When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart,
wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations,
and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul,
according to everything I have commanded you today,
then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you
and gather you again from all the nations where I scattered you.
Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens,
from there the Lord your God will gather and bring you back.
He will bring you to the land that belongs to your fathers and you will take possession of it.
He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.
The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants
so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul and live.
The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you.
You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today.
Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands
and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land.
The Lord will again delight in you and will make you prosperous just as he delights in your fathers.
If you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this book of the law
and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
It is not up in heaven so that you have to ask,
Who will ascend into heaven to get it and obey it to us so that we may obey it?
Nor is it beyond the sea so that you have to ask,
Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it?
No, the Lord is very near to you. It is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it.
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction,
for I command you today to love the Lord your God,
to walk in his ways and to keep his commands, decrees and laws.
Then you will live and increase,
and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient,
if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,
I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.
You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you,
that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life so that you and your children may live,
and that you may love the Lord your God,
listen to his voice and hold fast to him,
for the Lord is your life,
and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Thank you very much.
Michael Grant is going to come up and preach for those who do not know Michael.
Amongst other things, he is also Johnny's father.
But Michael is formerly a pastor down in Waterford,
and he has worked in a missionary society.
ECM, is it?
Yeah.
Yep.
And he is currently, Middleton Church, you are currently attending.
So Michael, thank you very much for coming.
We always enjoy you coming.
I am just going to pray for Michael as he does bring his,
God's word, not his word.
Father, we do thank you for Michael.
We thank you for the many years of service to your people,
his desire to bring your word to so many people.
We thank you for the abilities you have given him in looking at your word,
and understanding it,
and just to be able to communicate it to other people.
Thank you for being so willing to come here this Sunday.
And I pray that as we hear your word,
that indeed we would be willing to be challenged,
to be encouraged,
or whatever you would have, Lord,
that we would be open to it this very day.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Thank you, Michael.
Well, it's nice to be back with you once again,
and to be able to bring to you God's word.
When I looked at these chapters,
I thought there's an awful lot in them.
How do you reduce it to one sermon?
And I will hear from Jonathan if I go over my time,
no doubt, when he returns,
as he checks up on me.
But I do remember these particular chapters,
but there's one particular verse that is etched in my mind.
Many years ago,
a man was speaking,
and I was listening to his sermon,
and he said that there's a verse here that's very helpful.
If you're asked a question,
and you don't know the answer to it,
and there are certain questions
that we simply do not know the answer,
God hasn't revealed it to us.
Like the origin of sin.
How does the responsibility of man and God's sovereignty
work together?
These are questions that the Bible doesn't give us answers to.
And this young man had been asked the question,
a particular question,
and he didn't know the answer to it,
and he didn't think there was an answer to it.
And he said,
instead of saying,
the answer is found in Deuteronomy 29, 29,
which he intended to say,
he says you'll find the answer
in Deuteronomy 28,
verse 28,
which says,
the Lord will afflict you with madness,
blindness,
and confusion of mind.
Well, I trust that we won't do that this morning,
but rather that those things
that have been revealed to us,
we will be able to bring before you.
It's a tremendous book,
the book of Deuteronomy,
and these two chapters are very precious.
They look back, of course,
to the covenant that was made with Abraham,
that God would bless him,
that God would give him the land,
that God would give him a seed,
and that in the seed of Abraham,
all the nations of the world would be blessed.
And the very fact that we're here this morning
is an indication of that blessing.
We are here because God always keeps his promise.
And we also can say that the promise,
these chapters look forward
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I was talking to Paul in the week,
and I said,
how did things go in Karageline?
And he said,
well, I think they went very, very well.
And he said,
I was able to say something about the law being
the one that brings us to Christ,
that leads us to Christ.
And so that is true.
So these chapters both look back,
they look forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
These words, as you probably heard already,
were uttered just as the Israelites
were on the edge of the land of Canaan.
Moses would soon be taken from them,
but they would go into the land,
and God calls them to enter into a covenant with him.
