Choose life
Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:
What did I like about today’s passage?
I love the physical manifestations of this process that Israel is on to seal their agreement to go with God on a journey into covenant life in a new, promised land. As they readied to cross into that land, they would line up half the country on one mountain facing the other half on a different mountain. They would all join in the promises to keep the covenant, acknowledging curses which would follow breaking the law and disrupting the covenant relationship. With their feet on the mountain rock and the law set in stone, how could they not feel strengthened and empowered for permanent establishment by God?
I’m loving the delicious detail and drama of the blessings and curses described too. The blessings are both heavenly and practical, down to earth necessity, from what they need to survive to what they knead in the kitchen. And the curses range from relatable annoyances to horrific stuff which is far too scary to talk about in Sunday School. With details as specific as “Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat none of it”, I feel like God has got everyone’s attention.
It's the most comprehensive comparison of good life versus bad life, and tragic because we know from history that people turned away from God despite the consequences.
However, I love that God knew this would happen and planned an ongoing hope. He kept his promise to "circumcise your hearts" both through the work of his Spirit through faithful people in Israel's history and especially through Jesus. The chance to “choose life” remains.
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
God wants people to know, trust and follow him, but he leaves the choice about whether or not to do this ultimately to us. While people might arrange their lives to restrict faith and religion to personal ideas and occasional practice, God's involvement with the world is much bigger. He doesn't offer the choice between a good idea or a bad one, or a satisfying religion against a dull one. He needs us to remember that he has set before his people the choice between "life and death", and urges us to choose life.
What am I going to do differently as a result?
Remember and take more seriously what a big deal sin is to God, and thank him more that life in Jesus is not so much a catchy idea or a popular religion, but the way to life itself.
Who am I going to share this with?
I'm looking for opportunities to talk about faith with colleagues and neighbours, and I think there will be something from this graphically illustrated choice between life and death which can get into good conversation - but I don't yet know what and when.