Getting Back to God (Deuteronomy 29: 1-29)

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Today's  episode offers insights into the themes of disobedience, scattering, repentance, and restoration. If you’ve ever felt distant from God and wondered how to return, this study will resonate deeply with you. Let’s explore the promises and principles Moses laid out for Israel and discover how they apply to our lives today.

Key Themes

• Disobedience and Scattering:
  • Moses addresses the inevitability of Israel's disobedience and the resulting scattering among the nations (Deut. 30:1-3).
• Return and Restoration:
  • Despite their disobedience, Moses promises that if they return to God with all their heart and soul, God will restore their fortunes and gather them from where they have been scattered (Deut. 30:4-6).
• Heart Transformation:
  • True restoration involves a transformation of the heart, symbolized by the "circumcision of the heart," leading to a genuine love for God (Deut. 30:6).
• God’s Justice and Compassion:
  • God’s justice will be enacted on Israel’s enemies, and His compassion will lead to Israel’s renewed obedience (Deut. 30:7-10).
• Accessibility of God's Commandments:
  • Moses emphasizes that God's commandments are not beyond reach but are near, in their mouth and heart, making obedience achievable (Deut. 30:11-14).
• The Choice Between Life and Death:
  • Moses sets before the Israelites a clear choice: life and prosperity through obedience or death and destruction through disobedience (Deut. 30:15-20).

Detailed Study Notes

Verses 1-3: Future Restoration Promised

• Context: Reflects on Deuteronomy 28's blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
• Promise: Despite scattering, a wholehearted return to God will lead to restoration.

Verses 4-6: The Depth of Restoration

• Promise: Even from distant lands, God will gather and restore Israel.
• Heart Transformation: God promises to circumcise their hearts, signifying deep inner change and true love for Him.

Verses 7-10: God’s Justice and Compassion

• Divine Justice: The curses will fall upon Israel’s enemies.
• Renewed Obedience: Restoration leads to a renewed commitment to God’s commands.

Verses 11-14: Accessibility of God’s Commands

• Assurance: God's commands are within reach, not hidden or inaccessible.
• New Testament Parallel: Paul in Romans 10:6-10 echoes this, emphasizing the nearness of the word and the simplicity of faith in Christ.

Verses 15-20: The Choice Laid B

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Transcript

Getting Back to God.  (Deuteronomy 29:1-29)

Transcript

On more than one occasion, I've had someone say to me something along the lines of, "I used to walk with the Lord, but I've drifted away. How do I get back to Him?"

Embedded in that question is a sense of uncertainty and doubt—an attitude that suggests they feel too far gone to return.

This isn’t an uncommon experience for me as a pastor, but what strikes me about it is that this very dilemma is addressed by Moses in Deuteronomy 30.

While at first glance this chapter might not seem directly applicable to such personal struggles, it actually deals with the concept of departing from and returning to the Lord.

So today let’s look into Deuteronomy 30 where Moses speaks about a future regathering of Israel, which presupposes a prior scattering in todays episode of…..

So today let’s look today into Deuteronomy 30 where Moses speaks about a future regathering of Israel, which of course presupposes a prior scattering in This interweaving of scattering and regathering forms the core of the first section of the chapter.

Future Restoration Promised

Verses 1-3:

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes[a] and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.

(Deuteronomy 30: 1-3)

These verses remind us of the blessings and curses detailed in Deuteronomy 28, a famous chapter known for its laying out of the conditions of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. 

Moses was clear: disobedience will lead to scattering, but there is hope for restoration if they return to the Lord with all their heart and soul.

The key theme here is that of disobedience and return

Moses had passionately urged the nation to obey the Lord's commands, highlighting the blessings and curses as motivation. Yet, he understood the nature of his people and that apostasy was inevitable and severe consequences would follow. This acknowledgment sets the stage for the main message of Deuteronomy 30.

The process can be outlined as follows:

1.     Disobedience: The Israelites' failure to follow God's commands leads to scattering.

2.     Scattering: As a result of their disobedience, they are driven among the nations.

3.     Return to the Lord: In their scattered state, they are called to remember the blessings and curses, prompting a return to the Lord.

4.     Compassion and Restoration: Upon their return, the Lord will have compassion on them and gather them from all the nations.

Moses had passionately urged the nation to obey the Lord and His commands and had set the blessings and curses before them to motivate them not to be disobedient. Yet, he knew his fickle and stubborn people well enough to realize that their apostasy was inevitable and that the worst of these consequences would come upon them. And it is this fact that encapsulates the cycle of disobedience, scattering, repentance, and restoration.

