A Partnership That Beats All Partnerships -- Deuteronomy 29:10-29

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The Mosaic Covenant Between God and the Israelites Has Lasted over 3,240 Years and Still Going Strong -- Deuteronomy 29:10-29

My Internet research tells me that the average business partnership lasts 10 years. Marriage in Canada lasts 14 years and only 8 in the U.S. So, a Covenant that has lasted over three millennia is clearly a record setter. And there's reason for that as we'll continue to see in our study of Deuteronomy.

Matthew Henry introduces this passage with this observation which helps us understand its significance: "It appears by the length of the sentences here, and by the copiousness and pungency of the expressions, that Moses, now that he was drawing near to the close of his discourse, was very warm and zealous, and very desirous to impress what he said upon the minds of this unthinking people. To bind them the faster to God and duty, he here, with great solemnity of expression (to make up the want of the external ceremony that was used Ex. 24:4 etc.), concludes a bargain (as it were) between them and God, an everlasting covenant, which God would not forget and they must not. He requires not their explicit consent, but lays the matter plainly before them, and then leaves it between God and their own consciences."

In verses 10 and 11 of chapter 29, Moses tells the Israelites that each of them is standing before the Lord their God. Personally, and collectively. Right down to their little children, their foreigners, and their servants. It's an excellent description of God's love and desire to save all peoples who keep the Covenant that He establishes with them. God does not exclude anyone who wishes to be part of the family of God. He didn't then and He doesn't now.

The Covenant is between those identified above and the Lord their God (verse 12). The people were entering into it, including the oath that God made with them. We need to note that whole thing is God-initiated. It's a God-thing. Not a man-thing. You're fortunate to be invited to take part.

And God did this (verse 13) to establish the people of Israel, once and for all as His People. That was necessary in order for Him to the be their God, and to keep His word given years earlier to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Now verses 14-16 are interesting in that Moses said he wasn't making this Covenant just with them, but with all those that stand there today in God's presence and, here's the interesting part, "and with those who are not with us here today." What was that all about? David Guzik says this is a clear reference to the descendants of those who were standing there that day, that is, to the future generations of the Israelites.

Guzik writes: "God's purpose in bringing judgment against a covenant-breaking Israel was also for the sake of the coming generation of your children … and the foreigner. When they see the devastation that comes from breaking God's covenant, when they see what happens to the land which the LORD overthrew in His anger and wrath, they will be warned to obedience." 

Verses 17 to 21 are a warning to anyone who thinks it may be good for him to do without this Covenant. If such a person or family or tribe hear the curse that had been covered in the previous chapter, were to think they could have peace though they act with a stubborn heart towards God, and to mix themselves up with those idolatrous enemies of Israel (the watered land with the dry -- verse 19), he/she would be greatly mistaken. The NET Bible says this phrase (watered land with the dry) implies that not only will those individuals be ruined but so will anything they touch.  Now here comes the warning (verse 20): "The Lord shall never be willing to forgive him or them." Every curse will befall them and their name will be blotted out in heaven. Those are strong and unequivocal words. Do you get the message, people?

Guzik talks about the people who think they have peace in their heart, yet have disobeyed God. He says, "A rank sinner may feel confident in his own heart, having a marvelous sense of "peace." But this peace is an illusion. It is the peace of the blind, of the unknowing. If a bomb is on a plane, most everyone on the plane is at peace the moment before the bomb explodes. But their peace is based on their ignorance. In the same way, a sinner may be completely untroubled in his heart. But this is only because he is blind."

He continues: "As though the drunkard could be included with the sober: The drunkard may be happy when he is drunk, but his happiness is based on a illusion. God warns against including the peace of the righteous with the peace the wicked might seem to have."

Verses 22-28 relate to the Israelites what they are to tell their sons and future generations when they ask about the lands that God had destroyed in years past or more importantly would destroy in the future. They were to say that God did this because someone "forsook the covenant of the Lord".  Furthermore, they were to add, that "they went and served other gods and worshipped them against His command." That made God's anger to burn against them. The section also depicts for many the future scattering of Israel that was to take place.

The chapter ends with another poser, verse 29, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of the law."

Guzik again: "Moses pauses to give a principle of how God speaks to us. First, God never declares everything to man: There are secrets God has, and will always have. He has the right to have secrets, because He is God. . . . We must simply accept this. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

"Second, God does reveal somethings to man. Since God is there, and He is not silent, we must do all we can to pay close attention to Him.

"Third, God's revelation is meant to say something to us. God did not speak just to blow our minds or to amuse us; there is a message which belongs to us. While we cannot perfectly understand God's revelation, it is perfectly understandable.

"Fourth, God's revelation is trans-generational. Yes, God had a specific message for Moses' generation, but the message goes beyond its original audience to speak to all generations which follow.

"Fifth, God's revelation is eternal. His word not only lasts forever, it is forever relevant. God's word is more relevant than any new fad or interest which might sweep through the world or the church.

"Finally, God's revelation must matter to us. He has not spoken to us merely to satisfy our curiosity about spiritual things. He has spoken to us to affect the way we live. If we are only hearers of the word, and not doers also, then we have not really received His word."

Robert Jamieson takes a little different approach, but still relevant when he writes: "This verse has no apparent connection with the thread of discourse. It is thought to have been said in answer to the looks of astonishment or the words of inquiry as to whether they would be ever so wicked as to deserve such punishments."

Chuck Smith says the key point of this entire passage is simply this: Disobedient man cannot escape the wrath of God. There is no escape. Don't be fooled. God will not be mocked.

Henry reminds us in his summary of the passage that we must note that again, the major disobedience and thus the ruin of Israel in years ahead is indeed idolatry. God hates it.  He still does and it remains the key cause of our own ruining. Second, we must understand that God would never do this without a valid reason -- that is, God never forsakes anyone until we first forsake Him.

It is possible in the past that many of us may have skipped the real lessons of chapters like this in Deuteronomy, but I believe we would be foolish not to fully understand that the God of Deuteronomy 29 is the same God you and I proclaim today in the 21st centrury. Let's not be fooled otherwise.

This is indeed a partnership that beats all others. You and I are privileged to be invited to be part of it through Jesus Christ. But like all partnerships, there's no room whatsoever for cheating.

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