The key verse I would suggest in these verses,
in these chapters,
is found in Deuteronomy chapter 30,
and verses 19 to 20.
They really sum up what is being said.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you,
that I have set before you life and death,
blessings and curses.
Now choose life,
so that you and your children may live,
and that you may love the Lord your God,
listen to his voice,
and hold fast to him.
For the Lord is your life,
and he will give you many years in the land
he swore to give to your fathers,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Well, I've tried to bring these two chapters
under five headings.
Couldn't reduce it any more than that,
but let's look at them together.
And I have five hours,
which I hope will fix these chapters in your mind.
First of all,
Moses reminds them of God's power.
chapter 29 and verses 1 through to 8.
Here's Moses.
He's urging the people to choose life,
that life that comes with a relationship
with the living God.
And he's going to call them to obedience,
but before he does that,
he gives them a brief history.
He takes them back 40 years
to the time when they were slaves in Egypt.
And in this brief overview,
he speaks to them of the power
and the might of an almighty God.
He speaks about events in Egypt,
verses 2 and 3.
He knows that there are people there,
though many have died in the wilderness.
There were among the people
eyewitnesses of these things.
But everyone is included.
Nobody was ignorant of what had happened
in the land of Egypt.
They knew about Aaron's rod
that had been turned into a snake.
They had heard of the river
that was turned into blood.
They'd heard of the one plague
that followed another,
of frogs,
of gnats,
of flies,
of livestock
being taken from the Egyptian,
of boils breaking out
upon the Egyptian,
of hail,
and locusts,
and darkness.
And then they'd heard
of that final plague
when God had sent
his avenging angel
and the angel had come
into the Egyptian homes
and the firstborn had died.
But how the Israelites
had been kept
and watched over
as the blood
had been put
upon the doorposts.
The angel of death
passed over their houses.
They were protected.
They were watched over.
And Moses rehearses
these things.
He shows that the Lord's hand
was stretched out in power.
And even the Egyptians
had to admit
that they were powerless
before this great God.
Remember that some
of their magicians
had been able to mimic
some of the plagues.
But as the plagues proceed,
they can only say,
this is nothing else
but the finger of God.
So he reminds the people
of God's power
in the land of Egypt.
Moses reminds them
of the events
that happened
in the wilderness,
verses 5 and 6.
Forty years
they had been wandering,
but their clothes
hadn't worn out.
Their sandals
didn't need to be taken
to any cobbler
to be repaired.
They were watched over.
They didn't sow corn.
They didn't plant vineyards.
But they didn't go hungry,
for the Lord provided.
Have you ever thought
of the fact
and stopped to consider
the amount of manna
that was needed
to provide
for over a million people?
And day after day
it was provided
by an almighty God.
I did this,
says God,
that you might know
that I am the Lord,
your God.
So God reminds them,
Moses reminds them
of God's power
through the events
in Egypt,
through the events
in the wilderness.
And he reminds them
of events
that were comparatively
recent.
He takes them back
and tells them
how Zion and Og,
how they were defeated,
how the God of Israel
showed himself
to be more powerful
than the nations.
Events that were recent,
how enemies were defeated
as they stood
on the edge of the land,
and how the land
of these people
had been given
to the various tribes.
God had watched
over them.
God had been
with them.
And it is this God
who calls them
into a covenant
relationship.
But right in the middle
of these verses,
we have Moses
saying to them
that they hadn't
always understood.
Verse 4,
But to this day
the Lord has not
given you a mind
that understands
our eyes at sea
or ears at hear.
They didn't always
give God the glory.
But he wants them now
to be convinced
that this is the God
they are to serve.
This is the God
in whom they will
find life.
This is the God
who will be with them
as they enter
into the land
of promise.
You know,
it is not unusual
for God to argue
in these ways.
To show us
how good
and gracious
he is
in order
that we might be
ready to follow him
wherever he might lead.
We have every incentive
to follow.