Moses tells them that their actions will drive them out among the nations but promises they will return to the Lord and obey His voice. 

This return is not just about mere obedience but about restoring a relationship with the Lord. It's not just a matter of following rules but of reconnecting with God.

Consider how Jesus summed up the entire law with two commandments: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbour as yourself. Thus, the focus is on relationships—first with God, then with each other. It’s about a relational obedience born out of love and connection, not just rule-following.

For anyone feeling distant from God, this passage offers hope. It reassures us that no matter how far we may stray, we can always return to the Lord. 

The journey back simply involves recognizing our disobedience, repenting, and restoring our relationship with God. True obedience flows from a heart fully aligned with Him.

With that in mind, let’s move on to verse 4.

4 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. 5 He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. 6 The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. 

(Deuteronomy 30: 4-6)

In these verses, Moses conveys an important promise. Even if the people are scattered to the furthest parts of the earth, God will gather them back and restore them. This speaks to the future regathering of Israel, emphasizing that although it was disobedience the lead to scattering, however God’s compassion leads to restoration.

In verses 1-3, Moses acknowledges the people’s inherent tendency to disobey. He predicted their scattering due to disobedience but also assures them of a future regathering. But the opening verses then also go to highlight this physical regathering, a return to the land once possessed by their ancestors.

God promises not only to bring them back but also to prosper them more than their fathers.

This regathering is not just a physical relocation; it signifies a deeper restoration. God’s commitment to His people remains steadfast despite their disobedience. The theme here is one of hope and future blessing, even after judgment.

Verse 6 introduced a crucial element of spiritual renewal. God promises to "circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants." This symbolic circumcision signifies a intense inner transformation, enabling them to love God fully.

The issue is not merely about outward obedience but an inward change, a heart turned toward God.

This concept circumcision of the heart is pivotal. It suggests that something obstructing the wholehearted love for God needs to be removed. This inner transformation is foundational to true obedience, because it is rooted in a unrestricted genuine relationship with God.

Moses hints here at something more profound than the Mosaic Covenant—what later prophets would call the New Covenant. This new relationship involves a permanent change in the people’s hearts, aligning them with God’s will.

Jeremiah and other prophets expand on this idea, describing a future where God's law is going to be written in the hearts of His people, leading to a renewed and faithful relationship with Him.

Moses, in fact, anticipates a new covenant at some future date that would eventually replace the Mosaic Covenant." This new covenant will bring about a radical regeneration, enabling Israel to love and obey God wholeheartedly.

7 The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. 8 You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today.

(Deuteronomy 30: 4-7)

Verse 7 shifts the focus to God’s justice. The curses of disobedience described in Deuteronomy 28 will be transferred to Israel's enemies. This divine retribution underscores God’s protective love for His people and His commitment to their ultimate well-being.

However, after the regathering and heart transformation, the people will again obey God’s commandments. This renewed obedience is not out of fear but out of a transformed heart that loves God.

The principles shown here have profound implications for believers today:

·         Hope in Restoration: No matter how far we stray, God’s promise of restoration remains. Our disobedience may lead to consequences, but God’s compassion offers a way back.

·         Heart Transformation: True obedience flows from a transformed heart. Our relationship with God is central, not merely following rules.

·         New Covenant Promises: We live under the New Covenant, where God’s Spirit works within us, enabling us to love and obey Him.

·         God’s Justice: God’s protection extends to dealing justly with our enemies, assuring us of His comprehensive care.

God then continues to speak through Moses reminding the people of God's Promises of blessings that can be brough about by their obedience

9 Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, 10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

(Deuteronomy 30:9-10)

In these verses, Moses transitions from discussing the curses placed upon Israel's enemies to outlining the blessings that will come upon the Israelites upon their return to obedience. The blessings include prosperity in all aspects of life: productivity in their work, fertility in their families, growth in their livestock, and abundance in their land's produce. Moses again emphasizes that these blessings are contingent on obedience. 

The specific blessings mentioned here echo those found in Deuteronomy 28, where the blessings of obedience and curses of disobedience are detailed. This connection reinforces that the principles of reward and punishment under the Mosaic Covenant remain consistent. The reference to the fathers extends beyond Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, encompassing all obedient ancestors.

One commentary I read on this section outlines seven steps in Israel's future experience as possibilities:

1.     Repentance during dispersion

2.     Regathering

3.     Restoration of the land

4.     National conversion

5.     Judgment of Israel's oppressors

6.     National prosperity

These steps outline a prophetic vision for Israel, encompassing both physical and spiritual restoration.

