Word of Encouragement

A verse that I have read several times and never quite understood has been coming back to mind recently with a lot of practical insight.  When Moses is giving his farewell speech to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, he tells them: "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.  But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it." (Deut 30:11,14).  This is a great statement full of good news.  My confusion was that this comes in the context of God having just given the Torah to Israel complete with all its 613 commandments.  And He says that it’s not too hard for us?  I have trouble keeping the 10 commandments (less than 2% of the commandments in the Torah) for any period of time.  And what about the Law not making anyone righteous?  Paul says, “rather, through the law we became conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20).  Isn’t that saying that it is too difficult and too far off to keep God’s commandments?  That we just can’t do it?

As those who have been brought from death to life, we have insight into this promise that maybe the Israelites didn’t at the time.  The truth is we can’t keep God’s mitzvot (commands) no matter how hard we try.  Even when I do something right, I know for me it’s often stained with pride and selfishness.  But the Gospel declares that we can do all things by Christ who strengthens us.  Yeshua the Messiah is the only Savior, and it’s only by faith in Him that we can really experience the truth of this promise.  Paul gives some commentary on this verse in his letter to the Romans: “But what does [the righteousness that is by faith] say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:8-9).  The truth is that the Word is very near.  He became flesh and dwelt among us.  He lives within us and “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

But what about the Israelites who were present when Moses said this?  They didn’t know Jesus (1500 years before His incarnation).  The amazing thing about God is that He never changes.  He has always poured out His righteousness that is based on faith.  So, by faith (and faith alone), the ancient Israelites could follow God’s commandments and worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth looking forward to the promised salvation (ישועה) in Yeshua (ישוע).  The word was near to them as well.  Moses exhorts the people: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life” (Deut 30:19-20).  Yeshua is the way the truth and the life min haolam vad haolam (from eternity to eternity).

Chazak! Chazak! Venitchazeik! (Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!)