Deuteronomy 13 & 14: A PECULIAR PEOPLE
Verse of the Day: (14:2) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
1. Prophet (13:1-18)
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (13:3)
God warned Israel of false prophets who would come and preach to them, and the only way to test them was to know that whatever they prophesied must come to pass. Indeed, the prophecy of God’s prophets shall come to pass, and this was the evidence that they were His prophets. God was also proving the faith of Israel, and their love for Him, when He tested them of their discernment in knowing the true from the false prophets. Let us therefore be careful when we hear God’s Word from His preachers, that they preach nothing except His Word, and that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God. (1 John 4:1-6)
2. Peculiar (14:1-21)
Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk. (14:21)
God’s people are peculiar or holy people, and they are the minority in the world, because most people refuse to repent their sins and wickedness, and believe in the true and living God. Many in this world believe in themselves, just like the days of Moses, and until the day, when they encounter crises, then they realise they desperately need God to help them. God also commanded Israel for their health benefits to eat only the creatures that He approved of, such as ox, sheep, goat and deer. The creatures that God disapproved of were camel, hare, swine, and especially the dead creatures. God also forbad them to boil their young goat in his mother’s milk. Indeed, let us confess and repent our sins, and God is faithful not only to forgive our sins, but to make us His peculiar people. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
3. Place (14:22-29)
Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: (14:25)
God is a reasonable God, as He commanded Israel to sell their sacrifices, such as corn, wine, oil and flock for money, instead of carrying them to the faraway place where He had chosen for them to offer to Him. Indeed, God is reasonable, and He shall reason with you, and plead with you to confess and forsake your sins and believe in Him. (Isaiah 1:18)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am Your peculiar people because I believe in You.
Deuteronomy 11 & 12: The Eyes Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (11:12) A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
1. Egypt (11:1-9)
And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursed after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day; (11:4)
The main reason why God kept reminding Israel of how He had miraculously delivered them out of slavery in Egypt, and opened the mighty Red sea, so that they could cross dry to the other side, was because they kept forgetting His greatness, goodness and grace. Israel time and again failed God, but not once did He ever fail them. Indeed, let us always be thankful and grateful to God in everything, especially our precious salvation, that we are forgiven of our sins, and redeemed by His precious blood, and are spared from eternal condemnation, and bound for His home in glorious heaven. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
2. Eyes (11:10-32)
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (11:28)
God’s eyes were not just upon the Promised Land, that was filled with milk and honey, which He shall give to Israel, but they were especially upon the people of Israel, because He truly loved them. Though time and again, Israel rebelled and sinned against God, yet He always forgive them when they repented their sins, and returned to Him. However, God’s curse shall be upon them if they worshipped and followed the gods of the world, and refused to repent of their sins and wickedness, and believe in their God, the God of Israel, the true and living God. Indeed, God’s eyes are upon the righteous, and let us fully trust and obey Him, and He shall deliver us from all our afflictions. (Psalms 34:15-22)
3. Eat (12:1-32)
And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee. (12:7)
God through Moses commanded Israel to enjoy the food that they had offered to Him, and rejoiced for all their blessings from their hard work. However, they must remember that everything they had were from God, and that was nothing that truly belonged to them. God commanded them never to eat blood from their sacrifices, as it represented life, and truly life belonged to Him. Indeed, whatsoever we do, whether we eat or drink, let us do all for the glory of God, as He freely gives us all things to enjoy. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your eyes are upon me, my family and my everything.
Deuteronomy 9 & 10: Fearing The LORD
Verse of the Day: (10:12) And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
1. Fire (9:1-6)
Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. (9:3)
God is a consuming fire, in other words, He is a holy Judge who shall destroy all the sins and wickedness of the people. Israel was chosen to be God’s special nation, not for their righteousness, but because the rest of the nations were evil and wicked. God chose Israel to be His example of righteousness so that the rest of the world shall see their good works, and glorify, believe and follow Him. Indeed, our righteousness is in God. In the Old Testament era, God’s righteousness was with all believed in Him by faith, that one day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, shall come to this earth and offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Today, Jesus already came and died for our sins, and His righteousness is in us when we truly believe in Him. (Romans 5)
2. Forty (9:7-29)
When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: (9:9)
The number forty means testing. Indeed, God tested Moses’ faith for forty days and nights, and he proved to be faithful to Him. Moses fasted and waited at the mountain for God’s Ten Commandments, in the form of tablets, so that he could bring them down to teach Israel to live by them. When Jesus came to earth, He too was tested for forty days and nights without food by the devil, and He passed the tests with flying colours. Let us be like Moses and Jesus, and endure God’s testing so that we shall come forth victoriously as gold tried in the furnace of fire of trials and tribulations. (Matthew 4:1-11)
3. Fear (10:1-22)
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. (10:20)
Again, God through Moses reminded Israel to fear and obey Him and His holy Commandments, as this was the only way that His abundant blessings shall be upon them and their future generations. Indeed, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and let us fear and serve Him and give Him all the glory, honour and praise. (Proverbs 9:10)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fear and obey You and Your holy Commandments.
