By Robert Olsen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
GOD’S POWER
Deuteronomy 33:1–5, 26–29
King (1–5)
As the Israelites prepare to go into the promised land, the author of this section of Deuteronomy recounts the final words Moses said to them. Moses began by recounting how God came to Mount Sinai to give them His law.
The writer follows this by telling how God loves His people. God demonstrates His love to us by giving us His Word. People throughout time have sought to know what God wants from them.
For example, the Romans would look at how birds flew in the sky as a type of omen to know what to expect.
People would also want to get in God’s good favor by offering various sacrifices, including the sacrifice of humans — even their own children — in order to get their gods to do something special or act a certain way.
The Romans forced all of their people to sacrifice to the gods to make sure they would bless the empire, help in battle or prevent famine.
When we compare the Bible with these attempts to understand God, we can see how loving God is. Instead of leaving us to our own primitive and incorrect views of who God is and what He wants, He tells us in His Word. This is a true act of love.
By giving us His commands, He is preventing us from having to guess what He wants.
Many people today say how much they don’t like the Bible because it is a list of rules they have to follow, and they just want to do what they want to do.
If they understood the Bible, they would realize that the rules are not arbitrary; they are for our own good.
Similar to a parent telling a child not to run into the street, the commands of God are a demonstration of His love for us. He wants us to prosper both physically and spiritually, and following His law is how this takes place.
The next time someone complains about the Bible being “a bunch of rules to follow,” explain how the rules are meant for our good and are a blessing.
Dwelling Place (26–29)
The final part of chapter 33 provides comfort that God is going to accomplish His promises. If the Israelites drive out the people in the promised land, then they will prosper in their new setting.
But the Israelites failed to do this, which led to many problems that we can read about later in the Old Testament.
Likewise, if we are obedient to God’s Word and obey His commands, we will also prosper. It does not always mean that things go the way we want or that our circumstances are always pleasant. Those who teach this present a false gospel, and we need to be wary of those who allude to this kind of prosperity.
However, we will always prosper spiritually and have a joy that surpasses understanding. Our ability to be joyful in the midst of our circumstances is one of the best ways we can show a lost world that there is hope in God and that it is only through the gospel that we can be made right with God and have abundant life now.
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