Deuteronomy Chapter 30
I find it fascinating how the entire Old Testament history of the Israelites can be found in the Pentateuch. Deuteronomy 28 concludes with the exile; Deuteronomy 30 begins with the return from the exile. Though God may drive them out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there God will gather and bring them back.
The criteria for this return from exile is a theme in Deuteronomy familiar to us by now — obedience. If they return to God and obey His voice with all their heart and all their soul, then God will bring them back from exile (Deuteronomy 30:1-2, 10). In other words, complete obedience to God is required.
The message of obedience to God permeates the past thirty chapters of Deuteronomy that we have read, especially the last few chapters. We may lament – it’s so difficult, it’s impossible! Indeed, completely denying ourselves – our own dreams, wishes, and desires, is not easy.
Seventy years after the exile, Zerubabbel led the Israelites to return back to Israel. Yet, from both the prophetic books and the post-exilic history books (i.e. Ezra, Nehemiah), we know that the true return from exile happens a while later, in the time of Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of mankind and was victorious over death. After many years in exile without a king, Jesus became the king to sit on the throne of David forever. Spiritual Israelites have been set free from the bondage (i.e. captivity) of sin and have returned to God.
Indeed, Paul quotes (and even explains) the passage of Deut 30:11-14 in Romans 10:6-8.
But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
We do not need to ascend into heaven, or descend into the abyss. All we need to do is confess with our mouths and have faith in Jesus.
Yes, our journey of faith is not easy. Faith in Jesus entails having complete obedience and submission to Him. This is hard. It takes a lot of sacrifice.
Yet, if we put things into perspective, Jesus has paid it all.
While we were still sinners, He died for us. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. By His stripes, we are healed. Because of the price that Jesus paid, we can have peace and hope in our lives no matter what we face, because we know that a heavenly home awaits us.
And our God is a merciful God. He sees our frame, He knows that we are but dust. His commandments are not burdensome (1 Jn 5:4); His requirements are not unattainable. He has given us the promised Holy Spirit as well, to help us and give us the strength to put to death our own desires and to obey Him.
Jesus has paid it all. Are we willing to give our all and obey Him?
The Book of Deuteronomy tells us that there is a choice to be made each day in our lives: To obey God and be blessed, or to disobey God and be cursed.
We can trust that when we submit and obey to God, He will be pleased with us. We will feel His presence more each day and experience Him working in our lives.
As the hymn echos, trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