Deuteronomy 7 & 8: Are You Special?
Verse of the Day: (7:6) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
1. Special (7:1-16)
But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (7:9)
Israel is a special nation because God chooses to love them, and promised Abraham, their founding father that He shall bless them provided they believed and obeyed Him. However, Israel failed God many times, yet He does not give up on them. Today, God is still pleading with them to believe in Him and turn to Him. There is nothing special in us, in fact, we are sinners, yet God loves us, and not only He forgives us, but He saves us from fiery hell, and one day, He shall promote us to His glorious heaven. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
2. Signs (7:17-26)
The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. (7:19)
One of God’s great signs was the opening of the majestic Red sea. Israel cried out to God when they were sandwiched between the Red sea, and the Egyptian army, who wanted to destroy them. God’s servant, Moses, by faith obeyed God, and stretched out his hand over the sea, and God miraculously opened it, so that they could cross it dry to the other side, and then miraculously closed it upon the pursuing Egyptians. (Exodus 14:15-22)
3. Suffering (8:1-20)
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (8:3)
No one enjoy suffering, yet Moses chose to suffer. As a baby, Moses’ parents cast him out in an ark so that others could save and raise him up. By God’s providence, Pharaoh’s daughter found him, and raised him as her own son. Again, by God’s providence, Moses’ mother was chosen to raise her son. When Moses grew up, by faith, he chose to deliver Israel, his own people, from the Egyptians, than to be their prince. He suffered for 40 years before God eventually used him to deliver Israel out of Egypt. (Hebrews 11:23-29)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am special because I receive You as my Saviour.
Deuteronomy 5 & 6: Ten To Two
Verse of the Day: (5:10) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
1. Commandments (5:1-33)
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (5:29)
Trust and obey God for there is no other way if we truly desire His rich and abundant blessings. God through Moses time and again reminded Israel to trust and fear Him, and keep and obey His commandments if they truly desired His blessings. When Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of the whole world, He taught the people to obey the Ten Commandments and summarised them into Two Commandments. Jesus’ first commandment is that we must love God with all our hearts, souls and minds, which actually covers the first four commandments of the Ten Commandments: 1. There is only one God. 2. Do not worship idols. 3. Do not take the name of God in vain. 4. Keep the Sabbath holy. Jesus’ second commandment is that we must love others as ourselves, which wraps up the rest of the Ten Commandments: 5. Honour your parents so that you have longevity. 6. Do not kill. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not bear false witness. 10. Do not covet. Indeed, God’s blessings shall be upon us if we love Him with all our hearts, souls and minds, and love others as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40)
2. Children (6:1-15)
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (6:7)
Way before man knows the value and importance of education and discipline, God already through Moses commanded Israel that they shall be blessed and prosperous if they would teach their children the Ten Commandments whenever and wherever they were. Indeed, God’s blessings shall be upon us and our children as we teach them in believing Him, and trusting and obeying His Word and commandments. (Proverbs 22:6)
3. Cast (6:16-25)
To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken. (6:19)
Again, God through Moses, assured Israel that He shall fight for them, and cast out their enemies, and grant them victory to possess their Promised Land. Never did God failed Israel, yet they failed Him many times. Let us commit and yield our lives to God, and He shall cast out our enemies, the likes of the Devil, death and temptations, and grant us victory through Jesus. Indeed, God can do anything except fail! (1 Corinthians 15:55-58)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to love You with all my heart, and to love others too.
Deuteronomy 3 & 4: Who Will Fight For You?
Verse of the Day: (3:22) Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.