Moses' message highlights God’s unwavering commitment to His people. Despite their disobedience and resulting dispersion, God promises restoration, both physically and spiritually. But remember this restoration is contingent upon their repentance and return to obedience. 

The prophetic vision outlined in these verses’ points to a future fulfilment, encompassing physical regathering, spiritual renewal, and ultimate blessing.

For believers today, these promises underscore the importance of a relationship with God characterized by love and obedience. True prosperity and blessing stem from a heart transformed by God, enabling genuine obedience. 

The principles of reward and punishment remain relevant today,  still reminding us of the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of returning to God. 

The Mosaic Covenant and Future Fulfilment

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it?’ 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it.

(Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

In these verses, Moses transitions to emphasize the accessibility and clarity of God's commandments. He assures the Israelites that the commandments are not beyond their reach or comprehension but are close to them describing them as being, “”in their mouth and heart. This passage underscores the idea that obedience to God is not an unattainable mystery but a practical and achievable expectation.

Moses emphasizes that the commandment he delivers is neither mysterious nor inaccessible. The Hebrew term translated as "mysterious” or is some translations "extraordinary or beyond one's power”. Moses thereby assures the Israelites that they do not need to ascend to heaven or cross the sea to understand or obey God's commandment. Instead, the word is "near," residing in their mouth and heart. This nearness signifies that God's commandments are inherently understandable and within their ability of anyone to follow.

The Apostle Paul specifically references this passage from Deuteronomy in Romans 10: 6-10 to illustrate the accessibility of salvation through faith in Christ. There we find Paul asserts that the word of faith is near, in the mouth and heart, echoing Moses' assurance to the Israelites seen here. 

Paul applies this concept whole heartedly to the Christian message, emphasizing that confession with the mouth and belief in the heart is that which leads to salvation.

Let me quote the entire text.

But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”(that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

(Romans 10: 6-10)

Paul's use of Deuteronomy underscores that salvation is not a complex or distant goal but is readily accessible through faith in Christ. 

Confession and belief are the two key elements Paul highlights, reflecting the idea that faith is both internal (belief in the heart) and external (confession with the mouth).

For contemporary believers, Moses' message in Deuteronomy particularly when aligned with Paul's exposition in Romans convey the profound truth that God's commandments and the message of salvation are not beyond our reach.  Obedience to God and faith in Christ are both accessible and practical. This accessibility removes any excuse for disobedience or unbelief, challenging all of us even today to respond wholeheartedly to God's call.

Paul continues his exposition of Deuteronomy in the verses that follow.

13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

(Romans 10:13-15)

Paul now outlines a sequence of events essential for salvation, emphasizing the necessity of sending, preaching, hearing, believing, and calling on the Lord. He underscores the necessity of a preacher first to proclaim the message so that people can hear and they then believe, leading them to call upon the name of the Lord for salvation.

1.     Sending: Preachers must be sent. Of course in the modern technological worid this can now take on many new and different formats)

2.     Preaching: The sent ones must proclaim the gospel.

3.     Hearing: People need to hear the preached message.

4.     Believing: Hearing leads to believing in Christ.

5.     Calling: Believers then call upon the Lord.

Paul emphasizes that salvation involves both a declaration of faith (confessing with the mouth) and an internal belief (believing in the heart). This process starts with someone being sent and culminates in salvation when one upon hearing the message calls upon the Lord.

Paul's explanation reflects the three tenses of salvation, a well-recognized theological concept:

·         Past Tense: Justification - "I have been saved" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

·         Present Tense: Sanctification - "I am being saved" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

·         Future Tense: Glorification - "I will be saved" (Romans 13:11).

The Deuteronomy text continues. 30:15-20 (NKJV):

15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 

19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30: 15-20)

In these closing verses of chapter 30, Moses presents a clear choice to the Israelites: life and good, versus death and evil. 

He urges them to choose life by loving God, walking in His ways, and keeping His commandments. This choice is not only about individual survival but also about communal prosperity and longevity in the Promised Land.

Moses underscores that the fundamental commandment is to love the Lord. This love leads to obedience, which in turn brings blessings and life. 

He sets the decision in a solemn context by calling heaven and earth as witnesses, highlighting the gravity and public nature of the covenant.

But he also flags up the consequences of turning away

Turning away from God, worshiping other gods, and disobeying His commandments will result in death and expulsion from the land. Moses makes it clear that their prosperity and continued dwelling in the land depend on their fidelity to God.

