April 22, 2022 - Deuteronomy 30-31

Decisions! I heard on the radio yesterday that we make 35,000 decisions daily! This would mean we are confronted with multiple choices each day. From getting out of bed and brushing your teeth, to multi-million-dollar deals, decisions are made at every juncture of our day. How are you at making decisions?

Israel is standing on the precipice of a historic event. Moses had presented the people with a choice of blessings or curses. He anticipated the people's eventual decision to reject the teachings of God and their punishment of exile to a foreign land (30:1). Moses calls upon them to understand the decisions and consequences for themselves, as well as the people they encounter.

Moses' earlier decision of acting in anger prevents him from entering the land of promise. A new leader, Joshua, is commissioned to lead the people. Joshua had been a faithful and courageous leader during the wilderness journey and God had selected him to lead the people of Israel into the promised land.

Some decisions are made for us, and others we must make on our own. The selection of the new leader was made by God. The way the people would behave and follow the Lord as they occupied the land, was their decision.

Prudent steps can be taken in making wise decisions. Begin with prayer, gather as much information as possible, identify the alternatives, weigh the pros and cons, make a choice, and act upon that choice. Moses told Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them..." (31:7). The best decision we can make is to be obedient to the Lord's word each moment of the day!