1. Fight (3:1-29)
But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. (3:28)
God through Moses reminded Israel to be strong, and fear not, and that He shall fight for them and they shall eventually possess their Promised Land. In fact, this was Moses’ last service before he passed his leadership to Joshua, and his prayer to God was that he would be able to enter the Promised Land. However, God denied Moses’ prayer, because he had disobeyed Him, when he struck instead of speaking to the rock, so that water flowed out of it, and Israel could quench their thirst. Even though Moses did not enter the Promised Land, but God promoted him to the perfect Promised Land, Heaven! Indeed, let us pray according to God’s will, and though our prayers maybe denied, let us remember that He knows best what is best for us. Even though God shall fight for us, and grant us victory, yet we must on our part work hard in everything, whether be it our study, career, ministry, etc. Finally, let us put on God’s armour, and let Him fight for us, and we shall surely overcome the Devil and temptations, and claim His victory. (Ephesians 6:10-19)
2. Forget (4:1-13)
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; (4:9)
God through Moses commanded Israel never forget to teach His Ten Commandments and all His related laws to all his descendants so that He shall richly bless them. In fact, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is from the line of Israel. Indeed, let us teach our children and future generations, and bring them up in God’s nurture and admonition, so that He shall bless us with His perfect peace and prosperity all the days of our lives! (Ephesians 6:1-4)
3. Fire (4:14-49)
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. (4:24)
Even though Israel had yet to cross the river Jordan and fight with their enemies, God through Moses already warned them never to take Him for granted, and rebel and disobey Him, otherwise He shall judge and discipline them, and they shall fail in their inheritance of their Promised Land. Indeed, God is a consuming fire, and a jealous God, and He desires that all His people trust and obey Him so that they shall have great victory over the Devil and temptations, and always enjoy His rich blessings. Indeed, whom God loves, He chastises, just like a father chastises his children for their good. (Hebrews 12:6-11)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You shall fight for me in everything as I trust in You.
Deuteronomy 1 & 2: Forty Instead Of Eleven
Verse of the Day: (1:2) There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.
1. Eleven (1:1-21)
And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; (1:3)
Instead of eleven days, Israel took forty years wandering around in the wilderness, before they began to possess their Promised Land! Why? Unbelief. Israel failed to believe that what God had promised, He shall fulfil, instead, they used their own understanding, and wandered aimlessly for forty years. Though God chose Moses to be their leader, and Aaron, his assistant, yet they also failed to believe that they could take eleven days to reach their Promised Land. After forty years, Moses now led the younger generation after God destroyed the older ones who were twenty years and above, except for Joshua and Caleb, because of unbelief. Moses encouraged the younger ones to believe in God that He shall fight for them, and grant them victory over their enemies. Let us believe that God shall fulfil all His promises to us in His time and according to His will. (Hebrews 3:15-19)
2. Eyes (1:22-46)
The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; (1:30)
Though Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness, yet God was with them all the time, as the pillar of cloud in the day, and the pillar of fire at night, to lead them, until they reached the Promised Land. No matter how disobedient and rebellious Israel was, God was longsuffering and merciful, and He kept convicting their hearts to repent of their sins of unbelief and fear. Indeed, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but power, love and strong mind, and let us keep our eyes on Jesus amid our life storms. (2 Timothy 1:7)
3. Esau (2:1-37)
And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: (2:4)
Jacob, which means “the deceiver” deceived Esau his older twin brother, the firstborn of Isaac their father, of his birthright and blessings. Subsequently God chastised Jacob and he repented his sins and God named him, Israel, meaning “the prince with God’s power”. Though Jacob deceived Esau, yet both their descendants forgave each other and the descendants of Esau allowed the descendants of Israel to advance to their Promised Land. Indeed, let us forgive one another, even as God also forgives us. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fully believe and trust in You in everything.
Numbers 35 & 36: Marry Your Own Tribe
Verse of the Day: (36:6) This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry.
1. Moses (35:1-8)
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, (35:1)
Leadership is vital for the success of any organisation, and it is even more so for God’s church. God’s way is to choose His leader, and then work with him to accomplish all that He has for His church and people according to His will. God chose Moses, and He worked with him to lead Israel until the day He called Moses to His home in heaven. This time, God through Moses commanded Israel to give forty-eight cities to the tribe of Levi as they did not have any inheritance, and then to designate six of these cities as refuge for alleged murderers who were considered innocent until proven guilty. Indeed, God loves and cares for His people, and He is our refuge and present help in time of trouble, and shall surely protect and preserve us, as we fully trust and obey Him. (Psalms 46:1-11)
2. Murderer (35:9-34)
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. (35:30)
Though God loves all yet He shall judge those who sinned against Him, especially the murderers. During the time of Moses, the murderers received capital punishment if there was sufficient evidence and reliable witnesses to prove that they were guilty. However, alleged murderers were sent to the cities of refuge pending investigation, and the only time they could be released was after the death of the high priest. Indeed, God is merciful and full of compassion, and let us commit and yield our lives to Him. (Lamentations 3:22)
3. Marry (34:1-29)
And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. (36:12)
God loves His people and He desires us to have the best of everything. This was why God commanded the daughters of Zelophehad to marry their own tribe, Manasseh, so that their tribe could continue to keep their inheritance that God had blessed them with. Today, God’s command for His people is that we must marry another Christian to receive His spiritual blessings. The Christian couple can then attend the same church and worship the same true and living God, and one day, by His amazing grace, lead their children to believe in and receive Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to marry my own tribe, Your people and children.
Numbers 31 & 32: Will Your Sins Be Found Out?
Verse of the Day: (32:23) But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
1. Separation (31:1-54)
Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. (31:23)
To be holy before the holy God we must repent our sins, and believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. God commanded Israel to destroy the wicked Midianites as they cursed and harmed them. Israel destroyed them including the false prophet, Balaam. However, Israel sinned against God when they had earlier listened to the counsel of Balaam by sparing the women of Midian and then marrying them and worshipping their idols. God then commanded Israel to destroy all the women of Midian except the unmarried girls. God also commanded those men who destroyed the Midianites to put the gold, silver, brass, iron, tin and lead they took from them through the fire and the water of purification. Those things that could not be passed through the fire they put them through the water, and finally they must wash their clothes on the seventh day before they returned to their camp. Indeed, let us be holy as God is holy. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
2. Sit (32:1-19)
And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? (32:6)
God’s ways are not man’s ways as He is the Creator and man is only the creature. When the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh saw the lands of Jazer and Gilead, they chose to sit and reside on these lands than to be with the rest of Israel to cross the river Jordan and to fight against their enemies so as to possess their Promised Land. God rebuked them and they realised that they could never hide their sins of unbelief and cowardice before Him. Let us be strong and courageous, and seek God and His Word, and one day God shall grant us His Promised Land in Heaven! (Joshua 1:8-9)
3. Sin (32:20-42)
But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith. (32:27)
Thank God the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, chose to obey God as they sent their men together with the rest of Israel, led by their new leader, Joshua, to cross the river Jordan, fought many battles before possessing their Promised Land. Indeed, it was their faith in God that they did the impossible. Let us therefore have faith in God that we can do all things through Christ who strengthen us. (Philippians 4:13)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to repent my sins as You even know my secret sins.
Numbers 33 & 34: Is God With You In Your Life Journey?
Verse of the Day: (33:2) And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.
1. Journey (33:1-49)
These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. (33:1)
Our life journey is really beyond our control as we do not exactly know when it will end. However, as Christians who believe in Jesus Christ, we know that our journey shall end in our eternal home called Heaven, and best of all, Jesus is with us throughout all our journey, and even in heaven, He is with us as we worship Him forever. At the last chapter of Moses’ life, God inspired him to write in details their journey through the wilderness for forty years before they finally entered their Promised Land. Though the names of all the places seemed insignificant, the fact is, God was with them all the time, as a pillar of cloud in the day, and a pillar of fire at night, at every station of their journey, leading and guiding them, and demonstrating His everlasting love for them. (Hebrews 13:5-8)
2. Jordan (33:50-56)
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, (33:50)
We all have our milestone in life, and in particular, we remember what God had done for and with us during our happiest as well as the darkest moment of our lives. Israel too had their milestone in their life journey, especially through their wilderness journey before entering the Promised Land, such as God miraculously opening the Red Sea and river Jordan for them to cross to the other side. Indeed, let us be thankful for every milestone of our lives, including the hardest one, because we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
3. Joshua (34:1-29)
These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun. (34:17)
Though the church may vote for their next pastor or the pastor appoints his successor, ultimately it must be God who chooses His leader, just like He appointed Joshua to succeed Moses as the next leader of Israel with Eleazar as the next high priest after Aaron. Now God through Joshua and Eleazar allotted the Promised Land to the twelve tribes of Israel with the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh receiving their inheritance on the east of Jordan, while the rest of the tribes received them on the west. Indeed, though God loves all, yet He hates sins and only saves those who repent their sins and believe in Him, and condemn those who refuse to repent to fiery hell. (2 Peter 3:9)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are always with me in my life journey to heaven.
