Jo’s Place

The Song of Moses Part-2 “For the people of Israel, belong to the Lord; Jacob is His special possession.  He found them in a desert land,  in an empty, howling wasteland.  He surrounded them and watched over them; He guarded them, as He would guard His own eyes.  Like an eagle, that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young,  so He spread His wings to take them up …and carried them safely on His pinions.  The Lord, alone, guided them;  they followed no foreign gods.  He let them ride over the highlands …and He let them feast, on the crops of the fields.  He nourished them, with honey from the rock and olive oil from the stony ground.  He fed them yogurt, from the herd  …and milk from the flock, …together with the fat of lambs.  He gave them choice rams, from Bashan, and goats, …together with the choicest wheat.  You drank the finest wine,  made from the juice of grapes.  “But, Israel soon became fat and unruly;...

​ The Song of Moses So Moses recited this entire song publicly to the assembly of Israel:  “Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!  Here, O earth, the words that I say!  Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew.  Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.  I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God!  He is the Rock; His deeds are perfect.  Everything He does is just and fair.  He is a faithful God, who does no wrong; how just and upright He is!  “But they have acted corruptly toward Him; when they act so perversely, are they really His children?  They are a deceitful and twisted generation.  Is this the way you repay the Lord,  you foolish and senseless people?  Isn’t He your Father who created you?  Has He not made you and established you?  Remember the days of long ago;  think about the generations past.  Ask your fath...

​ The Lord’s Instructions to Moses about Israel’s Disobedience (Continued) That very day, Moses wrote down the words of the song ( that the Lord dictated to him ) …and he taught it to the Israelites.  Then, the Lord commissioned Joshua son of Nun with these words:  “Be strong and courageous, for you must bring the people of Israel, into the land that I swore to give them.  I will be with you.”  After Moses had finished writing this entire body of instruction, in a book, …he gave this command to the Levites, who carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant:  “Take this Book of Instruction and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant, of the Lord your God, so it may remain there, as a witness against the people of Israel.  For I know how rebellious and stubborn Israel is.  Even now, while I am still alive …and I am here with you, …you have rebelled against the Lord.  How much more rebellious will you be after my death!  “Now, summon all the elders and...

​ The Lord Predicts Israel’s Disobedience The Lord said to Moses,  “The time has come for you to die.  Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tabernacle, so that I may commission him there.”  So, Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tabernacle.  And the Lord appeared to them, in a pillar of cloud, that stood at the entrance to the sacred tent.  The Lord said to Moses,  “You are about to die and join your ancestors.  After you are gone, these people will begin to worship foreign gods, the gods of the land where they are going.  They will abandon Me …and break My covenant …the covenant that I have made with them.  Then, My anger will blaze forth against them.  I will abandon them, hiding My face from them, …and they will be devoured.  Terrible trouble will come down on them, …and on that day, they will say,  ‘These disasters have come down on us, because God is no longer among us!’  At that time, I will h...

​ The Book of Instructions   Moses wrote the entire body of instruction  (from the Lord),  in a book, and gave it to the priests, who carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, …and to the elders of Israel.  Then, Moses gave them this command:  “At the end of every seventh year, the Year of Release, during the Festival of Shelters, you must read this Book of Instruction, to all the people of Israel, when they assemble before the Lord your God, at the place He chooses.  Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction …and learn to fear the Lord your God …and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions.  Do this, so that your children, who have not known these instructions, will hear them …and will learn to fear the Lord your God.  Do this as long as you live, in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.”  Deuteronomy 31:9–13 (NLT) Praise be to God!

​ Joshua Becomes Israel’s Leader When Moses had finished giving the instructions ( from the Lord) , to all the people of Israel, he said,  “I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you.  The Lord has told me,  ‘You will not cross the Jordan River.’  But the Lord, your God, Himself will cross over ahead of you.  He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land.  Joshua will lead you across the river, just as the Lord promised.  “The Lord will destroy the nations, that are living in the land, just as He destroyed Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites.  The Lord will hand over, to you, the people who live there, and you must deal with them, as I have commanded you.  So, be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid …and do not panic before them.  For the Lord, your God, will personally go ahead of you.  He will neither fail you …nor abandon you.”  Then, Moses called for Joshu...

​ The Choice of Life or Death “This command, which I am giving to you today, is not too difficult for you, …and it is not beyond your reach.  It is not kept in heaven, …so distant that you must ask,  ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down, so that we can hear it and obey?’  It is not kept beyond the sea, …so far away that you must ask,  ‘Who will cross the sea, to bring it to us, so we can hear it and obey?’  No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart, so that you can obey it.  “Now listen!  Today, I am giving you a choice between life and death, …between prosperity and disaster.  For I command you, this day, to love the Lord your God …and to keep His commands, His decrees, and His regulations, by walking in His ways.  If you do this, you will live and multiply, …and the Lord, your God, will bless you …and the land, that you are about to enter and occupy.  “But, if your heart turns away and you refus...