Year of the Bible: Part Four of Twelve Sample

Second Law.

The book of Deuteronomy opens with the people of Israel waiting to go into the Promised land. They had arrived on the East side of the Jordan and now faced a land occupied by people who opposed them. The name Deuteronomy is the Greek equivalent of "Second Law."

Moses, Caleb, and Joshua were the only remaining living adults that had exited Egypt. All the other people are now a new generation, and they had been small children or unborn when the nation had made their covenant with God at Mt. Sinai. This generation had not said "we will" to God regarding obeying the law and keeping God as their only God.

So, Moses reminded them of the law and the covenant. Moses recalled the narratives of Exodus and Numbers as he prepared the new generation of Israelites to enter their land. He recounted how they left Horeb (another name for Sinai), the appointment of judges, the sending out of the spies, and the Israelites' subsequent rebellion against God. He reminded the people that their fathers had been unfaithful and encouraged them to renew their commitment to God.

David Pawson says, "History repeats itself, and it has to because no one listens." God wants us to be history makers, not repeaters. He has a vision for our lives and purposes for us to fulfill. We have the incredible gift of the Bible that helps us see history and take the challenge to follow the Holy Spirit to new hope in Jesus.

Question: What are some ways you have seen history repeat itself in your family, country, a friend group?

Prayer Focus: Ask God to show you some practical ways that you can turn away from repeating history that has not been life-giving. Journal a few thoughts about how He may be calling you to write a new chapter that eliminates victory for the enemy!