Moses teaches the new generation

Deuteronomy Chapter 6

Moses was determined to not have this new generation of Israelites make the same mistakes the people made which caused them to wander 40 years in the wilderness. He wanted to whet their appetite for the new land and the laws and regulations they must follow.

Moses tells the people to obey God's laws and commands and they will enjoy a long life. All will go well, he says, if you obey and then you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord promised you. He tells them to love the Lord with all their hearts and souls and strength. He tells them to pass the commands down to their children and talk about them when they are at home, or away on a journey, or when lying down or getting up. Commit, he asks them, to these commandments and tie them to your hands as a reminder and wear them on your forehead, or write them on the doorposts of your house or gate.

He tells them that they are about to enter a land that is filled with large, prosperous cities that they did not build. The houses will be found filled with goods the Israelites did not produce and they would draw water from cisterns they did not dig and eat from vineyards and olive trees they did not plant. He warns them that when they had eaten their fill, to be careful not to forget the Lord who rescued them from slavery. Fear the Lord, Moses says, and serve him. Again he warns them to not worship any idols or God's anger can flare up and wipe them from the face of the earth.

In the future, Moses says, your children will ask what is the meaning of all these stipulations, laws and regulations the Lord has given us? And you must tell them the story of how the Israelites were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought you out and gave miraculous signs and wonders. Tell them about how the Lord promised your ancestors this land and commanded them to obey his laws.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW that later Jesus said that loving God with all of ourselves is the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22: 37-39).
One reason the Hebrews were so successful at making religion an integral part of life was because religious education was life-oriented, not information-oriented. God must be part of every one's everyday life. Teach the children to see God in all aspects of life, not just those that are church related.

How does this chapter relate to us today? Often when we are in a prosperous time, we put the Lord on a back burner, so to speak. We start feeling successful and less sensitive to God. We concentrate on self-preservation instead of thankfulness and service to our God. An example might be some of our churches. Don't some of them get larger and more opulent? Doesn't it seem that success should be passed around to the real purposes of faith, such as helping our fellow man?. God has a way of bringing us down to earth in a jolting manner now and then. He does not promise that there won't be bad times as well as good. He does not promise there won't be sadness or poverty. What he does promise is a good relationship with those who love him with all their hearts.
Praise be to God!

Yours in Christ,
Mary