This post is Day 13 in a series of studies about “Mountains”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Mountains – Day 13

God was so very specific in his orders to Moses and Moses was very specific in his obedience, right up to his death. He knew as he made this farewell speech that he would not be the one to climb those mountains and proclaim those blessings and curses.

Deuteronomy 11:29

When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses.

The Thought

Today we look a bit further at the two Old Testament mountains mentioned yesterday. God was so very specific in his orders to Moses and Moses was very specific in his obedience, right up to his death. He knew as he made this “farewell speech” that he would not be the one to climb those mountains and proclaim those blessings and curses. But Joshua who followed Moses as leader of this nation obeyed God’s orders to the letter (Joshua 8:33).

All our lives we face situations where we have to choose to obey or not. Some disobedience can have very serious consequences.

The long list of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience which Moses read out to the Israelites can be found in Deuteronomy 28, but earlier in today’s chapter we read of promised strength in return for the people’s obedience. Observe therefore, all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, and so that you may live long in the land that the Lord swore to your forefathers to give them and their descendants; a land flowing with milk and honey (Deuteronomy 11:8-9).

Action

Think today about your childhood, was there a clear motivation to obedience, or a distinct lack of discipline? Were you “naturally good” or “naturally naughty”?

Think about your life of obedience as it is today. What is your reaction to speeding regulations, staying on the path in a garden or park, jumping the queue in a bar or café?

Read Deuteronomy 28 and thank God for those rules He gave so long ago, that are still relevant today.