Overview
Moses was pouring out his heart to his fellow Israelites so that before his soon-coming death and Israel’s entrance into Canaan, his inspired words have lasting impact upon them. They had seen God do “great and awesome things” (10:21). Moses stressed that they were to love God and for the first time he used the expression, “keep His charge” (11:1). Love and obedience to God are closely connected, for obedience naturally follows out of true love (cf. 1 John 5:3)
Moses proceeded to give strong incentives for obedience to God. He reminded Israel of God’s great power and authority with examples of His mighty and severe judgments (11:4-6). He shared the blessings of the covenant, including the possession of Canaan, long peaceful lives, and national prosperity; all conditional on their obedience to God.
Moses contrasted the Promised Land with Egypt. He stressed the superiority of their God-given land as being the true land of milk and honey (not Egypt as Dathan and Abiram claimed, Num.16:14), for God gives the best gifts. Unlike the tiresome irrigation methods used in Egypt, the Promised Land would be naturally watered by seasonal rains that God would send, for He Himself (not Baal, as the Canaanites believed) would care for the land as long as Israel remained faithful to Him. This beautifully illustrates God’s providence and provision for the faithful believer today. Or loving God watches over and cares for His own; providing our needs, making His presence known, and giving good gifts without any effort on our part.
Along with speaking of the blessings of God, Moses solemnly warned Israel of the curses that would result from disobedience. Once in the Promised Land, he ordered the blessings to be proclaimed from Mount Gerizim and the curses from Mount Ebal (11:29; cf.27:11-28:68; Josh.8:33-35) that all the people would learn the seriousness of their covenant relationship with God. These two mountains, found in the middle of the Promised Land, are opposite each other and separated by a valley spanning about sixteen hundred feet.
Moses’ words were intended to reach the heart of the Israelites, as the inspired Word of God still does to us today. Moses urged them to put his words (which came from God) into their heart (11:18) that they might live according to them (30:14). They were to seek God with all their hearts (4:29; 10:12; cf. Jer.29:12-13) as well as circumcise the foreskin of their hearts (10:16), for out of the heart come evil thoughts which can breed wickedness (9:4; 15:9; cf. Matt.15:18). We must pray as the psalmist David, “Creat in me a clean heart” (Ps.51:10), “for with the heart one believes to righteousness” (Rom.10:10).
Moses instructed the parents to continually teach their children the ways of the Lord so they would learn to love and obey the Lord from the beginning. A child is impressionable and ready to hear and accept the truth. The children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. What kind of future will our children have if their parents do no stress and impress upon them the Holy Word of God?
It was also very important that Israel maintain true worship to God in the prescribed manner; therefore, as well as destroying anything having to do with the heathen region, they were to establish a centralized sanctuary in the place God had chosen (12:5). Rebellious people desire to do things in their own way, but to please God, things must be done His way. Corporate worship is still important today, and yes, we must also seek to worship Him in the way He desires; “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
| 
