February 20, 2025
Why did God warn Israel against idolatry?
Deuteronomy 11-13
Shelby Mohr-Allen
Big Book Idea
There are three sermons from Moses, but the greater Moses is still to come.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 12:1, 28
"These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth.
. . .
"Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God."
Deuteronomy 11-13
Chapter 11
Love and Serve the LORD
1 You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always. 2 And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline 1 11:2 Or instruction of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm, 3 his signs and his deeds that he did in Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land, 4 and what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and to their chariots, how he made the water of the Red Sea flow over them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD has destroyed them to this day, 5 and what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place, 6 and what he did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel. 7 For your eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD that he did.
8 You shall therefore keep the whole commandment that I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and take possession of the land that you are going over to possess, 9 and that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 For the land that you are entering to take possession of it is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it, 2 11:10 Hebrew watered it with your feet like a garden of vegetables. 11 But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, 12 a land that the LORD your God cares for. The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
13 And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 he 3 11:14 Samaritan, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew I; also verse 15 will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. 15 And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. 16 Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; 17 then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.
18 You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. 22 For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the LORD your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, 23 then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. 24 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. Your territory shall be from the wilderness to 4 11:24 Hebrew and the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the western sea. 25 No one shall be able to stand against you. The LORD your God will lay the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land that you shall tread, as he promised you.
26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. 29 And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. 30 Are they not beyond the Jordan, west of the road, toward the going down of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oak 5 11:30 Septuagint, Syriac; see Genesis 12:6. Hebrew oaks, or terebinths of Moreh? 31 For you are to cross over the Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you. And when you possess it and live in it, 32 you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the rules that I am setting before you today.
Chapter 12
The LORD's Chosen Place of Worship
1 These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. 2 You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place. 4 You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way. 5 But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation 6 12:5 Or name as its habitation there. There you shall go, 6 and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. 7 And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you.
8 You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, 9 for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the LORD your God is giving you. 10 But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety, 11 then to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the LORD. 12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you. 13 Take care that you do not offer your burnt offerings at any place that you see, 14 but at the place that the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you.
15 However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your towns, as much as you desire, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the deer. 16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth like water. 17 You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your wine or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, or any of your vow offerings that you vow, or your freewill offerings or the contribution that you present, 18 but you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place that the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your towns. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake. 19 Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.
20 When the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you crave meat, you may eat meat whenever you desire. 21 If the place that the LORD your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you, then you may kill any of your herd or your flock, which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your towns whenever you desire. 22 Just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it. The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it. 23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the earth like water. 25 You shall not eat it, that all may go well with you and with your children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD. 26 But the holy things that are due from you, and your vow offerings, you shall take, and you shall go to the place that the LORD will choose, 27 and offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the LORD your God. The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the LORD your God, but the flesh you may eat. 28 Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.
Warning Against Idolatry
29 When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ 31 You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
32 7 12:32 Ch 13:1 in Hebrew Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.
Chapter 13
1 If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil 8 13:5 Or evil person from your midst.
6 If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace 9 13:6 Hebrew the wife of your bosom or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 some of the gods of the peoples who are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other, 8 you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him. 9 But you shall kill him. Your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 11 And all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do any such wickedness as this among you.
12 If you hear in one of your cities, which the LORD your God is giving you to dwell there, 13 that certain worthless fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, 14 then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently. And behold, if it be true and certain that such an abomination has been done among you, 15 you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, devoting it to destruction, 10 13:15 That is, setting apart (devoting) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword. 16 You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of its open square and burn the city and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again. 17 None of the devoted things shall stick to your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy and have compassion on you and multiply you, as he swore to your fathers, 18 if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all his commandments that I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God.
Footnotes
[1] 11:2 Or instruction[2] 11:10 Hebrew watered it with your feet
[3] 11:14 Samaritan, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew I; also verse 15
[4] 11:24 Hebrew and
[5] 11:30 Septuagint, Syriac; see Genesis 12:6. Hebrew oaks, or terebinths
[6] 12:5 Or name as its habitation
[7] 12:32 Ch 13:1 in Hebrew
[8] 13:5 Or evil person
[9] 13:6 Hebrew the wife of your bosom
[10] 13:15 That is, setting apart (devoting) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
Table of Contents
Introduction to Deuteronomy
Timeline
Theme
Deuteronomy, the final book in the Pentateuch, contains Moses’ last three sermons and two prophetic poems about Israel’s future. Reflecting on the nation’s past mistakes, Moses urges the people not to repeat those errors when they enter the Promised Land. Possessing Canaan will fulfill the promises made to the patriarchs, but if the people fall into idolatry or fail to keep the law, they will be exiled.