If you look at
the gospel account
that we have
in John,
for example,
you have the rehearsal
of all that God
has done
through his son,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
You have the miracles
recorded
of the water
being turned
into wine
and the various
other things
that happened
during the ministry
of the Lord Jesus.
And they are referred
to in John's gospel
as signs.
Why are they there
for us?
That we might
put our trust
in the Lord
Jesus Christ.
John 20
and verse 30
says,
Jesus did many
other miraculous signs
in the presence
of his disciples
which are not
written in this book.
But these
are written
that you may
believe that
Jesus is the Christ
and that by
believing
you may have
life
through his
name.
So a reminder
of God's power
should cause us
to want
to follow
the Lord
our God.
The rehearsal
of all that
Christ came
to say
and to do
should be
an incentive
for all of us
to follow
in his footsteps,
to walk
in the way
that he
would have us
walk.
But we move on.
Not that
it's just
a reminder
of God's power.
we're given
reasons why
men should
enter into
this covenant
in verses
9 to 15.
We know
obviously
that they
were to glorify
God and that's
a great incentive
to follow
him
and to enter
into covenant
with him.
But on the
human level
there's surely
this reason
that they
might be
confirmed
as the
Lord's
people.
Look at
verses 12
and 13.
You are
standing here
in order
to enter
into a
covenant
with the
Lord your
God.
A covenant
the Lord
is making
with you
this day
and sealing
with an
oath
to confirm
you this
day as
his people
that he
may be
your God
as he
promised
you
and as
he swore
to your
fathers
Abraham
Isaac
and Jacob.
Moses
takes them
back
to a
promise
that was
made
to
Abraham
that was
confirmed
to Isaac
and Jacob.
What was
that promise?
Well he
would make
of them
a great
nation
that he
would give
them a
land to
live in
and that
all the
peoples of
the earth
will be
blessed
through
their seed.
Remember
how Abraham
was taken
out and
shown the
stars in
the skies
and your
offspring
he said
will be
just like
this.
And as I
say these
promises were
repeated
again and
again.
God
took
Abraham
he made
him his
very own
he says
you are
my
friend
and then
God takes
from the
seed of
Abraham
this nation
of Israel
and out
of all
nations
says
Exodus
19
and verse
5
out of
all nations
you will
be my
treasured
possession
though the
whole earth
is mine
you will
be for me
a kingdom
of priests
and a
holy nation
enter into
covenant
love me
with all
your heart
with all
your soul
and with
all your
strength
I'm
going to
make you
my
people
of course
he had
redeemed
them
hadn't
he
out
of the
land
of
Egypt
but
now
he
wants
to
confirm
that
with
them
notice
how
God
condescends
to
them
he
pleads
with
them
I
have
set
before
you
life
and
death
blessings
and
curses
now
choose
life
that
you
might
be
confirmed
that
you
are
my
people
that
you
are
the
seed
of
Abraham
by
faith
that
you
are
the
seed
of
Abraham
because
I
have
adopted
you
as
my
very
own
what
an
incentive
to
follow
the
Lord
to
know
that
we
are
part
of
his
family
that
he
has
entered
into
covenant
with
us
that
we
are
his
not
just
for
time
but
for
eternity
but
as
we
look
at
this
reason
to
enter
into
covenant
we
notice
that
it
is
presented
to
all
of
the
people
they
were
present
together
verse
10
carefully
follow
the
terms
of
this
covenant
so
that
you
may
prosper
in
everything
you
do
all
of
you
are
standing
today
in
the
presence
of
the
Lord
your
God
your
leaders
and
chief
men
your
elders
and
officials
and
all
the
other
men
of
Israel
