Review Days

I think every school aged child longs for the summer break. In the summer there is a relaxed bedtime, no homework, days at play and at the pool. In summer there is a sense of freedom. When I was in school, it did not take me long to figure out the markers that proclaimed that summer was coming. Less homework, more movies and play in school, and review days. It seems that every year in school, we reached a point where we stopped to review what we learned through the school year. In high school, these days were followed by final exams. But then summer came! Glorious summer!

The Book of Deuteronomy is like the review days in school. All the promises of a land, freedom, and a home that God had prepared for His people are just across the Jordan River. The people have come out of forty years of wandering in the wilderness. They stand ready to enter the Promised Land. But before they do, Moses stands before them and calls them to remember. This generation that he speaks to has grown up in the wilderness. They don’t remember the experiences of Egyptian bondage. They were not old enough, indeed most of them were probably not even alive at the time of the Exodus. The Red Sea parting, the fire, smoke, lightning, and shaking at Mt. Sinai are stories told by their now dead parents and grand-parents. Moses looks out on the Israelites and knows that they need to review the hand of God and His promises to His people before they can enter Canaan. So we have the Book of Deuteronomy. The review days before one time in their lives ends and another begins.

The Book of Deuteronomy encompasses the events of about forty days. Its contents are defined by a series of speeches that Moses gives to the people. In these speeches we have a call to obedience and faithfulness. We have warnings against unbelief and rebellion. And it all starts with a reminder and a review of how the people got here.

As the Israelites stand on the Plains of Moab, Moses begins by recounting their history from Egypt to now. Chapters 1-3 tell the story of how the people came to Sinai and then wandered in the wilderness. It is a story of God’s leadership and a reminder that God has moved with purpose and power in the lives of His people. It is a warning against the rebellion that a generation of people participated in when they lost faith and gave into fear at conquering the land God had promised. It is a call to follow where God leads and trust what God says.

Chapters 4-5 are a recap of the Law. Moses repeats the 10 Commandments, reminding the people that God has set a standard for His people to live by. The 10 Commandments are a covenant between God and the children of Israel. They define a way of living and interacting with God and the people around them. The 10 Commandments give the people an identity and a purpose in life. They offer a relationship with God and define what it means to be His.

Moses knows that in order to walk into the promise of God, His people must have faith. Faith is defined as knowing, trusting, and moving with God. Moses reminds the people about knowing God in His movement among them. The way He has freed them from bondage and called them into relationship. Moses wants them to trust God so he reminds them that God is their provider. Manna in the wilderness, daily guidance, overcoming hunger, and the defeat of Israel’s enemies all point to the power of God at work in His people. Moses knows that eh people need to trust God as they prepare to conquer Canaan. As the people prepare to move into the Promised Land, they are called to know and trust God. So Moses reviews.

Reviewing was important for Israel, and it is important for us. You and I walk in a land that is often hostile to Christians. But we must remember that we walk in and into the promise of God every day. Embedding the Bible is about knowing God. Becoming intimate with His character and love for us. Learning to love Him and rest in the relationship that He offers. Embedding the Bible builds trust in God. Seeing Him move in history and the daily lives of His people help us see how He moves in our lives. Stories of redemption and salvation are not only about others, they are markers which show us how God is redeeming and saving His people today. How He is working in my life in this moment. Embedding the Bible teaches me how to move with God. How to surrender my heart to His heart, my will to His will. Embedding grows faith as it reviews the story of God.

This week look for the reminders of what God is doing. We stand in the review days. The days that call us to see a future that is glorious with freedom. The days that raise hope. Don’t forget that God is moving now. We are not simply waiting for the end. We are watching and moving with God today. Hold that in balance with a longing for tomorrow. God’s people are a blessed people because God is present in every moment.