Theme: Great God
Text: Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Introduction:
The Second Law was given to the new and younger generation who are prepared by God to enter into Canaan. Though it looks like a summary of all that he taught over the years in the wilderness in fact, there are new things added to this generation to follow. Moses establishes YHWH as Great God, God’s characters and God’s demands.
1. GOD’S POSITION (v. 14, 17 a)
God’s position in every life plays a vital role in our makeup and in our lifestyles. Moses and Israelites were surrounded by numerous gods and goddesses. The realities, challenges and opportunities of Israel are the same to us even today.
Every nation had its own national deity and temple as the pride of their nation. Either the victory or defeats of Kings were always seen and evaluated from the power perspectives of gods and goddesses. The triumphal entries of Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians into Judah and Israel were seen as victories over YHWH by of the Assyrians, Marduk of Babylonians and Ahura Mazda of the Persians.
They also had bad memories of defeats by Amun-Ra and Horus of Egypt, Ashtoreth of Sidonians, Baal of Tyrians, Chemosh of Moabites, Dagon of Philistia, Teshub of Hittites during the Judge's regime. The Bible never records that YHWH was defeated by them rather it gives the record of the Almighty God selling them into the hands of their enemies to teach them on obedience and sufferings (Read: Judges 2:10-15,19).
YHWH is the creator of heavens and the earth, everything belongs to Him, even the highest heavens and everything in it. He is the God of the gods, Lord of the Lords, the GREAT GOD, mighty and awesome (v. 14,17). God’s position is always the highest. At various occasions, the enemies understood the power of YHWH and exalted Him, e.g., Nebuchadnezzar, Ahasuerus, Herod and many other kings of the nations over the History. Nobody could destroy Israel and Christians, from the time of Pharaoh to Ptolemies, from the time of Romans to Hitler. Because our God is great and Almighty. The majestic, father of Lights, prince of Peace, incomparable and unchangeable.
When I became Orphan and were raised up by grandparents, I wanted to be a sorcerer. I learned those mantras and practised for a couple of years. While I recite the Mantra I had to call the names of the gods and goddesses to make a hedge around me, every part of my body has to be guarded by one or the other god and goddess before I go to the evil spirits. I gave up everything by confessing “Jesus is Lord”.
As Indians, we are familiar with family gods and clan gods. Jesus is a universal God. He is the almighty God. Nothing could stand before him. We are given a name above all other names “Jesus” (Acts 4:12). YHWH is the God of the mountains and the God of the valleys. What is his position in your life? Answer me not until we go to the third point.
2. GOD’S DISPOSITION (v.15, 17 b-18, 21-22)
Such an Almighty God has looked down and set his eyes and heart upon your forefathers and loved them. He chose you above all other nations around you (v. 15). Further, he qualified as “impartial God and a righteous God, who hates bribes”. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, loves the aliens, giving food and cloth to them (17 b and 18). Also, He has multiplied you, redeemed you by performing many wonders and awesome deeds (v. 21-22).
“…I am your God, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”(Isaiah 41:10). Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength(Isaiah 40:31). The history is full of God’s disposition as redeemer from waters, fires, Lions and tyrant rulers.
The NT gives us the enormous disposition of Jesus Christ. In one word, Luke says in the Book of Acts of the apostles, “Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit, went around all the villages and cities of Judah and Israel, in doing good” (Acts. 10:37-38).
About us: He chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, he chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong, chose the lowly and despised things to nullify the rich’ (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). ‘I am weak, then I am strong in God. I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties because that’s grace to me’ (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Man’s extremity of weaknesses becomes God’s opportunity to help. Is anything too hard for the Lord? It’s easy for him to do anything on the earth for his children. “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit”(Zechariah 4:6).
Almighty God can use a staff to perform and redeem the Israelites (Exodus 4:2), a jawbone of an ass to save Samson (Judges 15:15), five smooth stones to knock down Goliath (Matthew 13:32) and five barley loves to feed 5000 (John 6:9).
3. God’s imposition (v. 12-13, 16, 19)
Moses starts with a challenging question. O Israel, what you are going to do this great almighty God, the God who possessed with great qualities of compassion and love, grace and liberal. God of concerns and discerns.
v. 12-13
Fear the Lord, Walk in all his ways
Love him, Serve him with all your heart and soul
Observe the commands and decrees
v. 16
Circumcise your hearts, Do not be stiff-necked any longer
v. 19-20.
Love the foreigners, Give them food and cloth
Fear the Lord, Serve Him
Hold fast to Him, Take your oaths in his name, He is your praise and your God.
Now answer the question we raised at the first point, What is his position in your life? Where we are today? What is the position of God in your life?
Exodus 20:2-3 “I am the Lord your God… You shall have no other gods before me”.
Psalm 27:4: One thing I ask of the Lord this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of life and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord…’
Psalm 84:10: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere…”.
Mathew 6:33: “Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness…”. Everyday…
Do you give all that he demands from your life: first fruits, first born and the first part of the income (Tithe).
God’s love demands us to love him, obey him and serve him. The present scenario of our country and Philosophies of prosperities mis- leads people to easily take God for a ride.
Disobedience to God’s imposition made them roam around 40 years in the wilderness, 400 years of slavery during Judges, 400 years of deportation or extraction to other nations 400 years of darkness without the revelation of the Word of God.
Whereas obedience brought prosperity and blessings.
Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by name…humble, pray and seek and turn from wicked ways. I will forgive and heal their land”.