together
with
your
children
and
your
wives
and
the
aliens
living
in
your
camps
who
chop
your
wood
and
carry
your
water
you
are
standing
here
in
order
the
Lord
your
God
so
all
of
the
people
are
given
this
reason
that
they
might
become
the
Lord's
people
they
were
in
the
presence
of
the
Lord
and
all
were
called
to
enter
into
this
covenant
this
covenant
that
would
mean
life
this
covenant
that
meant
a
living
relationship
with
a
living
God
it
had
on
that
day
universal
appeal
not
just
to
Israelites
but
also
to
those
who
had
become
part
of
the
camp
of
Israel
if
you
like
aliens
living
among
them
slaves
perhaps
they
were
but
they
also
could
know
this
life
by
having
a
relationship
with
the
living
God
doesn't
this
remind
you
of
the
wonder
of
the
gospel
the
gospel
invitation
is
for
all
men
everywhere
come
said
Jesus
unto
me
all
you
that
labor
and
are
heavy
laden
all
you
who
are
weary
and
burdened
and
I
will
give
you
rest
take
my
yoke
upon
you
and
learn
from
me
and
you
will
find
rest
for
your
souls
and
not
only
does
this
invitation
this
reason
to
enter
into
the
covenant
that
we
might
be
the
Lord's
people
it
also
look
forward
to
our
day
and
generation
because
the
invitation
is
for
those
who
are
not
here
today
as
we
see
in
verse
15
for
future
generations
who
will
be
called
to
enter
into
covenant
with
the
living
God
here's
Peter
on the
day of
Pentecost
as he
preaches
repent
and be
baptized
for the
forgiveness
of your
sins
the promises
for you
and for
your
children
and for
all who
are far
off
for all
whom the
Lord
our God
will
call
that
we
might
know
him
the
living
God
through
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
that
our
sins
might
be
dealt
with
that
we
might
enter
into
this
relationship
with
him
who
loved
us
and
gave
himself
for
us
but
as
we
proceed
we
notice
there
are
certain
realities
that
surround
the
covenant
that
was
being
made
all
those
years
ago
and
we
see
those
realities
in
chapter
29
and
verses
16
to
29
Moses
is
addressing
real
people
who
live
in
a
real
world
they're
not
living
in
glass
houses
they
were
people
that
were
met
with
real
temptations
they
were
people
who
had
sinful
hearts
people
that
had
failed
in
the
past
and
people
that
would
fail
again
in
the
future
and
Moses
addresses
those
realities
enter
into
covenant
choose
life
but
there
will
be
difficulties
and
you
will
fail
and
you
will
fail
miserably
that's
what
he
seems
to
be
saying
in
these
verses
he
speaks
about
the
reality
of
idolatry
in
verses
16
to
18
remember
the
people
had
lived
in
Egypt
had
a
multiplicity
of
gods
all
around
them
were
heathen
temples
and
idols
and
as
they
made
their
way
towards
the
promised
land
after
being
delivered
by the
almighty
hand
of
god
they
met
the
gods
of
other
nations
as
well
this
was
a
reality
verse
17
speaks
of
detestable
images
and
idols
of
wood
and
stone
of
silver
and
gold
so
surrounded
by
idols
in
Egypt
idols
on
every
hand
as
they
traveled
so
they
would
enter
into
the
land
of
Canaan
the
promised
land
would
idolatry
be
suddenly
banished
no
they
would
meet
with
the
idols
and
they
would
have
to
deal
with
the
idolatry
of
the
new
land
but
God
calls
them
into
covenant
choose
life
he
says
obey
the
terms
of
the
covenant
what
does
the
covenant
say
you
shall
have
no
other
gods
before
me
you
shall
not
make
an
idol
you
shall
not
bow
down
to
them
or
worship
them
Moses
says
of
these
idols
they're
like
bitter
poison
but
you'll
meet
them
but
choose
life
and
turn
from
them
choose
life
says
Moses
but
you
do
so
against
the
backdrop
of
this
persistent
temptation
into
idolatry
and
God
