The backdrop for understanding the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4/Luke 4 is Israel’s time in the wilderness. The parallels aren’t difficult to see. I’ve adapted the following from Liefeld and Pao (Luke, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary). Israel was God’s son (Exodus 4:22-23); Jesus was proclaimed God’s Son at His baptism (Luke 3:21-22). God ledContinue reading “Words for the Wilderness”
Category Archives: Deuteronomy
Living in the Land of Promise
“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, The Lord is one,” (Deuteronomy 6:4). It’s hard to overstate the importance of this text for Israel or the follower of Jesus. For Israel, these words were spoken to them as they were on the brink of f-i-n-a-l-l-y entering the land of Canaan. The previous generation of IsraelitesContinue reading “Living in the Land of Promise”
Someone We Can Relate To
Moses was a great servant of God, but passion for God doesn’t mean immunity from struggles whether we’re talking about Moses, Noah, Esther, David, or anyone else. And there’s no hesitancy on the part of biblical writers to call out mistakes, flaws, or weaknesses in the people they write about and that’s one reason weContinue reading “Someone We Can Relate To”
Stepping into the Story
I suppose as long as there have been summer vacations there have been children who had to write about what they did on them. And as long as there have been vacations of any kind, there have been people like us who took way too many pictures. We can post those pictures, but it’s muchContinue reading “Stepping into the Story”
Background on Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is the final book written by Moses and a fitting conclusion to the Pentateuch (the first five books of Scripture). Genesis is the book of beginnings. Exodus advances the story from Egypt to the wilderness and ends with the construction of the tabernacle. Leviticus furnishes Israel with laws concerning the tabernacle and sacrificial system.Continue reading “Background on Deuteronomy”
More, More, More
Greed is the state of wanting more than you need. It’s never a good look. It’s the attitude that says, “More, more, more!” when there is no legitimate purpose or reason for it. People can be greedy because of status. They buy into the lie that you are what you own. They are under theContinue reading “More, More, More”
Remembering our Song
Deuteronomy 11 begins and ends with a robust call to love the Lord and obey His commands (v. 1, 32)—with v. 13 functioning as the fullest expression of this. To those who have read the first ten chapters this comes as no surprise. Loving God and keeping His commands forms the “chorus” for the songContinue reading “Remembering our Song”
Finishing Strong
Moses’ mission was accomplished. Joshua had been commissioned as his successor (Deuteronomy 31:14,23). Israel was on the brink of entering the land of Canaan. They had renewed their promise to live under the covenant first given to the nation at Sinai (29:9-14). The next chapter of their story will be told in the book ofContinue reading “Finishing Strong”
Be Strong and Courageous!
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:7) These are words from Moses to Israel just prior to his death on Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34). The phrase “be strong and courageous” occurs two more times in the chapter (v. 7,Continue reading “Be Strong and Courageous!”
Curses
Mark Twain famously noted that it wasn’t the parts of the Bible he didn’t understand that brought him grief—it was the parts he did understand! I think that’s the case with the section of Scripture in Deuteronomy 28-30. There’s not much that’s vague, ambiguous, or cryptic—it’s all very straightforward: Follow God and be blessed; forsakeContinue reading “Curses”