Purpose and Background
Deuteronomy is largely a sermon, or set of sermons, preached by Moses to all of Israel shortly before his death. It is a motivational sermon, urging Israel’s faithful obedience to the covenant laws given 40 years previously at Sinai (Exodus 19–40).
The sermon is especially important because of Israel’s earlier failure to conquer the land (see Deut. 1:19–46). Now that they are back at the eastern border of the Promised Land, Moses wants to ensure that the people will be obedient this time. The sermon encourages obedience by constantly reassuring them of God’s faithfulness and his power to keep his promises. God is still faithful, despite Israel’s persistent sin (e.g., 1:19–46; 9:1–29). He is merciful to his sinful people, for the sake of his promises to Abraham.
In Deuteronomy, Moses urges Israel to trust and obey, and to conquer the land. He highlights God’s uniqueness (e.g., ch. 4), his power over other nations and armies (e.g., 2:1–23), and his grace and faithfulness. He reminds the people that God promised the land, that God’s gift of the land is undeserved (9:4–6), and that the land is full of good things (e.g., 6:10–12).
Moses emphasizes the importance of God’s law, given at Sinai (e.g., see 5:1–3). The large central section of Deuteronomy (12:1–26:19) recites the law and urges Israel to keep it. The law is wide-ranging, incorporating all areas of life (economics, family and sexual relationships, religious observance, leadership, justice, guidance, food, property, and warfare). The details of the laws expand upon the great command of 6:5, that Israel is to love the Lord with all its heart, soul, and strength. Chapters 12–16 show what such total love of God will look like and provide examples of what the Ten Commandments (ch. 5) mean in practice.
Key Themes
- God’s uniqueness (4:1–40).
- Israel’s election (4:37–38; 7:6–8; 10:14–15; 14:2).
- The land’s goodness (1:25; 6:10–11; 8:7–13; 11:8–15).
- God’s faithful promise-keeping (1:8, 19–46; 7:1–26; 8:1–20; 9:1–10:11).
- God’s power to defeat the enemies in the land (2:1–3:11; 4:1–40; 7:1–26).
- Exhortations to Israel to love, serve, fear, and obey God (6:5; 10:12–13; 13:4).
- Warnings against idolatry and instruction for proper worship of God (4:9–31; 5:6–10; 7:1–5; 8:19–20; 12:1–32; 13:1–18).
- The impact of God’s laws (12:1–27:26).
- Moses’ imminent death (1:37; 3:26; 4:21; 32:51; 34:1–12).
Outline
- Prologue (1:1–5)
- Moses’ First Speech: Historical Prologue (1:6–4:43)
- Moses’ Second Speech: General Covenant Stipulations (4:44–11:32)
- Moses’ Second Speech: Specific Covenant Stipulations (12:1–26:19)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Blessings and Curses (27:1–28:68)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Final Exhortation (29:1–30:20)
- Succession of Leadership (31:1–34:12)
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Fact: Genesis through Deuteronomy
Genesis through Deuteronomy are the foundation of the Bible. They introduce the key promises that show God’s purposes in history and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Fact: The Sadducees
The Sadducees were a small but powerful group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in the resurrection (12:18). This may have been because of their emphasis on the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy), which does not seem to explicitly mention the resurrection. But Jesus showed them that the idea of resurrection can, in fact, be found in the Pentateuch (Mark 12:26–27).
Fact: Live long in the land of Israel
God promised his people that they would live long in the land of Israel, if they would love, obey, and serve him (11:9, 21). They failed to do this and were eventually defeated and taken into exile (2 Kings 17; 25).
Fact: Was Deuteronomy a treaty?
Was Deuteronomy a treaty? There are many similarities between the book of Deuteronomy and various ancient Near Eastern treaties that date from the time of Moses. When a nation made a treaty with a less powerful nation, the document began with the past relationship between the countries. Next, the treaty stated the laws that would govern the relationship from that point on. Finally, the treaty concluded with a list of blessings and punishments for obedience or disobedience.
Fact: A book of sermons?
A book of sermons? Deuteronomy consists of at least three addresses or sermons from Moses to Israel. Moses encourages Israel to obey all the commandments of God.
Fact: Jesus quoted from
Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy more than any other OT book. He quoted 8:3 when tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:4).
Fact: The Book of the Law of the Lord
The Book of the Law of the Lord. The high priest discovered this forgotten book while the temple was being repaired (34:14). After reading the Law, King Josiah called the nation to further measures of repentance and reform. The book may have included part or all of Deuteronomy.
Fact: Death penalty for apostasy?