calls
you
and
I
doesn't
he
to
follow
him
in a
world
that
is
full
of
idolatry
we
have
it
around
us
here
every
day
what
are
the
things
that
hold
people
today
what
are
the
things
that
we
hear
on
the
news
day
by
day
what
are
the
important
things
the
economy
why
are
people
so
interested
in
the
economy
well
because
it's
in a
bad
way
you
might
say
but
I'll
tell you
another
reason
it's
because
of
the
secularization
of
society
it's
because
where
men's
hearts
are
the
idolatry
of
a
secular
society
of
saying
that
money
is
everything
and
the
love
of
money
is
the
root
of
all
evil
so
we
are
told
and
so
we
believe
Mark
10
records
the
story
of
a
rich
young
man
this
man
really
wanted
eternal
life
and
Jesus
says
to
him
obey
the
commandments
well
I've
kept
them
he
says
but
Jesus
knows
his
heart
and
he
looks
deep
down
into
that
man's
heart
and
he
sees
an
idol
there
go
he
says
sell
everything
you
have
and
give
to
the
poor
and
you
will
have
treasure
in
heaven
then
come
follow
me
at
this
the
man's
face
fell
he
went
away
sad
because
he
had
great
wealth
you
and I
are called
to
follow
our
God
we're
called
to be
obedient
but
sad
to say
we give
in
again
and again
to
idolatry
how we
need
a
savior
who
will
deliver
us
how we
need
the law
being
written
into
our
very
hearts
so
that
we
will
be
able
to
say
with
the
hymn
writer
the
dearest
idol
I
have
known
whatever
that
idol
be
help
me
to
tear
it
from
the
throne
and
worship
only
thee
and
if
you
and
I
claim
to
be
followers
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
we
cannot
hold
on
to
our
idols
as
well
we
cannot
serve
two
masters
choose
life
says
the
Lord
but
the
idols
must
go
and
as
he
brings
before
them
the
realities
that
surround
this
covenant
they're
called
to
make
he
speaks
about
the
reality
of
judgment
if
they
do
not
follow
the
Lord
and
they
do
not
put
their
idols
from
them
he
speaks
about
an
individual
in
verses
9
to
21
here
is
a
man
who
thinks
and
wants
to
do
his
own
thing
this
man
obviously
predates
Frank
Sinatra
but
he
would
agree
with
him
and
I
won't
attempt
to
sing
it
but
remember
Frank
Sinatra
I
did
it
my
way
and
this
man
is
saying
something
like
this
well
I
want
to
follow
God
and
I
keep
my
fingers
crossed
as it
were
in order
to
follow
him
he
invokes
a
blessing
on
himself
and
therefore
thinks
I
will
be
safe
but
he's
still
doing
things
his
way
and
he's
still
holding
on
to
his
idols
but
we're
reminded
in
these
verses
that
God
doesn't
bypass
sin
and we
read
his
wrath
and
zeal
will
burn
against
that
man
all
the
curses
that are
written
will
come
against
that
man
and
his
name
will
be
removed
not
a true
child
of
God
not
one
who
was
truly
walking
with
the
Lord
as
he
ought
to
be
he's
like
the
one
who
says
Lord
but
his
heart
is
far
from
the
Lord
choose
life
yes
we
are
all
of
us
called
to
choose
life
but
if
we
choose
life
idols
must
go
we
are
all
called
to
take
up
our
cross
and
follow
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
reality
of
judgment
that
will
come
upon
the
individual
who
holds
on
to
idols
do
you
have
an
idol
this
morning
what
are
you
holding
on
to
what
is
first
in
your
life
what
is
first
in
my
life
but
you
see
what
happens
to
an
individual
can
happen
to
a
nation
and
in
verses
22
to
29
again
we're
reminded
of
the
realities
you
see
failure
to
obey
always
has
implications
and
Moses
moves
from
the
individual
to
the
people
verse
25
they
abandoned
the
covenant
of
the
Lord
and
Moses
sees
a
future
generation
returning
to the
land
of
promise
he
sees
people
looking
on
at
the
devastation
that
has
come
upon
the
land
he
sees
foreigners
