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Deuteronomy 1:1-5

Try to imagine:

The morning of your child’s first day at kindergarten;

Week before your child heads off to college;

The evening before your daughter’s wedding;

The night before your son leaves for boot camp;

Final weeks of your life after you have been given a terminal diagnosis, etc.

What words, thoughts, and advice would you want to convey to those around you? What questions would you be asking of yourself about your preparation of your loved ones for this step?

The Israelites are about to start a new phase of life. Moses has brought them to the edge of the Promised Land but he will not enter it with them. Moses is going home — to his heavenly home.

He is asking, “have I done enough”? “What else can I tell you, o Israel”? This is his last chance to encourage the people to know their God. He is telling them, Israel if you want fullness of life, then you need to seek God and obey God. Fullness of life is not dependent on our circumstances. It is dependent on our relationship with God.

Fullness of life is knowing God and obeying God.

Deuteronomy 1:1; 3  “These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness; In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them.”

For forty years Moses has led/guided Israel. Moses was appointed by God to lead the Israelites. They were led out of Egypt and 40 years later are camped beside the Jordan River. They are ready to enter the Promised Land.

Moses chooses not to talk about him and his accomplishments, what a good leader he was, how qualified he was, how organized he was. No, the last words of Moses are about God.

Our most important words are those that point others to God.

Our conversations should be about God, not ourselves. How careful am I to turn the conversation to God? How will I make God the center of my conversations?

Lord, please help me to tell others about You and to bless others when I speak. May my words be pleasing before You and a great comfort to all.

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