God’s Relentless Love

 

“Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back.”

Deuteronomy 30:4 

So many times mankind uses the word “love” in a generic, empty fashion. Spouses say, “I love you,” but soon thereafter turn around and hurl verbal barbs at one another with great frequency and appalling accuracy. Parents tell their children they love them, but often ignore their children’s expressed desires and refuse to adequately allocate the time to become intimately involved with their children’s interests or hobbies. When it comes right down to it, humanity does not know what love is outside of a relationship with God. We talk about love, but rarely do we exercise it. Our warped version of love is a conditional sentiment that quickly vanishes the second another is unable to meet our preconceived, lofty expectations.

Scripture affirms that God’s love is unconditional. It is not rendered to us because of any noble work we have done. After all, the well-intentioned efforts that we temporarily engage in are overwhelmingly upset by all the self-centered efforts that consume our thoughts day in and day out. But this is not how the Lord operates. He loves us regardless of the shameful behavior that plagues us. This consideration sharply highlights how radically different God’s love is compared to what mankind refers to as love.

 

With this contemplation before us, let us briefly review Deuteronomy 30. At this point in Scripture, Moses’ ministry was winding to a close. God had informed his prophet that his tenure as Israel’s guide and messenger was nearly over.  The Bible does not indicate that Moses took exception to God’s decree. He accepted it and spent many days encouraging the Hebrew people with great passion and fervor. And so the latter part of Deuteronomy contains an emotional testimony from Moses. He essentially praised God that He would provide a life instruction that is not out of reach. He adored the Lord for making His word available to be consumed and absorbed. In essence, Moses recognized the collection of God’s teachings as a means to experience righteous application. Although many things remain a mystery, God’s wisdom is not for it is evident in His written Word.

It came about in Deuteronomy 30 that Moses was divinely inspired with a glimpse into Israel’s future. He predicted that God’s covenantal people would someday become smitten with a life devoid of God. And the price for their spiritual harlotry would be steep. Israel would be overrun by distant nations and scattered across the world. But just when the prophecy seemed hopeless, Deuteronomy 30:4 came along and illuminated God’s relentless love. In this verse, the Lord determined to gather the Israelites back from the corners of the earth and honor the promise to give them a land and heritage, thus clearly signifying God’s ultimate benevolence.

Through Deuteronomy 30:4, we see a persistent love and a faithful commitment on God’s part. He knew that the Hebrews would turn their backs on Him in short order. They would come to chase and yearn for foreign, false gods. And yet God still led them into the land of promise, not for Israel’s glory, but for His own. It is truly remarkable that in our moments of weakness we can better recognize how strong God is. That in our moments of wickedness God’s goodness is so much more obvious. God’s holiness abounds and abides, despite our miscues and failings. In short, God’s relentless love is an unending love. It is like a mighty waterfall whose current remains steady. To the parched soul, God’s love refreshes. It revives. And it should generate unending praise from a truly grateful people.             

The Invisible, Invincible God

“You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire.”

Deuteronomy 4:13

Humanity lives in a world that is saturated with a shallow faith, a faith that is often based on the extent of what one can physically behold. “Seeing is believing” is the unspoken mantra of many. It compels people to trust in the tangible. To rely on commodities for hope and assurance, commodities like money, possessions, and property. Consequently, an invisible God becomes hard for such people to accept or promote because the Lord is not prone to manifest Himself in visually perceivable ways. Yes, God revealed Himself as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to the Israelites after they departed Egypt (Exodus 13:22). Yes, God revealed a glimpse of His awesome splendor and glory to Moses on the top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 33:23). And yes, God revealed Himself through the birth, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, the great (and only) God-man. But such moments in history are the exception, not the rule. While God has always been, and always will be, present, He has not frequently made Himself physically perceptible.

Moses’ message to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4 speaks to this contemplation and addresses a rampant dilemma: the dilemma of superficial belief. God’s mighty agent wisely cautioned his brethren to not practice a hollow faith. To not fall prey to a casual, lax reverence. The Hebrew people had recently been rescued from the throes of a kingdom that was wrought with false worship, a worship that gave excessive credence to nature. The ancient Egyptians adored what they could see and made images and symbols to crystallize their wayward spiritual philosophies. Moses implored the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4 to not follow suit. They were called by God to know Him and follow Him. They were set apart for a hugely important purpose: to reveal God’s message and mercy to the world.

So often humanity resorts to paying homage to what can be carved or crafted. But God’s immaculate majesty cannot be reduced or replicated to a single image. What could anyone fabricate that could accurately convey the holiness of God? What could anyone fashion that could capture the immeasurable strength of God? It is not the manmade statues or structures that move God; it is the willingness of people to yield their lives to Him in obedience, an obedience that does not require a physical demonstration of God’s existence for it to be rendered each and every day.   