Death penalty for apostasy? Anyone who urged a fellow Israelite to “go and serve other gods” was to be put to death (13:6–11). While the NT does not prescribe death for such an offense, it gives serious warning to anyone who leads another person into sin (Matt. 18:6).
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Ancient Treaty Structures and Deuteronomy
| Ancient Treaty Structure | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|
| Preamble | 1:1–5 |
| Historical Prologue | 1:6–4:49 |
| General Stipulations | 5:1–11:32 |
| Specific Stipulations | 12:1–26:19 |
| Blessings and Curses | 27:1–28:68 |
| Document Clause | 31:9–29 |
| Witnesses | 32:1–47 |
Deut. 11:1 Because God rescued Israel from Egypt (10:21–22), therefore they should love him.
Deut. 11:2 Moses addresses the adults of Israel as if all of them had experienced the exodus and wilderness events, even though the adults who left Egypt had died in the wilderness. See 1:20–21 and note. discipline. See 8:5.
Deut. 11:6 Dathan and Abiram, along with Korah, rebelled against Moses’ leadership in the wilderness (Num. 16:1–35).
Deut. 11:7 your eyes have seen. See note on v. 2.
Fact: Live long in the land of Israel
God promised his people that they would live long in the land of Israel, if they would love, obey, and serve him (11:9, 21). They failed to do this and were eventually defeated and taken into exile (2 Kings 17; 25).
Deut. 11:14 early rain and the later rain. Both the rains that come in October/November and those that come in March/April are needed for good crops.
Deut. 11:16–17 Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you . . . serve other gods. In light of vv. 14–15, Moses is probably warning them not to believe that the Canaanite fertility gods are the source of rain, crops, and animals.
Deut. 11:18–21 On teaching these words to the next generation, see note on 6:7–9. as long as the heavens are above the earth. That is, forever.
Fact: Live long in the land of Israel
God promised his people that they would live long in the land of Israel, if they would love, obey, and serve him (11:9, 21). They failed to do this and were eventually defeated and taken into exile (2 Kings 17; 25).
Deut. 11:26 I am setting before you today. This expression, repeated in v. 32, emphasizes the importance of making the right decision.
Deut. 11:28 Since the people are in a covenant relationship with the LORD your God, it would be foolish for them to worship the Canaanite Baals, with whom they have had no such relationship (that you have not known).
Deut. 11:29 See 27:1–14 for details on this ceremony and the two mountains.
Deut. 11:30 Arabah. See 1:1 and note; 1:7. Gilgal. See Josh. 4:19. The oak of Moreh is where the Lord first promised to give Abraham the land of Canaan (Gen. 12:6).
Deut. 4:44–11:32 Moses’ Second Speech: General Covenant Stipulations. The first part of Moses’ second speech consists mostly of general conditions of God’s covenant with Israel. More specific terms follow in the second part of that speech, chs. 12–26.
Deut. 12:2–3 When the Israelites enter Canaan, they are to destroy all the existing worship centers. Canaanite religion focused on fertility. It set up its shrines on mountains, hills, and under trees. Asherim. See note on 7:5.
Deut. 12:4 They should not use Canaanite religious places and objects to worship the Lord.
Deut. 12:5–6 Moses looked to the day when the Lord would put his name and make his habitation in a permanent place, though God is not limited to just one place. It is a single place, in contrast to the “places” in vv. 2, 13–14. This place is not named here, though centuries later it was clearly identified with Jerusalem. Until then, the “place” was wherever the tabernacle was located. This was often at Shiloh (Josh. 18:1).
Deut. 12:7 eat. The peace offering sacrifices were not totally burned up on the altar. Part of the animal was to be eaten by the offerer, the offerer’s household, and the priests. before the LORD your God. That is, in his presence (also vv. 12, 18).
Deut. 12:8–9 You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today. Once the people enter the land, the laws of worship, especially regarding the place where it is to occur, will be stricter. rest. See 3:20 and note.
Deut. 12:12 Levites served in various towns. They owned no land (portion or inheritance) and relied on offerings for survival (v. 19; Num. 26:62).
Deut. 12:13–14 While in one of your tribes could mean one place per tribal territory, v. 5 has already specified one place for the entire nation.
Deut. 12:15 you may . . . eat meat within any of your towns. Apparently the people had been told that, ordinarily, they could eat only sacrificial meat (Lev. 17:1–7). Now, partly because of the distances that people would be from the central place for sacrifice (Deut. 12:20–21), they are allowed to eat non-sacrificial meat. Unclean and the clean is a ceremonial distinction, not a moral one. Leviticus 12–15 defines certain people as unclean. They are forbidden to eat sacrificial meat, but this would not apply to meat from non-sacrificial animals.
