Moses wanted to stress to the Israelites the importance of obeying the Lord in the here and now.
He looked ahead to a future day when, after facing the consequences of their disobedience, the children of Israel would return to the Lord. They would come back to the promised land to embrace what God had given them.
“When all these things have happened to you, the blessings and the curses that I have set before you, if you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you
And return to the Lord your God, and you and your children obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today,
Then the Lord your God will return you from your captivity and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the Lord your God has scattered you” (Deuteronomy 3:1-3).
The Bible offers an interesting take on responses. It tells us that God initiates our repentance.
For the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and they shall take possession of it (Jeremiah 30:3).
Yet, it also says we are responsible for our own repentance, as mentioned in the verses above.
John Wesley referred to the grace of God that draws us to Him as “prevenient grace.” Wesley spoke of God’s initiation, which allows us to respond to Him. Although God shows us His grace, we are responsible for accepting it and living in accordance with it.
Return from Exile
Being exiled from your homeland is a tragedy. Just ask the thousands of Ukrainians who have fled or been forcibly taken from their land as children. But there’s something even worse than being exiled from your land: being exiled from God’s presence.
God promised the Israelites that if they returned to Him, He would bring them back to their land.
While we may not have a physical land to be exiled from, we do have the chance to build a close relationship with God when we turn back to Him.
Moreover, God promises to be active in our lives, helping us find the desire to return to him.
“Moreover, the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:6).
Moses emphasized that only God can change the human heart. He then reminded the people of God’s expectations. For Israel to receive the promised blessings, they must repent, obey God, and live fully according to His commands.
Then you shall again obey the Lord, observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, and the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil.
For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors, when you obey the Lord your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 30:8-10).
Reflections
Today, I tried a prayer experiment recommended in a book I’ve been reading. This experiment focuses on God’s willingness to help us change from the inside out. Here are the steps to connect with God.
(1) Take a few minutes to recognize that you are in God’s presence.
(2) Tell God how you need the Holy Spirit and His grace to truly meet with Him.
(3) Spend some time meditating on a passage of scripture.
(4) Talk to God about your thoughts during meditation and make any commitments to Him.
(5) Live out the changes you discussed with God, empowered by His Spirit.
Whether you want to return to God or remain in a close relationship with Him, you may want to try this method and see how it helps your connection with the Lord.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 