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APRIL 4
DAY 3:Why are our choices in life so important?
In Deuteronomy 30:11–14, after remembering the failures of the past and the prospects for
the future,Moses earnestly admonished the people to make the right choice.The issue facing them
was to enjoy salvation and blessing by loving God so wholeheartedly that they would willingly live
in obedience to His word.The choice was simple,yet profound.It was stated in simple terms so that
they could understand and grasp what God expected of them (v. 11). Although God had spoken
from heaven, He had spoken through Moses in words every person could understand (v. 12).
Neither did they have to search at some point beyond the sea (v. 13).The truth was there, through
Moses, now in their hearts and minds (v. 14). All the truth necessary for choosing to love and obey
God and thus avoid disobedience and cursing, they had heard and known (v. 15).
In v. 15, Moses pinpoints the choice—to love and obey God is life and good; to reject God is
death and evil.If they chose to love God and obey His word,they would enjoy all God’s blessings (v.
16).If they refused to love and obey Him,they would be severely and immediately punished (vv.17,18).
Paul,in speaking about salvation in the New Testament,makes use of this appeal made by Moses (Rom.
10:1–13).Like Moses,Paul is saying that the message of salvation is plain and understandable.
So “choose life”(v.19).Moses forces the decision,exhorting Israel on the plains of Moab before
God (heaven) and man (earth) to choose, by believing in and loving God, the life available through
the New Covenant (see v. 6). Sadly, Israel failed to respond to this call to the right choice (see
31:16–18,27–29). Choosing life or death was also emphasized by Jesus. The one who believed in
Him had the promise of eternal life, while the one who refused to believe faced eternal death (see
John 3:1–36). Every person faces this same choice.

April 4
31:6–8 Be strong and of good courage. The
strength and courage of the warriors of Israel
Deuteronomy 31:1–32:52 would come from their confidence that their
Then Moses went and spoke these words God was with them and would not forsake
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31 to all Israel. And he said to them: “I am them.In vv.7,8,Moses repeated the substance
of his exhortation, this time addressing it
one hundred and twenty years old today. I can
specifically to Joshua in the presence of the
no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD people to encourage him and to remind the
has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this people that Joshua’s leadership was being
Jordan.’ The LORD your God Himself crosses assumed with the full approval of God. This
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over before you; He will destroy these nations principle for faith and confidence is repeated
from before you, and you shall dispossess them. in 31:23; Josh. 1:5–7; 2 Sam. 10:12; 2 Kin. 2:2;
Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as 1Chr. 22:11–13; 2 Chr. 32:1–8; Ps. 27:14. The
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the LORD has said. And the LORD will do to them writer of Hebrews quotes vv. 6,8 in 13:5.
as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the
Amorites and their land, when He destroyed
them. The LORD will give them over to you, to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the
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that you may do to them according to every ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the
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commandment which I have commanded you. elders of Israel. And Moses commanded
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor them, saying: “At the end of every seven
be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is years, at the appointed time in the year of
the One who goes with you. He will not leave release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, when
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you nor forsake you.” all Israel comes to appear before the LORD
7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him your God in the place which He chooses, you
in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of shall read this law before all Israel in their
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good courage, for you must go with this peo- hearing. Gather the people together, men
ple to the land which the LORD has sworn to and women and little ones, and the stranger
their fathers to give them, and you shall cause who is within your gates, that they may hear
them to inherit it. And the LORD, He is the and that they may learn to fear the LORD
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One who goes before you. He will be with you, your God and carefully observe all the words
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He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not of this law, and that their children, who
fear nor be dismayed.” have not known it, may hear and learn to fear
9 So Moses wrote this law and delivered it the LORD your God as long as you live in the
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