observing
the
scene
and
the
picture
is
not
pretty
in
verse
22
he
speaks
about
calamities
and
diseases
in
verse
23
the
burning
waste
of
salt
and
sulfur
of
nothing
sprouting
no
vegetation
verse
23
like
Sodom
and
Gomorrah
this
land
a land
flowing
with
milk
and
honey
became
a land
like
Sodom
and
Gomorrah
because
the
people
held
on
to
their
idols
all
of
these
things
happened
because
the
curses
written
were
fulfilled
God
keeps
his
word
follow
him
walk
in
obedience
love
the
Lord
your
God
and
there
will
be
blessings
but
if
you
do
not
judgment
will
come
when
the
people
saw
what
had
happened
perhaps
they
would
return
as we
shall
see
in a
moment
but
the
Lord
says
to
them
in
verse
15
of
chapter
30
see
I
set
before
you
today
life
and
prosperity
death
and
destruction
therefore
choose
life
so
you
and
I
as
we
look
around
us
what
do
we
see
we
see
the
idolatry
we
see
a
country
a
people
you
and
I
we
see
it
with
our
own
eyes
why
have
these
things
happened
to
us
is
it
because
as a
nation
we
have
forgotten
God
is
it
because
we
have
turned
far
away
from
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
are
we
not
told
in
Proverbs
13
and
verse
34
that
righteousness
exalts
the
nation
but
sin
is a
disgrace
to
any
people
have
any
of us
today
turned
away
from
the
promises
that
we
made
all
those
years
ago
to
be
followers
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
oh
then
we
saw
our
failures
then
we
saw
our
sins
then
we
saw
our
degradation
and
we
turned
in
repentance
and
faith
to
the
only
Savior
but
have
we
since
abandoned
him
then
today
is
the
day
to
come
back
to
him
realities
of
living
in
a
fallen
world
and
again
and
again
we're
reminded
that
we
are
in
a
fallen
world
so
Moses
reminds
them
of
the
greatness
of
God
he
gives
them
a
reason
for
following
the
Lord
that
they
might
be
the
Lord's
people
but
he
reminds
them
too
of
the
reality
of
failure
of
sin
and
the
law
continually
reminds
us
of
our
failure
the
Lord
continually
reminds
us
that
there is
only
one
thing
that
we
can
do
is
turn
in
our
sin
to
the
only
saviour
and
that
leads
us
on
to
the
fourth
point
and
that
is
remarkable
grace
and
we
have
it
in
chapter
30
verses
1
to
10
again
we've
reminded
of
God's
power
we've
seen
a
good
reason
for
entering
into
covenant
that
we
might
be
God's
people
we've
seen
the
reality
of
sin
and
judgment
that
comes
upon
individuals
and
nations
because
of
sin
is
there
any
hope
we might
ask
ourselves
well
yes
there
is
because
we
see
remarkable
grace
we see
amazing
grace
in these
verses
Moses
in these
verses
foresees
a
nation
that
has
been
scattered
because
of
their
sin
he
sees
them
captive
in
foreign
lands
but
he
also
sees
them
recognizing
their
sin
and
turning
to
the
Lord
and
he
sees
a
number
of
wonderful
things
happening
because
they
turn
to
the
Lord
in
their
failure
and
in
their
degradation
and
what
are
those
wonderful
things
that
happen
well
he
will
have
compassion
look at
verse 3
of chapter
30
then
the
Lord
your
God
will
restore
your
fortunes
and
have
compassion
on you
what
is
compassion
well
it's
the
Lord's
heart
going
out
to
them
we
see
it
of
course
in
the
person
of
the
Lord
Jesus
supremely
he
saw
the
people
as
sheep
without
a
shepherd
and
he
had
compassion
he
felt
for
them
he
identified
with
them
he
came
alongside
them
they
deserved
the
judgment
but
God
blessed
them
and
there
was
even
grace
in
the
judgment
what
do
I
mean
by
that
how
can
there
be
grace
in
judgment
well
there's
grace
in
judgment
because
grace
is
such
that
God
uses
the
judgment
that
people
might
turn
to
him
that's
what
the
Lord
does
