Choices and Consequences: A Call to Remember

**Devotional: Choices and Consequences - A Call to Remember**

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses stands before the children of Israel, his heart burdened with the immense responsibility of guiding a wayward people towards the Promised Land. Before they cross the River Jordan and enter the land flowing with milk and honey, Moses reminds them of the weighty decisions that lie ahead. His words echo through the ages and resonate especially in Deuteronomy 30:18 (KJV): "I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it."

This proclamation is not mere rhetoric; it is a divine warning underscoring the principle of cause and effect, grounded in the covenant relationship between God and His people. God had already set before them life and death, blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 30:19). The stakes could not be higher: their choices would determine their fate in the land they were about to inherit. As we delve into this scripture, it is imperative to understand that the reality of the choices laid before Israel also extends to us today.

**The Call to Remember**

Israel's journey through the wilderness had been long and laden with lessons learned through adversity. They were warned of the dangers of forgetting God and the consequences of abandoning His commands. This warning is a call to remember not only their past struggles but also the faithfulness of God throughout their journey.

In our lives, we too are called to remember. We remember His faithfulness in our trials, the mercies He has extended in our darkest hours, and the promises He has made. However, like Israel, we are also presented with choices daily—some seemingly minor, others profoundly significant. Each decision aligns us with either the path of life or that of destruction.

**Understanding Perishing**

When Moses declares, "ye shall surely perish," it is a stark reminder that deviation from God’s way leads to grave consequences. The promise of land, prosperity, and peace was contingent upon their loyalty to God. To perish in this context can be understood not just as physical death but as spiritual demise, isolation from God’s presence, and disconnection from His blessings.

This thought echoes through many of the scriptures as well, like John 10:10, where Jesus speaks of the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy; in contrast, He offers abundant life. The connotation of 'living fully' means embracing God’s commandments which guide our actions and frame our identity.

**The Choice of Life**

Moses implores Israel to consider the choice they have—life versus death, blessing versus cursing. God’s desire is for His people to live, to thrive, and to experience the fullness of His promise. It is said in Deuteronomy 30:19 that God places before us the choice of life, and on our part, we must actively choose it.

To choose life means embracing the teachings of Christ, submitting to His Lordship, and walking in the ways He has prescribed for us. It involves daily commitment and might be difficult at times, filled with trials, but it is here we find life in its truest form. It is a decision to trust in God’s ways over our own understanding and to recognize that His visions for us surpass our limited imaginations.

**Conclusion**

As we reflect upon this verse in Deuteronomy, we are reminded that our decisions shape not only our destinies but also our intimacy with God. Just as the Israelites were poised to enter into a new era, we too are constantly on the precipice of new beginnings. May we choose wisely, understanding that with each choice lies the power to live fully in the blessings of God or to miss out on the abundant life He has promised.

In prayer, seek God’s guidance. Ask Him to reveal areas in your life where you are being called to choose life over death, blessings over curses. Remember, just as with the people of Israel, our journey requires continual choice, vigilance, and the grace to follow Him wholeheartedly.

Artwork for Deuteronomy 30:18

Deuteronomy 30:18 - "I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it."

"I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it." - Deuteronomy 30:18

Deuteronomy 30:19:

Genesis 18-30

Deuteronomy 5:30 - "Go say to them, Get you into your tents again."

1 Samuel 30:18

Deuteronomy 30:15 - "¶ See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;"

Deuteronomy 22:30 - "¶ A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt."

Deuteronomy 31:30 - "And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended."

Deuteronomy 30:11 - "¶ For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off."

Deuteronomy 30:14 - "But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it."

Deuteronomy 5:18 - "Neither shalt thou commit adultery."

Deuteronomy 18:11 - "Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer."

Deuteronomy 18:13 - "Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God."

Deuteronomy 30:8 - "And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day."

Deuteronomy 30:7 - "And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee."

Deuteronomy 22:18 - "And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;"

Deuteronomy 14:18 - "And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat."

Proverbs 30:18-19 – "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand."

Deuteronomy 30:17 - "But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;"

Deuteronomy 2:18 - "Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day:"

Deuteronomy 30:12 - "It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?"

Proverbs 30:18-19 – "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand."

Deuteronomy 18:17 - "And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken."

Proverbs 30:18 - "There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:"

Matthew 18:30 - "And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt."

Deuteronomy 1:18 - "And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do."

Deuteronomy 30:13 - "Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?"

Luke 18:30 - "Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."

Deuteronomy 18:8 - "They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony."