Deuteronomy 26:5
“And you shall answer and say before the Lord your God: “My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.’”

The story of Abraham is the story of God, that has been rewritten in the lives of countless thousands over the years. Abraham was an unknown shepherd living in ancient Babylon when he heard the call of God. He was to separate from the world he lived in, and commit himself to following the Lord. As he daily walked by faith, and took simple steps of obedience to God, his life, and our world, were forever changed. Fast forward to the time of Moses, and this simple shepherd has become the Father of many nations. Fast forward to the time of Joshua, and his people have been…

Deuteronomy 25:3
“Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight.”

A man, condemned of certain crimes, was to be beaten as a form of punishment and humiliation. The beating was reserved for the wicked, while the righteous were exonerated. Years later, a “Kangaroo Court” met in Israel, gathered false witnesses, and condemned the Son of God to death, for the high crime of blaspheme. He was taken to the Roman authorities, where He was again tried, convicted and condemned. Part of the sentence meted out to Him was the Roman scourging. Unlike the Jewish law that carried with it a level of mercy, the Roman scourge was designed, not only to punish, but to kill.

After withstanding the agony of the garden, the hostility of the Jewish leaders…

John 20:15 “She, supposing Him to be the gardener, . . .”

Mary saw Jesus, but the circumstance she was in, and the experiences she was facing, caused her to conclude that He was a gardener. It was not until she heard His Word, that she clearly understood who He really was.

It interests me, how many different, even opposing views people develop regarding Jesus. These views have two things in common. First, they are usually forged as a result of personal experience, and second, they are always formed without the illumination of Scripture. Some consider Jesus to be a good person who was misunderstood; others, a mythical figure; while still others use portions of Scripture to develop a hybrid Jesus, who bears little resemblance to the Jesus of the Bible.

This is not only true of the unbeliever or the seeker, it is also true of the Christian. How…

Deuteronomy 24:5
“When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.”

Moses is reminding the people of the laws of God. These were the standards which would govern individuals and the nation. If they followed His precepts, they would be blessed by God, and would be attractive to the world around them. Like a light in the darkness, Israel would draw men to the Lord. Tucked away in this list of regulations is a principle, that if followed, will lead to a blessed and happy marriage. Certainly, a happy and healthy family life will serve as a strong witness in a world, where so many marriages are falling apart, and children are the victims of a fallen and sin-filled world.

Deuteronomy 23:24
“When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container.” 

In John 12:8, Jesus said, “The poor you will have with you always…”;  history has certainly proven that to be a truthful statement. Even today, with all the advances in science, medicine and technology, there are still those who struggle to make ends meet, and have to have their basic needs met. Understanding that this would be a constant struggle, God established a system within Israel where the needs of the poor could be satisfied. It was based upon both the grace of God and the love of His people.

Without the natural resource of a river like the Nile or Euphrates, Israel requires an abundance of rain for their crops to develop. God promised to provide adequate rainfall for the nation…

John 19:9 “But Jesus gave him no answer.”

Jesus is facing the battle of His life. We could even say it was the battle for His life. All the political power of Israel was manipulating the power of Rome, to execute the Son of God. Yet Jesus remained silent. We know He wields the power to overcome these attacks. We read that He calmed the storms, healed the sick, cast out demons, and even raised the dead. Yet now, when it seemed to matter the most, He refused to lift a finger or say a word.

Why? What possible benefit could be gained by not using His divine power to overcome this political onslaught? The answer is two-fold. First, it was the plan of God for Christ to go to the cross as a substitute for me and you. He, the innocent, would take the place of us, the guilty…

Deuteronomy 22:9-11

“You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.

“You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

“You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together.”

 

To properly understand the Law of God, we must keep in mind that it served multiple purposes. Part of the Law was moral and set a standard for all mankind. It is that part of the law Paul referred to as a tutor designed to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Other portions of the law were civil, and designed to guide the behaviors of the people of Israel that they might have a healthy society. Finally, there were portions of the law that were religious by nature, and their purpose…

Deuteronomy 21:23
“…For he who is hanged is accursed of God.”

Galatians 3:13
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).”

No man can stand under the Law of God. Each of the divine precepts reveals the sinfulness of man, and our sins separate us eternally from God. Paul refers to this separation as the curse. Left to ourselves this condition is hopeless, since no amount of good deeds can deliver us from the curse of the Law. Praise the Lord we have not been left to ourselves. Jesus went to the cross on our behalf, taking the penalty of sin on Himself and becoming accursed of God. Rather than allowing us to remain in a perpetual state of separation from God, Jesus took our sins upon Himself in order…

John 18:11 

“Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus spent hours in prayer. The portion of the prayer recorded for us had to do with a cup. The event is recorded in Mark 14:35-36,

“He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said,   ‘ Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.’” 

Earlier that evening Jesus had taken a cup and distributed it to His disciples, explaining that it was the Blood of the new covenant.

“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘ Drink from it, all of you. For this…

Deuteronomy 20:3-4
“Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

We are not fighting the same battles that Israel fought. Paul reminds us, we do not fight against flesh and blood, but we are engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). We are not fighting for king and country, but for Christ and the furtherance of His kingdom. That being said, the principle found in Deuteronomy is timeless, and will apply to each of us as we seek to be involved in winning others to Christ.

When we stand on the verge of battle with an opportunity to share Christ with a family member…