Live as People Who Have God as Their Father, "The Rock"
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:6 (NASB)
30 Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were complete:
The Song of Moses
1 “Listen, you heavens, and I will speak;
And let the earth hear the words of my mouth!
2 May my teaching drip as the rain,
My speech trickle as the dew,
As droplets on the fresh grass,
And as the showers on the vegetation.
3 For I proclaim the name of the Lord;
Ascribe greatness to our God!
4 The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and just is He.
5They have acted corruptly against Him,
They are not His children, because of their defect;
But are a perverse and crooked generation.
6 Is this what you do to the Lord,
You foolish and unwise people?
Is He not your Father who has purchased you?
He has made you and established you.
SUMMARY
As Moses speaks over the people of Israel and teaches them about God's commandments, he calls God "The Rock" and says He is perfect, just, faithful, without injustice, righteous, and upright. In contrast, he tells the people of Israel about their actions and that they have "acted corruptly toward Him,” and "they are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation."
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
When I first read through this passage, I was thinking about God's grace and mercy as our “Rock.” I am thankful, joyful, and blessed that I can call upon God for help and guidance and know He is a constant in my life. At the same time, I think that I can also fall into being complacent because I think that regardless of what I do, His grace, protection, and provision will be enough to cover my sins and any future consequences that may arise from it. I often rationalize bad behavior, negative thinking in this way.
However, Moses never says God is tolerant of sins. He describes God as "faithful, without injustice, righteous, and upright.” God is always consistent in His character, while the Israelites fluctuate between obedience and dedication to sin and idolatry. This passage says that the Israelites’ corrupted ways cause separation and "they are not His children, because of their defect." (vs 5) Instead of being called His children, they are called a "perverse and crooked generation." (vs 5) It's easy for me to forget the destruction that sin brings to my life and relationships around me, because I focus too much on God's grace and God's own victory over sin and death. I think I often perceive His victory over sin as my own personal victory over sin because I have Him as my Father. However, what God did is never something I can do on my own. It is only when I have a right relationship with Him, and also see sin in the same way God sees, therefore being able to walk in His victory. I cannot have victory without Him, but He is always victorious with or without us. He doesn't need us, but we need Him, which I think I often take for granted.
APPLICATION
Sin is very real and tangible in everyday situations still. I often minimize my sins because I say that God loves me in spite of that. But actually, God loves me, and even sacrificed His only son for me, not so that I can continue to live in sin and in my own comfortable ways without regarding Him. It reminds me of the saying, “love the sinner, but hate the sin.” In a way, I think I often take God and what He did for me for granted, because I allow the thought that His protection over me will "cover" my sins too. I’m convicted in the areas of my life where I often waste my time, being easily annoyed at work, or even being less loving toward family and friends. I definitely need to stay in prayer and work on these areas of my life to reflect more of His character instead of being complacent. Although sin is defeated because of Christ and his death and resurrection was the perfect sacrifice to restore our relationship with God, it doesn't mean that we won’t have our daily struggles. We need to fight for righteousness and justice in our own lives.
PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank you for your grace, compassion and love towards me, a sinner who was saved by you. Although I am not perfect, I pray that I will always look to you for guidance on how to grow and live my life and strive to be like you. Help me to see sin for what it really is, as something that is perverse, crooked, and causing separation from you. Help me to not take you for granted, but really walk in fear of you in adoration and praise, and wanting what you also desire in me. Help me to change my heart to want you more than comfort and ease in my life. I pray I will take effort in removing the sins that are big and small which cause rifts between our relationship. I also pray that I will desire to become more like you, faithful, righteous, and upright.
Amen!
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