you to live a better life.
11:3-7 Moses reminds the children of Israel of their life experiences -- God has spoken to them, audibly; Moses knows that the following generations would not remember these incredible events. For us, they are ancient history. Moses implores the children of Israel to keep God familiar from family to family. To never let this history grow cobwebs.
Similarly, we should treasure our spirituality and keep God familiar within our families. The moment we are born is the moment we begin our journey back to God... how much easier would it be to reach Him if we were all raised aware of His presence?
11:8 God wants us to keep on His path because He knows where it leads us: to abundant blessings. On earth and in spirit. Why should we keep every commandment? It's written in this verse: so that we will be strong. So that we will be made strong by God. We should keep the commandments because when we do, God commands blessings into our lives.
Psalm 18:1
I will love you, O Lord, my strength.Ezekiel 3:9
Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
11:9 We should keep the commandments to prolong our days on the land God has given us. He teaches us how to live healthily: physically and spiritually. Earth is temporary, but like here with God is opportunity for Him to abundantly bless you. Flowing with milk and honey is literal and figurative: God provides the sweet and joyful and also the nutrition and the sustaining.
11:10 The description of this land Moses describes is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden in Genesis. Life without God is hard labor. Life without God is frequent, if not constant, fear and anxiety. Humans in neglect or opposition to God find themselves working long, difficult hours and in desperate need of rest.
But children of God, but following His commandments, walk right into this figurative - spiritual place where God does the hard labor on our behalf. He sends the rains, so to speak. God saves us from the backbreaking work of being humans. Our feeble efforts cannot be compared to His perfection.
Moses references Egypt, the place where the children of Israel were enslaved. Their enslavement in Egypt is symbolic of the ways we are enslaved. If not literally, then we are at least bound to our fear and anxiety, confusion or pessimism. Whatever unhappiness we cannot seem to break free from is our slaver. Moses wants us to know that the land, the peace God gives us is not like the land of our enslavement. It is the opposite.
A child who follows and works the will of God (loving Him and others, producing justice and compassion) does not have to work for their sustenance on earth. They do not have to work for their happiness or their freedom. When God sees that we are busy doing the work of His will, He becomes the provider. He enables us to do His work without having to balance the other "stuff." He takes care of everything.
As children of God, we do not have to toil. He takes care of the heavy stuff.
11:11 Moses describes the land but there is metaphor in this description. Life with God is beautiful. God's home for us has many resting places, John 14:2. Rather than having to seek out our nourishment, our water, God provides for us in His natural, perfect system. He tends the garden.
11:12 God's attentive care for us and the "gardens" we live in is adept and consistent. His eyes are always on it, on us... moment by moment. It's easy to quickly read over this verse but try to reflect on it. Try to be absorbed by it.
God is a busy entity... He's overseeing galaxies and universes, stars, oceans, animals and billions of other humans. He has sent into motion an uncountable number of atoms, the building blocks of all life. Yet He takes the time to know each of us, intricately. He gives us His undivided and unconditionally attention... as only He can. God could have easily create a playground (planet, place) for us and left us there to fend for ourselves. Instead, He is invested in the intricacies of our lives, hearts and minds.
While we go about our days, becoming distracted, frustrated, confused... He is working attentively. Skillfully. He is working all things together for good. He is wielding every atom toward inevitable good.
11:13 Moses' oration is not meant to reprimand but to draw us toward this incredible gift from God. God calls for us to come to Him so that He can wrap us in His incomparable, extraordinary, infinite love.
Love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul... because that is how He loves you. Because through love and service of Him, we are loved and served by Him. (And nobody puts out a spread like God does).
Love God because of Who He is. He established life. Light. Love. Justice. Wisdom. He has declared that all things kind and beautiful are truth and order. Look at His art, you can see how meticulously in love He is with all of life when you view His sunsets, sunrises, trees, flowers, animals, newborn babies. Our bodies are complex systems, universes in themselves, we have been fearfully, carefully, and wonderfully made, Psalm 139:14.
11:14 God will give you the rain. The journey of our deepening faith will lead us to a place of trusting and receiving His promises. The Garden of Eden is a representation of a moment when humanity ripped autonomy out of God's hands. Before that, He was our full-time caretaker. And God is still offering to resume that role but we must make the journey of accepting.
11:15 God promises us that if we become produces of good fruit, planters of seeds of faith, He will do the watering. He will provide for the places of drought in our lives -- He will fill every need, tend every detail.
