This morning with Emmaus Road Church along the river in Idaho Falls . . .

Today, Pastor Beau taught from the text, Deuteronomy 30:11-20.

His talking points:

1. God is Near, Through His Word
2. Life and Good
3. Death and “Evil”
4. Choose Life

Pastor Beau made a case for the fact that one of the greatest benefits for the people of God is the nearness of God.  One of the saddest aspects about our modern society is that people don’t know who is God, where is God, and how to appease God. Beau read to us a sad prayer uttered back in the 7th century B.C. about a worshiper who had no clue.  In contemporary thought, Beau illustrated the same heartache by a Wikipedia description of the movie, Eat, Pray, Love.  Many have no idea how to come near God.  But the reality is that word of God’s gospel is so near to us, starting with what Moses says here in Deuteronomy.  Beau recommended readings from Daniel Block’s book, The Gospel According to Moses.

To follow God, it is not a prosperity gospel, but nonetheless there is great blessing – great hope, peace, and joy.  To not obey God is to invite death and “evil”.  Beau made it clear that God is not the author of moral evil.  If He brings evil, it is in the sense of destruction or calamity.

Moses is at the conclusion of his ministry.  The next generation is constantly on his mind.  He beseeches the people to choose life by holding fast to God.  Notice that is covenantal, marriage language.  God is faithful and trustworthy.  He keeps His promises.  So how are we doing daily?  Let us make regular, daily, habitual choices in our time, entertainment, friendships, etc. that follow God.

Beau told us that he cannot give to us any better words than the biblical exhortation of Moses:  “Choose Life!”

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I am thinking . . . there is the urgent expectation of decision, which results in fundamentally altering the course direction of our lives.  The children of Israel have a choice, either to follow the gods of their own making and their surroundings or to follow YHWH.

Some might think this to be a difficult proposition.  But Moses persuades us that this decision to love and obey the LORD is fully within the range of human possibility and actuality.  We can do this, truly through the full provision of gospel grace.  And not only can we do this, we must do this, because all future prosperity or peril hinges on our obedience to the commandments of God.

YHWH is our very life and length of days.

My questions related to today’s text in Deuteronomy 30:11-20:

Observation

1. What are the two things that Moses notes about God’s commandment in verse 11?
2. How close is God’s word to you?
3. What does Moses set before the people in verse 15?
4. In verse 16, obedience to God is revealed in what three ways?
5. What are two other synonyms for God’s commandments (v. 16)?
6. If Israel does not heed Moses, what will happen?
7. This passage is not about choosing between the “better” and the “best”but about what?

Interpretation

1. How is anyone really able to please and obey the LORD?  What enables a person to obey?
2. Is God’s word easily understood by everyone?
3. What are the points of access to God?
4. What is the difference between God’s transcendence and His immanence?
5. Do you need an earthly mediator to be the conduit of God’s word to you?
6. How does the apostle Paul quote and interpret Deuteronomy 30:14 in Romans 10:8?
7. How does your personal obedience affect your family lineage?
8. What is the ultimate source of life?  death?

Application

1. Have you ever said that what God asks of you is too hard for you?
2. Is there any commandment from God that is impossible to obey?
3. Do you think that God’s will is unclear?  Are you having a hard time figuring out what God wants you to do with your future?
4. Does God speak in secret? (Isaiah 45:19)
5. Do you feel that God is inaccessible to you?  Do you feel that others in town might have a secretive and better passage to God than you?
6. Why do you feel that God is shutting you out?
7. What are major spiritual decisions facing you today?
8. Do you consider God’s rules as just decrees for you and your community?
9. If you have made bad choices in your life, do you think it is too late for you to have a good life?