Deuteronomy 31:24 – 29 “When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you. For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are already rebelling against the LORD while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after my death!
Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officers so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger by the work of your hands.”
WOW! What a horrible comment on the character of the Israelites! Moses has just completed writing all the words of the law and is now ordering the priests to store this book beside the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle. The Book of the Law is to serve as a witness against the Israelites for all generations.
The major failing of the Israelites is rebellion. From the first days in Egypt until the present, despite all the miracles, despite all God’s provision, despite God’s protection, despite everything God has done, the Israelites are still clinging to their Egyptian idols and even embracing others whenever they get the chance. Times without number, God has spoken to the Israelites, and as soon as the fire and earthquakes and smoke have dissipated, the Israelites are right back to their same behavior.
Now Moses is warning the Israelites of the certain doom their rebellion will bring upon them. God wants the Israelites to understand that if disasters befall them, it’s their own terrible choices that have brought about these disasters.
How many warnings does it take for someone to change their heart and their behavior? All the time the Israelites have been trudging through the wilderness and complaining every step of the way, God has been leading them and protecting them. Have the Israelites been grateful? Are you kidding? Back in their tents, the Israelites have still been cherishing idols that they brought from Egypt and ascribing all God’s works to their idols!
APPLICATION: Reading the accounts of the last part of Moses’ career is like watching a horror movie slowly unfold. Moses has communed with God face to face and yet his people have rebelled every step of the way. How Moses’ heart must have broken as he contemplated what was going to happen to Joshua when Joshua assumed leadership! And how Moses’ heart must have broken as he considered the wonderful future God wanted for the Israelites and the way the Israelites were going to mess things up.
When I was growing up on a midwestern farm, we used to raise pigs in small houses out in the field. The pigs were able to graze on the clover and alfalfa and timothy planted in the field they were occupying; however, eventually, we would need to move them to another pasture. Were the pigs willing to go? No way! We could drive those pigs toward a wide – open gate hole fifteen feet wide and they would try to stay in their same pasture. Finally, to get the pigs to leave the pasture that was exhausted so that they could occupy new ground with fresh grazing, we would have to herd them through the gate hole using 3 large wooden gates. As we gradually reduced the area that the pigs were occupying, the pigs would reluctantly back through the open gate, squealing all the way in protest.
Many times, we are like those pigs. God wants good things for us and God is showing us the way; however, we are determined to remain where we are, even though the resources in that particular situation may be exhausted. We want our own way, even when it will lead to disaster. Psalm 32:8-9 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.”
A few years ago, there was a commercial for a particular investment company. The first scene would be that of heavy traffic in New York City with lots of noise; then suddenly, the noise would stop and there would be dead silence. The announcer would then say, “When E. F. Hutton speaks, everyone else is silent.” The idea was that this investment company gave better advice than anybody else. It should be like that for us with God. When God speaks, that should be the end of it.
Our way or God’s? It’s all about choices. Choose God’s way and choose life. Go our own way and risk everything, including our very souls.
PRAYER: Father God, help all those who read these words to choose life and to choose to follow You whole – heartedly. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
January 20, 2022 at 9:19 pm
we are hopelessly stiff necked