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Weekly Guide：Week 31
August 09, 2020
Week 31 Day 1: Love Only God ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did Moses encourage the Israelites to despise idol and love only God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Moses told the Israelites: “The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
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God gave the Anakites to the Israelites. Kill them without sympathy, do not establish covenant, do not marry, and destroy all their idols.
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Moses reminded the Israelites not to fear the strong Anakites in the land of Canaan. He asked them to remember what God had done to the pharaoh in Egypt.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Moses asked the Israelites to not forget God after they enter the land of milk and honey and enjoy its richness. We always want more of the worldly wealth instead of God. Think about all the blessings God has given me. Do I thank Him for what I have, or do I complain to Him for what I lack?
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Fidelity - 6:20-24 is about teaching the next generations to fear God and remind them the blessings. Am I a good example of God’s blessings? Can I testify to my children for what I have received from the Lord?
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Identity - In 7:7-8, Moses reminded the Israelites that God loved them not because they were better in anyway, it was simply God’s love and faithfulness to all those who love Him and obey His law that He is merciful to them for thousands of generations. What makes me stand before others with full confidence? Is it because I am better or is it due to my relationship with God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 31 Day 2: Remember True God ⇧ ⇩
Question
Moses reminded the people whom they can truly rely on.
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Moses reminded the Israelites that God had provided them everything they needed during the forty years of wandering. They were given manna, their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. Reliance on God was the source of their blessings, not material wealth.
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The Anakites and their city were tall and strong. But Israelites was able to defeat them by obeying God.
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Israelites defeated Anakites not because their righteousness or integrity, but it was the Anakites’ wickedness. Israelites have rebelled against God many times. Moses reminded them that it was God’s mercy that they were spared in the forty rebellious years of wandering.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Jesus quoted a familiar verse when Satan tempted Him: “man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Am I facing challenges that may seem better solved with man’s solutions, but I’d rather put it in front of God and ask Him for guidance?
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Identity - Moses reminded the Israelites that it wasn’t their righteousness that defeated the Anakites. Do I often display my self-righteousness or let others see God’s blessings?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 31 Day 3: The Blessing God ⇧ ⇩
Question
What happens if one obeys God? What happens if otherwise?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God commanded Moses to chisel out of two stone tablets and make a wooden ark. God wrote the commandments on the tablets and Moses put them into the ark.
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Moses reminded Israelites that “God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome.” God wanted them to fear Him, to obey Him, to love Him, and to serve Him with all their hearts and souls so that they may live in His grace and blessings.
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Moses reminded Israelites that they must observe all commands God gave them so they may be blessed.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - Moses reminded the Israelites again to affix God’s word on their hands, foreheads, doorframes, gates, and in their hearts and minds. Do I often read God’s word in the book right next to me? Let me set a goal to strive in affixing God’s word in my heart.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 31 Day 4: Avert from Snare ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about the place of worship, Idols, meat, blood, and the Levites? What did he say about how to deal with those who seduce the Israelites to worship other gods?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Chapters 12-16 are the detailed records of the requirements, decrees, and laws outside of the commands. Although much of the content has been recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, what recorded here is not simply a repeat of the same but targeted toward the specific situation in the land of Canaan.
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Moses commanded the Israelites to destroy completely the places where Canaanites worshiped their gods, break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, burn and cut down their idols. He ordered them to worship at places where God would choose for each tribe, eat in presence of God the meat offered to God, must not eat blood at anywhere, but other meats at any place. They must share with the Levites for whom did not inherit any land. “Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.” Do not worship as the Canaanites. “Be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods.” “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.” “That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God.” They must not follow the Canaanites when mourning for the dead. “Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, for you are a people holy to the Lord your God.”
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” (12:30) Our environment influences us greatly. If we let our curiosity muddle us, we would then stray unknowingly away from God. Do I have any unrighteous thoughts that’s popular today?
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Community - Although there’s no longer Levites, is there any fellow Christian who serves our Lord in need of material help from me? Can I help anyone around me materially?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 31 Day 5: Rely on God ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about clean foods, treating the Levites, the poor and the slaves, the Passover, the Pentecost (Festival of Weeks), and the Festival of Tabernacle?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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14:3-29 repeats what can be eaten and what can’t. Consumption of the tenth produced as well as the first born of herds and flocks in presence of God at the place where God has chosen. At end of every three years, the tithes were to satisfy the Levites, foreigners, fatherless and widows.
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Chapter 15 reiterates the once every seventh year, the Sabbath year, the year of cancelling debts. Freeing the slaves and setting apart the firstborn male of the herds and flocks.
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16:1-17 talks about the regulations on Passover, Pentecost, and Festival of Tabernacle.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - God gave me everything I have. Am I willing to offer a tenth to Him?
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Walking with God - We need to watch over and take care of the helpless to live out the life from merciful God. How have I paid attention to those around me who may need my help?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 31 Day 6: Just and Righteous ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about appointing judges and setting a King? What prophets God promised through Moses would raise up?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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16:18-20 and 17:8-13 talks about priests and judges. Judges must judge fairly, must not pervert justice or show partiality, must not accept bribe. One shall act according to the decision and instruction given by the judge and priest.
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16:21-17:7 and 18:9-13 commands to not set up idols, to not offer sheep with defect or flaw, to punish those who worship idols, and to not imitate the detestable ways of the other nations.
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17:14-20 talks about God’s permission to appoint a King. Notice that King Solomon violated these regulations in his later years.
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18:1-8 talks about what should the Levites live on with no inheritance of their own.
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18:10-22 is about God’s promise that points to Jesus Christ: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.”
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Jesus is the prophet God promised. God will call to account anyone who does not accept His salvation. Anyone who accepts Jesus must obey His teaching. Examine my own attitude toward Jesus’ teaching and turn to Him through prayers.
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Integrity - God again put emphasis on punishing those who worship idols. We have too many idols in the world today to displace God. Looking in my own life, am I still being bond by my job, my status, my family, my properties, and entertainments and view them as source of joy instead of God?