it
shows
us
our
faults
and
our
failures
and
when
the
curses
of
failure
come
upon
us
we
say
what
hope
is
there
for
us
and
we
turn
to
the
Lord
and
as
happened
to
Israel
the
Lord
gathered
them
as we
read
in
verse
4
he
puts
his
arms
around
these
rebellious
people
and
calls
them
his
own
he
never
forgets
his
covenant
and
his
covenant
is
always
one
of
grace
underlines
all
that
he
does
so
he
has
compassion
on
them
and
we're
told
he
brings
them
back
to
the
land
verse
5
he
will
bring
you
back
to
the
land
of
your
fathers
and
you
will
take
possession
of
it
and
the
pages
of
the
Old
Testament
we
see
the
people
going
off
into
idolatry
into
sin
we
see
them
carried
away
into
the
land
of
Babylon
we
see
them
being
ill
treated
there
as
captives
did
God
abandon
them
no
he
did
not
read
the
books
of
Ezra
Nehemiah
Daniel
and
Haggai
and
Zechariah
read
of
God's
dealings
with
his
people
in
captivity
and
read
of
their
return
did
they
deserve
such
love
did
they
deserve
such
grace
no
not
at
all
it's
remarkable
grace
that he
brought
them
back
into
the
land
and
bless
them
there
but
doesn't
the
Lord
continue
to
do
that
think
of
the
prodigal
in
his
far
country
and
how
he
came
to
the
end
of
himself
what
shall
I
do
I
have
nothing
the
pigs
have
more
than
I
do
I
will
arise
and
go
to
my
father
and
while
he
was
yet
a
great
way
off
while
he
was
far
off
his
father
runs
to
him
and
draws
him
back
he
gives
him
a
new
coat
a ring
for
his
finger
and
has
a
great
big
party
rejoice
this
my
son
was
dead
and
he's
alive
he
was
lost
and
he's
found
and
he
welcomes
him
and
that's
the
wonder
of
God's
grace
when
we
break
the
law
and
we
all
break
it
thank
God
he
draws
us
back
to
himself
and
here's
the
wonder
of
it
in
verse
6
of
chapter
30
he
circumcises
the
heart
how
do
we
understand
this
well
circumcision
wasn't
it
was a
sign
of
the
covenant
it
was
done
in
the
flesh
but
here's
something
even
more
wonderful
than
the
circumcision
that's
done
in
the
flesh
this
is
the
circumcision
of
the
heart
the
Lord
dealing
with
the
heart
of
people's
problems
and
I
would
see
in
this
promise
of a
new
covenant
that would
be
made
a
new
covenant
that is
referred
to
in
Jeremiah
31
verses
31
to
34
where
God
says
I
will
give
them
a
new
heart
I
will
write
the
law
into
their
hearts
and
I
will
remember
their
sin
no
more
I
will
deal
with
the
problem
absolutely
and
completely
that's
remarkable
grace
he
circumcises
our
hearts
he
gives
us
new
birth
he
gives
us
new
life
and
we
see
it
here
in
seed
form
all
of
these
things
come
to
us
because
our
God
is
a
God
of
great
grace
and
then
we're
told
also
in
these
verses
that
he
would
pour
out
blessing
verse
9
these
people
who
were
constantly
disobedient
he
promised
to
bring
them
back
and
to
bless
them
all
the
blessings
would
come
from
him
and
when
the
Lord
calls
us
to
himself
what
does
he
do
well
he
pours
out
blessings
upon
us
I
love
Ephesians
chapter
1
I
love
the
whole
book
of
Ephesians
it's
one
of
my
favorite
epistles
and
remember
how
it
says
in
Ephesians
chapter
1
and
verse
3
and
as
Paul
goes
on
through
the
following
verses
and
he
reminds
the
people
of
all
the
spiritual
blessings
that
are
theirs
in
Christ
praise
be
to
the
God
and
Father
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
who
has
blessed
us
in
the
heavenly
realms
with
every
spiritual
blessing
in
Christ
then
he
lifts
those
blessings
he's
chosen
us
he's
predestined
us
he's
adopted
us
he's
redeemed
us
and
there's
many
more
there's
heaven
too
does
this
mean
that
you
and
I
can
sit
back
and
bask
in
grace
well
in
one
sense
we
can
but
also
we're
called
to
follow
him
in
obedience
and a
covenant
people
a people
that truly
belong to
the Lord
will
recognize
how much
they have
beloved
they will
see this
remarkable
grace
that demands
their soul
their life
their all
there's one
final thing
that we have
to say
as we bring
this message
to an
end
there's
right
and wrong
choices
in chapter
30 and
verses
11 to
20
in these
final verses
Moses makes
his final
appeal
he has
brought them
the word
of God
what are
they going
to do
about it
he offers
them life
or death
the words
are clear
they're
unambiguous
a child
could understand
them
an adult
could ponder
them
a person
who had
great education
could look
at them
again and
a person
who had
very little
can still
understand
I offer
you
life
or death
and he
tells them
that this
decision is
not beyond
their reach
verses 11
to 14
you don't
have to
climb up
to heaven
he says
and you
don't have
to cross
the widest
sea
no no
the message
is here
it is
present
in your
mouth
in your
heart
isn't
what
that was
what Paul
was saying
when he
spoke to
the Athenians
he's not
far
he says
this God
whom I'm
proclaiming
he's not
far
from any
one of
you
so Moses
calls the
people
to take
to heart
what he
is saying
you know
what to
do
make the
right
choice
there are
two options
he says
in verses
15 to
18
there's
life
and
blessing
or there
is death
and
destruction
what's it
going to
be
you're
about to
enter the
land
God
promised
make
your
choice
well surely
the only
sensible
thing
to do
is to
be found
in
verse
16
choose
life
I set
before you
today
life
and death
for I
command you
today
to love
the Lord
your God
to walk
in his
ways
to keep
his
commands
decrees
and laws
that you
will live
and increase
and the
Lord
your God
will bless
you
in the
land
you are
entering
to possess
it's
obvious
isn't
it
the
choice
is
there
and
he
goes
on
I
call
you
today
to
choose
life
it
seems
so
obvious
yet
many
of them
would
choose
death
rather
than
life
the
alternative
to
life
is
not
just
death
in the
sense
that we
all
die
it
is
eternal
death
eternal
separation
from an
eternal
God
so I
urge
you
to
choose
life
this
day
how do
we
obtain
that
life
well we
can't
get it
through
the
law
because
we
know
that
the
reality
is
that
we
will
fail
and
they
will
come
short
of
all
that
God
has
commanded
to
us
of
us
but in
our
sin we
can turn
to the
saviour
our
perfect
law
keeper
and we
can find
in him
a life
that is
abundant
and
everlasting
so the
final
appeal
that
Moses
make
and the
final
appeal
that I
can make
is
choose
life
we
have
a
God
of
great
power
we
have
every
reason
to
follow
him
because
we
become
his
children
and
as
his
children
we
can
walk
in
his
strength
in
the
realities
of
a
sinful
world
and
we
can
walk
knowing
that
he
is
with
us
to
keep
us
for
he
will
circumcise
our
hearts
in
his
remarkable
grace
so
he
reaches
out
to
us
today
that
we
might
make
the
right
choice
and
follow
him
let's
pray
together
father
we
thank
you
that
you
have
given
us
your
word
we
pray
oh
lord
that
we
will
do
the
right
thing
that
we
will
follow
the
lord
jesus
christ
that
we
will
see
him
as
the
one
who
died
in
our
place
for
all
of
our
transgressions
for
the
many
times
that
we
have
walked
in
idolatry
and
broken
the
law
of
god
lord
we
pray
that
we
might
know
that
our
transgressions
have
been
taken
by
the
lord
jesus
and
he
has
given
us
life
that
is
abundant
everlasting
indeed
he
has
given
us
resurrection
life
so
father
we
pray
that
you
will
speak
to
us
now
and
that
you
will
speak
to
us
in
the
days
that
lie
ahead
may
we
choose
life
in
jesus
name
amen
son
that
Thank you.