God is a faithful father: when He says something, you can stake your life on it (Deut. 7:9-11). Faithfulness matters because each of us depends on other people. When that dependence is affirmed, we flourish. But faithfulness can be hard—how do we remain faithful when life is unpredictable, frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes feels unrewarding?

Like every good father, God disciplines His children. But discipline can be hard, frustrating, and painful. Hebrews 12:4-14 says we should neither (1) make light of God’s discipline nor (2) lose heart because of it. Rather, we should receive God’s discipline as a source of righteousness, peace, and holiness. God’s discipline should encourage us: it is evidence that we are His children.

A covenant is a personal agreement between parties where each side formally offers loyalty to the other in exchange for blessings. God has often worked through covenants: for God, it’s personal. He offered Israel a covenant through Moses, and He offers us a new covenant through Jesus (Heb. 8:6-13; 1 Cor. 11:25). Once we enter God’s covenant, we must honor our part. If we do, rich blessings will abound. If we do not, we curse ourselves and our descendants.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23 ESV).

The journey from baptism to sanctification can be very long. We stumble, fall, doubt, struggle, and sin. None of us has fully lived up to the commitment we expressed in our baptism. But God is full of grace, and He longs for His children. When we fall, He wants us to get back up. In His rich mercy, God welcomes do-overs.

After having led the Israelites out of slavery and through the wilderness, Moses’ time has come to an
end. At 120 years old, Moses must now pass the torch to his assistant, Joshua. In doing so, Moses
commands Joshua to be strong and courageous - displaying the faith necessary to lead God’s people. This exhortation to be strong and courageous is given not only to Joshua, but to all of Israel as well. In the face of a change in leadership and fierce battles soon to come, God makes one thing certain: cowardice is not an option.

The song of Moses presumes a spiritual battle between God and the forces of evil—who presented themselves to Israel as idols (cf., 1 Cor. 10:20). But we, too, are engaged in a great spiritual battle. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). If you fail to understand the spiritual nature of this war, you cannot win.

Deuteronomy 32:16-17 and 37-39, Galatians 6:10-18

As Moses prepares to die, he assures the Israelites that they can depend on God. Isaiah says it well: “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal” (Isa. 26:3-4). But the history of Israel is filled with famine, pestilence, pandemics, poverty, war, captivity, and the like. Given the actual history of Israel, how can Moses make such bold statements about God’s providential care? And what about you? Can you trust God?

Deuteronomy 33:29

Each of us is sustained by hope—the belief that the future is brighter. Hope comforts us, unites us, and draws us forward. When the Israelites stood on the bank of the Jordan, their hearts were filled with hope. One day, we, too, will cross the Jordan, and this hope sustains us even today. “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Deuteronomy 34