11:16-17 Remember what a mess the metaphorical Adam and Eve made for themselves! In their decision to oppose God they immediately left His balm and walked right into shame and chaos. It hurt God. It hurts God to see us walk away from Him because He loves us so much.
It angers Him to see us walk away because it makes no sense to walk away. Why walk out of paradise? Live inside of the sphere of faith, the place of God's love and He will send the rain. Outside of His sphere is a desert and many unquenchable thirsts.
11:18-20 Moses gives us six crucial directives, advice on how to keep ourselves firmly planted in God's garden:
God is going to transform ordinary days into moments of extended, infinite, all-consuming bliss.
11:22-23 The aforementioned is only the beginning of God's blessings. When we carefully listen to, follow and grip onto Him, He transforms our world. He plows right through our enemies and unpleasant circumstances, clearing a perfect and protected path. God lifts us up onto our backs and glides us across the quagmire.
11:24-25 God is going to establish a place for you to thrive... and then He is going to place over you and that place an impenetrable sphere of protection.
11:26-28 Moses gives us the upshot: through our lifestyle, we choose a blessing or a curse. How we live is a decision, we either walk the path of blessing or the path of curse. This ultimatum is alive throughout the Bible: we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), treat others how we would like to be treated (Luke 6:31), love as you would like to be loved (Mark 12:31). Live as a blessing, receive blessing. Live as a curse, receive a curse.
To walk away from God is to walk out of the sphere of His love and protection. To walk away from God is to walk away from the rains which provide us with good, healthy life. Outside of God is a desert, a curse.
11:29-32 Moses implores the children of Israel to make the separation between holy and unholy. It is imperative that we make the separation in every aspect of our lives. Moses wants us to draw a figurative line between where we belong and where we do not. We are not meant to cross out of God's sphere of love... but poor, neglectful decision making sometimes leads us to.
Remember God. Always. In every moment. In every decision. Think of Him before you sleep. Greet Him when you awake. Spend your entire day with Him. He cares. He has a sense of humor. He loves you. The details of your life are important to Him, He is overjoyed to share these moments with you. Let Him refine you and bless your life.
But children of God, but following His commandments, walk right into this figurative - spiritual place where God does the hard labor on our behalf. He sends the rains, so to speak. God saves us from the backbreaking work of being humans. Our feeble efforts cannot be compared to His perfection.
Moses references Egypt, the place where the children of Israel were enslaved. Their enslavement in Egypt is symbolic of the ways we are enslaved. If not literally, then we are at least bound to our fear and anxiety, confusion or pessimism. Whatever unhappiness we cannot seem to break free from is our slaver. Moses wants us to know that the land, the peace God gives us is not like the land of our enslavement. It is the opposite.
A child who follows and works the will of God (loving Him and others, producing justice and compassion) does not have to work for their sustenance on earth. They do not have to work for their happiness or their freedom. When God sees that we are busy doing the work of His will, He becomes the provider. He enables us to do His work without having to balance the other "stuff." He takes care of everything.
As children of God, we do not have to toil. He takes care of the heavy stuff.
11:11 Moses describes the land but there is metaphor in this description. Life with God is beautiful. God's home for us has many resting places, John 14:2. Rather than having to seek out our nourishment, our water, God provides for us in His natural, perfect system. He tends the garden.
11:12 God's attentive care for us and the "gardens" we live in is adept and consistent. His eyes are always on it, on us... moment by moment. It's easy to quickly read over this verse but try to reflect on it. Try to be absorbed by it.
God is a busy entity... He's overseeing galaxies and universes, stars, oceans, animals and billions of other humans. He has sent into motion an uncountable number of atoms, the building blocks of all life. Yet He takes the time to know each of us, intricately. He gives us His undivided and unconditionally attention... as only He can. God could have easily create a playground (planet, place) for us and left us there to fend for ourselves. Instead, He is invested in the intricacies of our lives, hearts and minds.
While we go about our days, becoming distracted, frustrated, confused... He is working attentively. Skillfully. He is working all things together for good. He is wielding every atom toward inevitable good.
11:13 Moses' oration is not meant to reprimand but to draw us toward this incredible gift from God. God calls for us to come to Him so that He can wrap us in His incomparable, extraordinary, infinite love.
