Heralds Digest

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV) What if the Creator of heaven and earth had not given man the privilege to choose between life and earth? Man would probably have been free from cursing; but then he would equally be unqualified for God’s blessing of obedience. As a special kind, out of all of God’s creatures, with freedom to choose, the possession of all of God’s other creatures by man, both in heaven and earth, is of less importance to God, compared to the dominion that man is expected to have over all. Our acceptance of the choice of life over death (dominion) is a deserved worship of God’s Majesty.

"And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 29:5-6 NKJV) It is difficult to live in our world where economy is driven by the spending power of its citizens without getting infected with skewed priority in the assessment of needs. And unless the economy is recessed or we are in the wilderness, like the children of Israel, our wants will always appreciate beyond the level of our needs. Man often want changeable clothing and varieties in food menu; while our needs are simply not more than covering and sustenance for the body. But if we can maintain an attitude of gratitude, trusting in the proficiency of God with his promises, we would always be grateful even when only our sufficient needs are provided.

“ And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. ” (Deuteronomy 28:13 NKJV) If the head -grades literally represent for the A-graders among students or the gold medalists among athletes, everyone knows that the principle of discipline, diligence, and hard-work before success will be a hard sell, especially, because of the possibility of shortcuts. In God’s standard, and unlike man’s competitive standards, everyone is called up with a unique scale of performance. Which implies that, being the best that the Creator has made one to be can never be measured using the standard of any other. When we are outside God’s commands, our head -grade could be His tail -grade. Although we cannot all lead, everyone can be the head.

"Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, “Take heed and listen, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the Lord your God. Therefore you shall obey the voice of the Lord your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.” (Deuteronomy 27:9-10 NKJV) Earning increasing right to speak words of authority, that commands someone else's attention, is more than the ability to make clearer statements. The statement regarding Israel's becoming the people of God at the verge of crossing Jordan to the Promised Land represents an expression of God's greater authority, compared with the expression of the same status (people of God) while they were in Egypt. Apparently, wilderness experience creates the best atmosphere for sacred romance between Israel and God. Not only would our experience change for the better as we walk through the wilderness with God, God expects improvement in His authority to command alleg...

“ ...and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken. ” (Deuteronomy 26:19 NKJV) Forbes list would rank anyone and any corporation based on the quantity of their net worth, irrespective of the quality of the source of wealth. The race for the top is always aimed at setting self high above all others. Without controversy or prejudice, only those whose name get lifted up become the very important person (VIP) by all human standards. However, if only God’s VIP makes the list of a holy people , attitude of holiness must have driven the altitude of honour. We cannot become God’s VIP, unless we are patient enough to accept only His way of setting us high above.

“ Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget. ” (Deuteronomy 25:19 NKJV) Finding rest from the consistent hassles of life is not just the primary occupation of man, it is evidently the priority of our God. Among all the enemies that confronted the Israelites on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Amalekites turned out the favorites of special interest to God. They fought the Israelites not just for pursuits of competition on personal interest, but for condemnation of the purpose of their God – His rest. Therefore, beside the physical confrontation led by Joshua, there was the spiritual battle of gods with Moses, Aaron, and Hur leading God’s team on the top of the hill in Rephidim, against the host of darkness. We cannot remember God’s rest and forget the i...

" You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain ." (Deuteronomy 25:4 NKJV) A muzzled ox may appear a preferred approach in order to prevent further destruction of vegetation; it is obviously a limited strategy of placing zero confidence on the potential productivity of the poor animal. Unlike a muzzled relationship, the worth of a man with collaborative efforts is more than his wallet. There is always the possibility of turning every opportunity in life into great productivity, if collective hope is kept alive. Even when all hope is personally viewed as lost, a little encouragement in the activities of others may turn out the little light that pull the turn-around surprise.