Remember and Obey

As Moses prepares the people for their entrance into the Promised Land, he reviews their history and the law with them.

It's important for them to connect their history with the law and Moses makes that clear in Deuteronomy 4:1-14.

"And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD the God of your fathers, is giving you...Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor..." (vs 1-3).

Moses continues to recount specific events where God was clearly involved in their history. From the exodus out of Egypt to the thundering voice that they heard at Mt Sinai. Not only were the people to teach their children the law, but the history was to be repeated.

"For what great nation is there that has a god, so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?" (vs 7-8).

Isn't it interesting that Moses repeatedly connects history and the law? Knowing what God had done was to be motivation for doing what God wanted them to do.

Two lessons here:

1. Repeat your God-history. Talk about what God has done in your life. Answered prayers. Salvation. Providing for your needs. Teach your children and grandchildren about the great things that God has done.

2. Remember your God-history. It is the motivation for obedience. So often we want the history without the law. We want God to save us, to answer our prayers, to give us what we want, but we think that we can pick and choose whether or not to obey.

Like Moses told the people, no one else has a god like our God who hears us when we call. And no one else has a god who gives us righteous standards and principles for life.

He has been active in your life. Remember and obey.