Moses First Address

Deuteronomy Chapter 4

Moses uses this chapter to urge the Israelites to listen carefully to the laws and regulations they must obey in order to live and occupy the land of the Lord. He tells them to not add or subtract from these commands, just obey them. He reminds them of the time at Baal-peor when the Lord destroyed everyone who worshipped the false idol, but those who remained faithful were allowed to live.

Further, Moses tells the Israelites if they obey the commandments, they will show their wisdom and intelligence and surrounding nations will marvel at how wise and prudent they are. He warns them to never forget what they have seen and to pass down to their children and grandchildren the story of how Moses stood before the Lord at Mount Sinai and was told to instruct the people in the Lord's laws. And how the Lord spoke to the people from a fire and made a covenant with them in the form of the ten commandments written in stone.

Warning them again, Moses said the people never saw the form of God, so they should not make any physical image of him, nor worship the sun, moon, stars. Moses told of how the Lord was angry with him because he broke a covenant and thus was not able to cross the Jordan to be in the promised land. And he told them not to break any of the covenant or the same anger of the Lord would befall them.
He told of a time far off in the future when they would be scattered among nations and only a few remaining would be worshiping idols, but could find God once again if they search with all their heart and soul.

Moses stressed to the people that there is only one God and no other nation has ever heard his voice. He rescued them and gave them signs, wonders and awesome power and showed them these things so they could realize the Lord is God and is Lord and God in heaven and on earth.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW that this is a wonderful first address by Moses and I hope you will read it in it's entirety. Moses meant for the people to keep the laws unchanged. All of God's laws had a purpose and were directed to people of that time and culture. Although specific law may not apply to us, the timeless truth and principle behind the law does.

God did not excuse other nations for idol worship, but he was saying that judgment for the Israelites would be swift and complete because Israel knew God's laws.

How does this chapter relate to us in today's world? So much of this chapter applies to the Israelites of long ago and still is relevant today. The ten commandments still apply to Christians today. Other rules such as sacrifices were changed because Jesus was our ultimate sacrifice and thus Old Testament laws were fulfilled.It is still important to tell our children and grandchildren about Moses and the Israelites journey and how the Lord worked in the lives of the people.

Idol worship can be many things in today's world. It doesn't have to be keeping statues around the house, but it also involves evil qualities and beliefs such as prostitution, war, murder, self-centeredness etc. How tempted are we to look everywhere else but to God for our leadership? We trust doctors, financial advisors and the news media, but we need to get God's guidance first!

God guarantees the Israelite people would prosper, but it did not mean they wouldn't have sickness, sadness and disputes. We face trials today just as these people did in the time of Moses. But we have to remember that if we truly want to know God, we need only look in our own hearts to find him.
Praise be to God!

Yours in Christ,
Mary