Law – Deuteronomy 10-12

One of the key characteristics of Christians is how they are set apart from the world. This separation from the nations around them is also a vital part of the Israelite faith (Num 23:9). As Paul reminds the church in Corinth,

[…] “Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
” I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty.”(2 Cor 6:17-18)

This direct quote from the Old Testament books of Isaiah, Ezekiel and Samuel links all believers of the LORD almighty, Jews or otherwise, by admonishing them of this common accountability.

Nowadays however, because of the rapid increase in the numbers of atheists, not bowing down to idols or worshipping a pantheon of gods no longer sets us apart like it did in the times of the Israelites. Nevertheless, there are teachings we can glean from the book of Deuteronomy that help us to identify the ‘gods’ people worship today and how we can set ourselves apart from this sort of ‘worship’.

Bible Passage:  Deuteronomy 10-12

God, not trends

About two weeks ago during youth service, my Intermediate and Junior Youths were preparing for a debate on the proposition – ‘I can still be a good Christian even as I follow the trends of the world.’ While it was a good sign that upon seeing the proposition, the general consensus was that it wasn’t possible, I found it necessary to ask them not to stop there but to reflect further.

If we really truly feel that by following the trends of the world, we cannot be good Christians, why is it that in our dressing, our speech, our forms of entertainment, our values etc. we are still so much like the people of the world?

Do we not realise that many of these trends draw us further away from God and nearer to the world? Also, the time and energy spent keeping up with these mercurial trends would be better spent studying the Word of God and doing His work.

This is not to say that all trends of the world are bad. Like some of the students pointed out, there has been a trend of doing charitable deeds recently. Another trend is that of focusing more on family. These are good.

As Christians though, we do these good things not because they are trendy but in order to obey the Word of God. Whatever God says stands forever and never changes. Even He himself does not change what He says.

And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing […](Deut 10:4)

Thus, let us obey these timeless commandments of God for our own good (Deut 10:13) for God tells us

You shall not at all do as we are doing here today-every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes (Deut 12:8)

God, not technology or skills

Another ‘god’ of man today is technology and ability. With the invention of the computer and the rise of meritocracy, this is something unavoidable. Nonetheless, God had already compared Egypt, the pinnacle of civilisation at that time with the land where His faithful believers abide.

[…]the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. (Deut 11:10-12)

For this reason, as we make use of the technology available to us as well as employ our talents to the fullest, let us remember the source of all things. If we keep this in mind, we will remember that it is God who is ultimately in control of everything and learn to trust in Him for the eyes of the LORD are always on our ‘land’.

With this mentality, while we do our part to ‘tend the land’, we will not be like the people of the world who seek the best in technology, in abilities and in everything just to achieve their short-term purposes in life but instead use all we have to please God.

God, not self

The ultimate ‘god’ of man today is, undeniably, man himself.

Man is the only reasoning, talking creature thus he must be the greatest. Yet, he forgets that the supreme creature is still a creature and believes that there is no greater than he. From this belief stems the rise of individualism, atheism, and narcissism. Shows like the ‘<insert country> Idol’ and ‘<insert country> Got Talent’ just proves this.

The belief that one can control one’s destiny also shows how man feels he is the ultimate boss. Here’s what I found when I Googled ‘control your own destiny’.

Everyone’s just so eager to assure others that they can control their own destiny and teach them how to do so. Only one site stated that we do not control our own destinies and that was a Christian site.

Besides believing that they can control their own destinies, this self-apotheosis also causes men to have a ‘me first, me best, me everything’ mentality.

Faced with this rampant individualism, God tells His believers to remember and worship Him as God as well as care for those around us.

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. (Deut 10:17-20)

Christians should have a ‘God first, then others and me last’ attitude in contrast to the values of the world today. We are but dust, we are but earthen vessels, we are but worthless servants. God, the Creator, is our praise, not us, the created.

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Today, when we leave our homes and step into the world, are we resolved to be different from the people around us and be set apart to the LORD?