The great challenge before mankind is to resist trying to interpret God through or confine Him to our limited understanding and cognitive view. After all, the reality is God was not made to live in a world of our design; we were made to live in a world He designed. We do well to get the proper perspective and let it humbly inspire, as well as deepen our faith. Perhaps the worldly mantra is backwards. Seeing is not believing. But believing (in God) is seeing (the world as God intended it to be). And not only is believing seeing, believing is freeing. Therefore, let us lead with our heart, not our eyes. Let us forever trust in the invisible, invincible God.

The Praiseful Ponder of God-Ordained Victories

“These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan…”

Deuteronomy 1:1   

As Moses neared the end of his leadership assignment the mighty prophet of God provided a series of sermons to his fellow Israelites. These sermons were convicting, profound, and memorable. Some of the parting words Moses declared to his kinsmen are captured in the book of Deuteronomy.

Moses’ opening declaration in Deuteronomy 1 is both historical and hopeful. The prophet reminded the Israelites how far God had brought them. Once enslaved, they were free. Once tormented, they were liberated. Once outcasts, they were chosen and set apart for God’s great purpose. And beyond that, the Israelites were being guided by the Lord to a region to inhabit, a region that was prosperous and fruitful.

There is something intensely moving about Moses’ proclamation in the opening chapters of Deuteronomy. More than anything, he ushered in a catalyzing call to dwell on the past God-ordained victories, victories that blazed bright like a torch on a pitch-black night. So often humanity reflects upon days and moments gone by to remember self-inflicted mistakes and missteps, or the mistakes and missteps of others. For example, spouses dredge up previous slipups during heated arguments. In the midst of confrontation, co-workers undergoing a strain in their office relationship pelt each other with verbal assaults highlighting bygone gaffes. But Moses presented a different outlook on history. He presented a history fixated on God, rather than man. This history was forever marked with God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Deliverance is a theme throughout Israel’s journey from Egypt. God’s covenantal followers, through God’s blessing and aid, demolished fortified towns, seemingly impenetrable strongholds, and overcame seasoned, strong warriors. They literally defeated giants of men. Through it all, God was the granter of triumph. He directed the people the entire way and He protected them the entire way. No logical or rational explanation could address how Israel, a nation of farmers at this point in time, could have conquered well-armed and defended territories, except that God had brought it about.

So may Moses’ charge resonate with today’s generation. May we look through the lens of history and see God’s providential, victorious hand everywhere. May we understand that God is the God of possibility, not impossibility. Overwhelming obstacles can be overcome. Heartache can be mended. Forgiveness can be rendered. Love can be exercised. In short, let us honor the great and mighty God, the God Who saved the Hebrews from pharaoh’s power. As we ponder the wondrous past of God’s activity may it inspire undying praise and adoration. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Benefit of God’s Boundaries

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance will have these boundaries….’”

Numbers 34:1-2

Humanity often takes the wrong view on boundaries. We perceive them as restrictive, unfulfilling, and stifling. We feel cooped up and repressed, believing that they keep us from experiencing everything life has to offer. Spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical boundaries feel like impediments, impediments that prevent us from knowing a meaningful, enjoyable existence. But if the boundaries we come across are established by God then our perspective is wholly flawed. For the limits God instills around us are generated in love, protection, and discipline.

Within God’s supreme authority there exists an order and structure to life. This order and structure is often at odds within us because it demands that we recognize God’s divinity is superior to our humanity. We are not an end to ourselves, contrary to our fleshly desire. It takes honest and humble souls to rightly confess that life is not about us; it is about the One Who made us. If we hold fast to this belief then we will gladly welcome God’s holy boundaries and not observe them through a rage-filled lens, but through a respect-filled lens. 

    

It is with this mindset, a mindset that acknowledges God’s boundaries are noble and good, that we consider Numbers 34:1-2. In this passage, the long-awaited time to enter the Promised Land was near. There was surely a sense of celebration and excitement as God revealed final instructions to Moses for the much-anticipated Israelite journey into the land God swore to His covenantal people. In His initial comments, God conveyed that each tribe was to have territorial boundaries. It might seem odd that God would articulate His blessing to the people by framing the blessing’s inherent borders. But to the heart that reveres God the full impact of these words are not confusing or cumbersome. And let us briefly examine why this is the case.

God’s boundaries serve to address our carnal limits, as well as remind us of the limitless kindness God bestows upon us. They shield us and show us God’s security and strength. They are a refuge for the followers of God. That God would care enough to outline margins of sanctuary further validates the vast, amazing concern God renders to mankind. We do well to embrace God’s boundaries and seek to stay on the right side of the Lord’s plumb line.

Humanity is certainly a curious lot. We are prone to question the Lord with reckless abandon and spurn Him with great haste. The natural inclination of man is to reject authority, particularly God’s authority. But God’s believers are empowered with the Holy Spirit to reject fleshly tendencies. So let His people take in Numbers 34:1-2, along with all the other numerous biblical boundaries articulated in Scripture, and adhere to them with utmost faith and fervor. Let us stay within God’s limits and praise Him for marking the way of love, protection, and discipline.