Deuteronomy 30:11-20 - Moses’ Charge to the People

11Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?”13Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 14No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe. 15See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Background to the Book of Deuteronomy: The word Deuteronomy simply means second law. More helpful might be to understand it as a second telling of the law, or a retelling of the story of God’s covenant with Israel. It includes a theological retelling of much of the material in the early book of Exodus, as well an expanded code of the Law. It is, in a sense, political theology and it is all, every word, a book about relationships—God’s relationship with Israel and Israel’s response both to God and to humankind.

Traditionally this fifth book of the Bible, along with the first four, was ascribed to the hand of the beloved Moses. Much of it is set as speeches or sermons given by Moses on the plain before the people cross into the land of promise to possess it. Whether you think that Moses is directly behind the writing of this book or whether it is a later theological compilation of the story, it is clear that the final version of the book came together centuries after Israel’s conquest of the land. The writer looks back, sometimes from the chastening experiences of Israel’s failure to keep the covenant, to see these ancient warnings as both a lens through which to look at the failures and a cautionary tale for the future. The final edited version dates from about 500 BCE.

A significant part of Deuteronomy involves a retelling of the stories of the wilderness in an attempt to learn the lessons of the wilderness once and for all. That is where we pick up our story today. The people have wandered for forty years trying to learn what then needed to know in order to enter into the land of promise. They have been reluctant students, especially of the lessons that God is their sole provider and that the only way of life that is fit for life and that God’s ways are the only pathway that leads to the land of milk and honey.

Word Study
Vs. 11 – commandment – (Heb. Mitzvah) - means a rule, a boundary or a law. Mitzvot were always seen as positives. They were the loving pathway that God lays to lead people to blessing.
Too far away – this word means hidden, hard, wonderful, miraculous or out of reach.
Vs. 12 – say – means to declare, to speak or to certify.
Go up – means to ascend up or leap up or to excel.
Hear – (Heb. Shema) This is a very important word in Hebrew it means to hear intelligently and then act upon that which is heard.
Vs. 13 – cross – the root of this word means to be in bondage, to labor, to serve or even sometimes to worship. This could be translated ‘who will labor to get us to the other side.’ The sense of what Moses is saying is that the journey will not be too much for them. They have what it takes. It is not beyond them.
Vs. 14 – word – (Heb. Dabar) – This is the word for a decree, declaration of the deep matter of a thing.
Heart – this word refers to the inner person, the seat of the emotions, one’s character, conscience and personality.
Vs. 15 – life – (Heb. Chay) – means life, vigor, revive, raw, fresh in every part of self.
Death – this word means to be slain. It is something unnatural, something God did not want to happen as a result of sin.
Adversity – (Heb. Ra) something that is bad, inferior quality, wicked or evil.
Vs. 16 – walking in his ways – (Heb. Derek) This word refers to one’s way of life or life journey
Live – (Heb. Chayah)- means to live, to exist, to enjoy life, to be well.
Bless – (Heb. Barak) – the word refers to a kindly, benevolent gesture.
Vs. 17 – bow down -means to worship.
Serve – to work for, labor or toil, to work as a slave.
Vs. 18 – declare – to bring forward, to bring to light.
Today – (Heb. Yom) – this word is used of a day, a year, a life, sometime or at present.
Perish – (Heb. Habad) – There are more than 50 Hebrew words for some form of destroy. This one signifies not just death, but desolation. It is the word used for the overthrow of a nation.
Vs. 19 – Heaven – (Heb. Shamayim) This is word for skies, where birds fly. It implies being nearer to God.
Earth – this is the word for the physical planet and its inhabitants.
Curses – vilification, reviling, reproach.
Choose – this word means to select, to be pleased, to love, to take a keen look and select something. It means to make a thoughtful choice.
Vs. 20 – swore – this is an important concept in Hebrew thought. It means to pledge one’s life to something, to confirm the things inviolate claim on a person.

Questions for Personal Reflection
1. When you think of God’s law or rules for blessing, which of those rules have you experienced as most helpful and life giving? Do any of them ever feel too hard for you?

2. Moses want the people to know that they have what it takes, with God’s guidance, to take the next steps in their journey. Are there ever times when you feel like you don’t have what it takes? What do you find helpful in times like that to get you, or keep you, going?

3. Moses tells the people that the depth of what God desires is deeply planted inside of them. What do you find most deeply implanted in your own heart? Do you ever find that your heart turns from God’s ways? In what circumstances are you most vulnerable to that? What things help you to return?

4. Take a moment this week to relax and think back on your faith walk. Thank God the direction and strength that has brought you to today and will lead on from this moment and forever.