When moms and dads send their kids off to college or they move to another town because of a new job; what do they say?  There is a plethora of last words that are on repeat, right?  We reiterate all the wisdom words our parents gave us over all the years we were with them in their house, while guided and mentored by them.  Can you recall some of those instructions, even now, after years have passed?  Are we now the ones who say these “last words of instruction” before our own go to live independent lives away from our home?  Is this bringing back memories for some of you?

As parents who watch our offspring start “adulting,” and we almost feel a panic as they load up all their stuff and cram it into their vehicle to leave us.  Have we said enough, prepared them enough, and given them enough learning experiences to be on their own? 

As we read then continuation of Moses’ final words (God’s commands) to God’s people before they pack up to go possess the promised land; we feel his heart for the people that has been developed over the many years His service to them.  We also see how much Moses has grown in his own faith in God.  God called Moses from a burning bush in the wilderness to go back to Egypt, lead His people, the Hebrew nation, out of the bondage of slavery, to be His possession, His children.  God led them out from under the oppression of the Egyptians who knew Him not in miraculous ways!

However, God’s Chosen had to learn to fully trust God and do what He said who provided physically for them “so all would go well with them.”  God also provided challenging learning experiences, (due to disobedience), on their journey to the promised land, so they would learn to fully trust and obey Him for their good and His Glory.  Read on…

Deuteronomy 23

Exclusion From the Assembly

No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord.

² No one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.

³ No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation. ⁴ For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. ⁵ However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you. ⁶ Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.

⁷ Do not despise an Edomite, for the Edomites are related to you. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you resided as foreigners in their country. ⁸ The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of the Lord.

Uncleanness in the Camp

⁹ When you are encamped against your enemies, keep away from everything impure. ¹⁰ If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there. ¹¹ But as evening approaches he is to wash himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp.

¹² Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. ¹³ As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. ¹⁴ For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.

Miscellaneous Laws

¹⁵ If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. ¹⁶ Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them.

¹⁷ No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute. ¹⁸ You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the Lord your God to pay any vow, because the Lord your God detests them both.

¹⁹ Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest. ²⁰ You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a fellow Israelite, so that the Lord your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.

²¹ If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. ²² But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. ²³ Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.

²⁴ If you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want, but do not put any in your basket. ²⁵ If you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to their standing grain.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Through His servant, Moses, God continued to give laws to his people “so all would go well with them.” God wanted them to treat each other with respect and dignity with integrity—all traits of His love. God revealed his concern for families in His Law. For God’s people, family responsibilities should be a higher priority than civil responsibilities.  We should obey because it is the moral, right thing to do, not just because it is a written law.  Laws do not change our minds and behaviors; God does by His power working in us.

In other words, these laws didn’t give people the right to take food from their neighbors’ fields, vineyards, and orchards any time they wanted a snack. The privilege was reserved for the truly hungry and especially farm laborers, strangers, and the poor. This law also helped travelers passing through the land. However, Moses made it clear that the food was to be carried away in the persons’ stomachs and not in bowls or baskets. The law gave people the privilege of meeting their need but not satisfying their greed.

Conviction with Course Corrections—Designed by God

Paul preached that the Law is a guide that convicts us.  But the Law does not save us. Only Jesus saves us! In fact, when we compare our lives with the rules of the law, we must finally admit that we are desperate sinners. Paul, a devote Jew who knew ALL the Laws with determination to adhere to The Law writes; “All have is sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  Paul also said to his protégé, Timothy: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (I Timothy 1:15)

We violate God’s law in more ways than we can count. Paul reminds us repeatedly that we are all imperfect humans in need of a Savior without sin, who offers and provides perfect forgiveness!  Jesus came down from heaven, born of a virgin, grew in stature and in wisdom as the Son of God born as the Son of Man.  As the Son of Man, He saw, heard, felt, touched, and listened to the worst and the best of humanity. Jesus responded by demonstrating the love of God with compassion to all who came to Him.  Jesus was our perfect example of how we should love and treat each other, putting others needs and interests ahead of our own.  (Philippians 2)

But Jesus’ ultimate mission was “to seek and to save the lost” and bring them back to an intimate relationship with God.  Jesus proclaimed it Himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)

As Jesus walked through the villages and towns in the seeking; He was led by God, the Father.  Jesus mentored His disciples and other followers, as the Son of God.  Speaking in ways that people “had never heard before;” Jesus helped people understand the real intent of God’s Law while offering complete and perfect forgiveness of all sins committed against God.  The Law convicts; Jesus saves with the authority from God to forgive all sins. In fact, Jesus was The Law of Love and eternal Life! 

Then Jesus, who knew no sin, placed all sins, yours and mine, on His shoulders and carried them to the cross where He willingly laid down His life for ours as the once and for all perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world! Nobody else but Jesus, Son of God, could do this for all the world whom God loves!  (John 3:16-17)

Jesus did for us what we cannot—remove all our sins—to be remembered by God no more! Jesus is all we need to come back to God and be reconciled (reconnected) to Him!  Because of Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit comes to live in us with the purpose to guide us to all Truth. What a gift full of God’s power to us!

The law brings knowledge of sin. The ultimate conclusion is that we deserve God’s judgment. But because of God’s love, mercy, and unending grace; we are forgiven.  Wow.  This is the Law of Love.  Believe, repent in Jesus Name, and be saved!

Lord,

Thank you, Father, for the loving reminders of why we trust and obey you as your children, joint heirs with Christ. Thank you, Jesus for saving our souls and cleansing us of our sins. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for guiding us to all that is Truth with course corrections along the way.  Lord, make me a vessel of your love so others will know you, too. May your Kingdom come; Your will be done.

In Jesus Name, Amen