Love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul... because that is how He loves you. Because through love and service of Him, we are loved and served by Him. (And nobody puts out a spread like God does).
Love God because of Who He is. He established life. Light. Love. Justice. Wisdom. He has declared that all things kind and beautiful are truth and order. Look at His art, you can see how meticulously in love He is with all of life when you view His sunsets, sunrises, trees, flowers, animals, newborn babies. Our bodies are complex systems, universes in themselves, we have been fearfully, carefully, and wonderfully made, Psalm 139:14.
11:14 God will give you the rain. The journey of our deepening faith will lead us to a place of trusting and receiving His promises. The Garden of Eden is a representation of a moment when humanity ripped autonomy out of God's hands. Before that, He was our full-time caretaker. And God is still offering to resume that role but we must make the journey of accepting.
11:15 God promises us that if we become produces of good fruit, planters of seeds of faith, He will do the watering. He will provide for the places of drought in our lives -- He will fill every need, tend every detail.
11:16-17 Remember what a mess the metaphorical Adam and Eve made for themselves! In their decision to oppose God they immediately left His balm and walked right into shame and chaos. It hurt God. It hurts God to see us walk away from Him because He loves us so much.
It angers Him to see us walk away because it makes no sense to walk away. Why walk out of paradise? Live inside of the sphere of faith, the place of God's love and He will send the rain. Outside of His sphere is a desert and many unquenchable thirsts.
11:18-20 Moses gives us six crucial directives, advice on how to keep ourselves firmly planted in God's garden:
- Keep these words in your heart and in your soul: We are meant to transform out faith into a lifestyle. Our faith should be expressed in every aspect and moment of our lives. God's love and will should be the foundation of all that we dream of, hope for, speak, think and do
- Bind them as a sign on your hand: God's way and will should be with us in all of our interactions and dealings -- socially, financially... however we interact with the world and humanity, our hands should be doing the work of God.
- Let these words be like frontlets between your eyes: Our faith should be our eyesight, 2 Corinthians 5:7. God's wisdom should always be allowed to illuminate our perception. Through Him should we contemplate the earth and humanity. His generosity, compassion and justice should be the filter through which we observe the world.
- Teach them to your children: We should raise our children to become familiar with Him. From a young age, we should give them the opportunity of perfect love. As humans we a fallible... therefore as human parents we are fallible. But our spiritual father is perfect, capable of giving love and providing in a way that we never fully could. Keep faith alive through generations.
- Speak of them when you sit, walk, lie down and rise up: Share your life with God. He is attentive to your life and emotions every moment of your lives. Be attentive with Him, in your faith. He is present in every place we need only to acknowledge Him.
- Let them be the foundation and construction of your home and gates: Create a home which is absorbed by His will. Create a home founded in His principles and commandments. A home which is both comfort and shelter, protected and stabilized by Him.
God is going to transform ordinary days into moments of extended, infinite, all-consuming bliss.
11:22-23 The aforementioned is only the beginning of God's blessings. When we carefully listen to, follow and grip onto Him, He transforms our world. He plows right through our enemies and unpleasant circumstances, clearing a perfect and protected path. God lifts us up onto our backs and glides us across the quagmire.
11:24-25 God is going to establish a place for you to thrive... and then He is going to place over you and that place an impenetrable sphere of protection.
11:26-28 Moses gives us the upshot: through our lifestyle, we choose a blessing or a curse. How we live is a decision, we either walk the path of blessing or the path of curse. This ultimatum is alive throughout the Bible: we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), treat others how we would like to be treated (Luke 6:31), love as you would like to be loved (Mark 12:31). Live as a blessing, receive blessing. Live as a curse, receive a curse.
To walk away from God is to walk out of the sphere of His love and protection. To walk away from God is to walk away from the rains which provide us with good, healthy life. Outside of God is a desert, a curse.
11:29-32 Moses implores the children of Israel to make the separation between holy and unholy. It is imperative that we make the separation in every aspect of our lives. Moses wants us to draw a figurative line between where we belong and where we do not. We are not meant to cross out of God's sphere of love... but poor, neglectful decision making sometimes leads us to.
Remember God. Always. In every moment. In every decision. Think of Him before you sleep. Greet Him when you awake. Spend your entire day with Him. He cares. He has a sense of humor. He loves you. The details of your life are important to Him, He is overjoyed to share these moments with you. Let Him refine you and bless your life.