Deut. 12:16 you shall not eat the blood. See Gen. 9:4 and Lev. 3:17. The blood is the life (Deut. 12:23–24) and is therefore linked to atonement for sin (Lev. 17:10–12). See also Acts 15:20.
Deut. 12:17–19 tithe . . . offerings. See v. 11. servant . . . and the Levite. See note on v. 12.
Deut. 12:26–27 Holy things are things set apart for God: sacrifices, offerings, tithes, objects of vows. See vv. 17–18. The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar. E.g., Lev. 1:5.
Deut. 12:30 take care that you be not ensnared. See 7:2; and note on 7:5.
Deut. 12:31 You shall not worship . . . in that way (see v. 4). Canaanite worship is not only wrong, it is accompanied by abominable moral practices (see 7:25), among which is child sacrifice. See 2 Kings 16:3; Jer. 32:35.
Deut. 12:1–32 Chapter 12 deals with proper worship. It builds on the first commandment, about having no other gods besides the Lord.
Deut. 12:32 not add to it or take from it. See note on 4:2.
Deut. 13:2 sign or wonder. The Bible records miracles from sources other than the Lord, e.g., the Egyptian magicians (Ex. 7:22; etc.) and Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9).
Deut. 13:3 For the LORD your God is testing you. The Lord uses false prophets to test his people’s faithfulness. Signs and wonders, when accompanied by false teaching, are not from the Lord. love. See 4:37–39 and note.
Deut. 13:4 walk . . . fear. See 10:12–13, 20 and notes. hold fast. See note on 4:3–4.
Deut. 13:5 Even though the prophet or dreamer of dreams is used by God to test Israel, that person is not innocent. purge the evil from your midst. See 17:7; 21:21 (the death penalty is implied in these cases). Israel is commanded not to allow any unbelieving Israelites to live among them (compare 1 Cor. 5:13).
Deut. 13:6 Faithfulness to the Lord takes priority even over close personal relations (compare Luke 14:26–33).
Deut. 13:8 Even if a beloved friend tries to lead a person astray, you shall not yield to him.
Deut. 13:11 Besides punishing the offender, capital punishment serves as a warning to others (see note on v. 5).
Fact: Death penalty for apostasy?
Death penalty for apostasy? Anyone who urged a fellow Israelite to “go and serve other gods” was to be put to death (13:6–11). While the NT does not prescribe death for such an offense, it gives serious warning to anyone who leads another person into sin (Matt. 18:6).
Deut. 13:12–17 Rumors of apostasy must be checked carefully (inquire and make search and ask diligently) to ensure that they are true and certain. If the rumors prove to be true, then not just the worthless fellows who led the apostasy but also all the inhabitants of that city must die, because they allowed the apostasy to go unchecked. devoting it to destruction. See 2:34–35 and note.
Deut. 13:1–18 Much of OT law is “case law,” which explains the correct legal response to specific situations. Here, each situation is introduced with if (vv. 1, 6, 12).
How do we make sense of God testing the Israelites by sending false prophets?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Deuteronomy 11-13
In this passage, we continue to hear from Moses, who urges the Israelites to obey God's commands in anticipation of entering the land of Canaan. Here, Moses warns them that they have a choice before them, and it will result in a blessing or a curse. They can choose to do what God tells them wholeheartedly or live under the curse by worshiping other gods. He urges them to live in covenant faithfulness with God, reminding them of how He faithfully delivered them from Egypt. He promises to take care of them, giving them "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8) and protection from their Canaanite enemies.
In chapter 12, Moses specifically highlights how the Israelites are to be obedient, urging them to do things God's way and emphasizing that "you shall not add to it or take from it." Moses stresses the necessity of their obedience, saying, "Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God."
Moses then tells them that God Himself will choose the place where His presence is to reside and where He is to be worshiped following their entrance to the Promised Land. He tells them to take specific measures to avoid disobedience by destroying all pagan worship sites and warns them not to adopt Canaanite worship practices.
These words from Moses resemble those from Jesus, who says, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away." (Matthew 5:29a). We know that the people of Israel shortly went on to disobey these commandments from God, just as we so often fall into disobedience. Yet, the hope of the nation of Israel did not lie in their ability to obey, but rather in God's rescuing grace. Just as God sent Moses to usher the Israelites into their promised inheritance, our hope is in His Son Jesus, the greater Moses, to save us and bring us into eternal life, a promised inheritance in heaven.
This month's memory verse
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
– Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Discussion Questions
1. What idols can you identify in your own life?
2. How can you more wholeheartedly follow God's commands?
3. How are you responding to God's covenantal grace?