Paul's exposition in Romans 10 complements Moses' message in Deuteronomy 30. Because both texts emphasize the proximity and accessibility of God's word and the importance of responding to it. 

Moses' call to choose life by loving and obeying God parallels Paul's call to salvation through faith and confession in Christ. Both highlight that the word of God is near and within reach, urging a response of faith and obedience.

Deuteronomy 30 and Romans 10 when taken together underscore the clarity and accessibility of God's commandments and the gospel message. 

Moses and Paul both emphasize that the word is near and attainable, encouraging us to respond by loving God, obeying His commandments, and placing our faith in Christ.

This response leads to life, blessing, and salvation, both now and in the future. The choice is set before us, and the call is to choose life by embracing God's word and walking in His ways.

So, the first large portion of this chapter is about the fact that if you return to God, He will regather you.

Then, God reminds them of the commandment: you don’t have to search for it in the sea or fly into the atmosphere to get it—it’s as close as your heart and your mouth. That’s the commandment part.

The second part is about the choice laid before them: Life and death. Blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life.

This chapter summarizes by presenting the choice clearly: life through obedience and death through disobedience. The light of the nation was to consist of their obedience to the Lord, which could be passed down from one generation to another, since godly parents usually produce godly children. Parents who choose to obey the Lord also make a significant choice toward their posterity, since the Lord is their life.

No wonder Moses concludes the message by urging the people to love the Lord, listen to Him, and hold fast to Him. 

You have a choice; human beings are free to choose. You can choose obedience, which leads to life and blessing, or disobedience, which leads to judgment.

So, if you fell you have drifted away from the Lord the way back to Him and the way to experience of His blessing is to choose to love Him and return to Him with a heart of love. 

Out of that love comes obedience and blessing. It’s real simple: here’s the way of obedience for life and disobedience for death. Therefore, choose life. That sums up the message.

So even here in the Old Testament we see that it is not just about obeying the law. This goes way beyond chapter 28. It’s about coming to the Lord, loving Him, walking with Him, and being attached to Him. 

It’s personal, not legal. It’s personal; it’s love, not law. If you think it’s all about obeying the Lord without understanding the relationship, you’re prone to become disillusioned and more likely to disobey.

What’s startling about this chapter is that Moses foresees their disobedience,  a disobedience so severe that God will kick them out of the land.

That’s the whole point of the Old Testament: it starts in Genesis 12 with Abraham. God says, "Come here, I want to show you something. I’m going to give you this land." But they end up in idolatry and adultery. Yet God, in His unmatchable grace, says, "I’m going to bring you back. I’m going to circumcise that rebellious heart of yours, put My Spirit in you"—this is the New Covenant—"and I’m going to bless you."

This is all clearly an illustration of God’s compassion, mercy, and grace. The fickleness of man and the unmatchable grace of God are evident: "I’m going to bring you back and bless you. What I want you to do is stick close to Me, love Me, and leave all that other stuff behind.

When I left college back in 1978, I worked for an insurance company called the Prudential. During that time I came to understand that some types of insurance policies and legal contracts are non-renewable. 

If the terms of the agreement are broken or if too many claims are made, the recipient can be refused re-insurance. The benefits once enjoyed by the holder no longer apply. The coverage that was formerly offered is retracted once and for all. 

However in our relationship with the Lord, this can never happen. At no time does He withdraw His love from us and shut the door to restoring fellowship. If we default in our commitment to Him, Yes, God looks upon the sin as a serious matter and persisting on a wayward course leads to painful consequences. The Heavenly Father may ven begins to apply pressure upon our lives to bring us face to face with our responsibility to Him. 

He may even chasten us severely through the removal of all the earthly attachments that have come between us and Himself.  Then, as we stand stripped of pride and self-trust, He extends to us open arms and a gracious invitation to return to Him and find rest for our souls. 

The hardness of our heart and rebellion can break the intimate communion between us, but from God’s point of view, it can always be re-established. 

Perhaps someone listening today is saying to themselves, 'I've wandered too far to come back. The Lord has given up on me long ago.' 

Well, God here says, Wait a minute, friend, don't deceive yourself. That kind of thinking is a subtle excuse for not  returning anew to God. As long as we are alive our fellowship with Him is renewable."

Are assurance of salvation is not like an insurance policy we may take out in life, it’s a relationship with the Lord. 

So, when you find felling alone and distant, or even if you find yourself in rebellion and far from Him, remember the issue is not about the commandments, and the law, it's about returning to Him as a loving child, and that opportunity is available to you as long as you have breath in your body.