Doug's Doorstep

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Adding and Subtracting

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Do you ever remember a time, perhaps when you were a child even, that your parents told you to do something? But instead of doing what they said, you did something else? Or, do you remember being told not to do something, and yet you did it anyway? I believe we could say we either added to or took away from what they said.

While reading through Deuteronomy, there was a time when Moses told the Israelites, “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32 (NASB) We know, of course, that Israel did not do all that Moses told them to do. As a result, God brought on them all the things He said He would do. When they followed other gods, then He left them to do the things they wanted to do. What a tragedy for not following God.

Moses also told the people, “You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;” Deuteronomy 12:8 At the time of Moses’ farewell speech to the Israelites, the people were doing what was “right in his own eyes.” The word of God was not important to them. If they chose to do it, they did it. Does that sound a little like some of the people in our nation today? Some people want to follow their feelings which is totally subjective. Feelings are not a safe guide. The Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, are what we should be listening to today. Being obedient to God is of the utmost importance.

Note what Moses told the people in Deuteronomy 11:26- 28, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.” They were given the opportunity to do it God’s way and prosper, or to do it their own way and not receive the blessings He promised to them.

Our God gives us the same opportunities today. We can be obedient to Him and receive the blessings that the New Testament afford to us. Or, we can not do them and receive the curses that come. In our case, it is the difference between living in heaven with our God or in hell (torment) with Satan and all of his angels. And each one has the choice to make.

Joshua’s words from his book in chapter 24:15 must be ours: “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”