Keeping Family History Alive
- Now Moses related more of God's commandments. The Big Guy promises prosperity in return for obedience. What do you think of this deal?
- The people are reminded about their duties to God: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."
- In Jewish tradition, these words are called the Shema, and they are a cornerstone of the Jewish prayer canon. Oh, and hundreds of years later, when Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment of all, he quote these verses in Mark 12:29-30.
- Want to know where else Jesus quotes Deuteronomy? Check out our "Shout-Outs."
- The Israelites are told to always be conscious of the law. They are supposed to talk about the laws throughout the day and place reminders of them on their bodies and in their homes. Some observant Jews use objects called tefillin to fulfill this requirement. Tefillin are small boxes that contain verses from the Torah and are bound to the body with straps. Check it out.
- Most importantly, they should teach these laws to their children.
Because God is a jealous God, the Israelites must not worship other gods (13-15). This is monotheism at work. One God and one God only. - Moses warns the people not to test God like they did at Massah. In Exodus 17:1-7, the Israelites demanded water and wished that they had never left Egypt. Worst of all, they wondered if God was truly with them. That's a big no-no.
- If the people keep God's laws, good things will happen.
- When their children ask about the laws, the Israelites should tell them about all God's signs and wonders and the Promised Land. Just as Deuteronomy retells the events of Exodus and Numbers, the Israelites are supposed to continue repeating the story generation after generation.