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Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the law written by Moses.  It consists of 3 great speeches given by Moses to the Israelites who were encamped in the plains of Moab prior to their entry into the Promised Land of Canaan.  In Deut. 10:1-11, Moses recounts the events at Mount Sinai where the Ten Commandments were given to God’s people after the exodus from Egypt.  Also alluded in this chapter was Moses’ intercessory role in the disastrous event of the golden calf.  The Israelites got Aaron to build the calf for them when Moses was away on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God.  This timely intercession successfully averted the destruction of Israel at the hands of the angry LORD God.

The second half of Deut. 10 begins with a question “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you?” (Deut 10:12a).  What follows is the description of what it means for God’s people to be living under God’s rule in the place where God has chosen for them.  They were to: “fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.”

Almost 1400 years later, a Prophet like Moses was raised up from among the Israelites by God.  His name was Jesus.  He came to earth to be the Saviour of the world and then went back to heaven.  But he continues to intercede for all of us even today.  In Matt. 22:37-40, an expert in the law tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus gave a response to the lawyer that is the same for those who wonder at times what God requires of them in their relationship with Him.  We are to walk closely with God, to love him and to serve Him with all our hearts and with all our souls; and to love our neighbours as ourselves. 

We live our Christian lives on this side of the Jordan and await to enter God’s promised rest in heaven.  Let us love God, love people and depend on Jesus each new day to: “see Him more clearly, to love Him more dearly and to follow Him more nearly” (Prayer of Richard of Chichester, 1197-1253).