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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 18
May 05, 2024
Week 18 Day 1: Compassionate and Righteous ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about divorcing the wife, treating newly wedded wife, the widow, the fatherless, and flogging the guilty? What is the Family of the Unsandaled?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Chapter 24, a man may divorce his wife if he finds something indecent about her but must write a certificate of divorce. The newly wedded man must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid upon him for a year so he can bring happiness to his wife. Because the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt, they should not take advantage of the poor, must be compassionate, should not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, must help them and give them dignity. It is evil to kidnap and treat or sell others as slaves. Be very careful with skin diseases. The guilty will die for their own sins, family should not be put to death for them.
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Chapter 25, the guilty should not be punished for more than the crime deserves. One must carry on his brother’s name or become The Family of the Unsandaled. Even when desperate to help her husband, a woman should not seize other man’s private part. Trade must be done fairly “For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” Do not forget to blot out the name of Amalek.
Meditation: My Story
- Community - God wants Israelites to be compassionate to the foreigners, widows, and the fatherless. He wants them to be helped with dignity. He wants Israelites to be sympathetic and flexible to the poor. Not causing them insurmountable difficulties. God is full of mercy and grace to us. Have I been harsh toward others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 18 Day 2: Firstfruits and Tithes ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about the firstfruits and the third year? What about the thrice repeated phrase “this day?”
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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After entering the promised land, the Israelites must offer the firstfruit, and proclaim God’s redemption and blessings.
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The tenth of produce each third year must be put aside for the Levites, foreigners, widows, and the fatherless and proclaim that God’s commands have not been forgotten.
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Moses repeated three times “this day” the Israelites have made a covenant with God, that God is their God and they are His people. They have become His treasured possession as He promised.
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Chapter 26 completes the declaration of the law and regulations started in chapter 12.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - All the goodness in my life are from God. I should be willing to give a tenth of what God gave me back to Him like Abel did. Ask God to help me remember all the blessings He has given to me over the years. Ask Him to help me to give tithe willingly.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 18 Day 3: Blessings and Curses ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses command? Whom did the Levitical priests say would be cursed?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israelites’ livelihood depended on their relationship with God. The relationship depended on their obedience to God’s law. So, they were to write all the words of the law on some large plaster coated stones when they entered the promised land.
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Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel that they have become God’s people and must follow the commands and decrees given to them. Moses commanded six tribes to bless the people on Mount Gerizim and six tribes to pronounce curses on Mount Ebal. The Levites would recite to the people that anyone who dishonors their parents, moves boundary stone, leads blind astray, withholds justice from foreigners or fatherless or widows, has sex with animal, incest or dishonors his father’s bed, kills in secret, kills innocent, does not uphold the law by carrying them out would be cursed.
Meditation: My Story
- Walking with God - We always pick blessings over curses when asked. In reality, we often submit to our own fleshly desires and prides. We forget the sin behind the desires and prides. Let me atone in front of God, ask Him to purify my hear and sanctify me.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 18 Day 4: Their Own Choice ⇧ ⇩
Question
What testimonies did Moses give to the Israelites, pleading to them to obey God’s commands?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- Moses reiterated again the great miracles and wonders of God from the past to appeal to the people to abide by the covenant with God. The commands were not too difficult for them or beyond their reach: “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” However, if their hearts turn away from God and not obedient: “All the curses written in this book will fall on them.” But when they and their children return to God and obey God with all their hearts and souls, then God will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.
Meditation: My Story
- Walking with God - What God wants from me is not hard to do. It is my choice to let go many things right in front of my eyes because the reward is that glorious crown waiting for me in heaven. Let me reaffirm my goal before God, to walk on that narrow but the righteous path to the eternal life.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 18 Day 5: Moses' Final Words ⇧ ⇩
Question
What were Moses’ final words to Joshua, the priest, the Levites, and the elders? What did God say to Moses and Joshua?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Moses could not enter the promised land because God did not allow him and he was old. However, God brought up Joshua to lead the Israelites to cross the Jordan river, to go into the land of Canaan, to destroy the nations on that land. Moses encouraged Joshua in front of all Israel that God will be with him.
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Moses commanded the Levitical priests and elders to read to all Israel the law every seventh year, the year of cancelling debts, so they can learn to fear God.
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God said to Moses and Joshua that the people will forsake Him and break the covenant. He told Moses to write down a song “so that it may be a witness for me against them.”
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Moses finished writing the words of the Book of the Law and placed it beside the ark of covenant as a witness against Israel.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Moses passed on to Joshua the duty of leading the people to war and to go into the land of Canaan. The burden laid upon Joshua seemed to be unbearably heavy from man’s point of view. However, like the faith he had when first scouted in the land of Canaan, Joshua had complete faith that God will fight for Israel. What prevents me from accepting God’s calling? Pray to God to strengthen my faith in Him.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 18 Day 6: Moses' Parting Song ⇧ ⇮
Question
What did Moses write in the song? What were the blessings to the twelve tribes?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Chapter 32: Moses wrote the song by God’s command to recall God’s blessings, people’s rebellion, the punishments that followed, and God’s promises and redemption. The song proclaimed that God is the rock and He is the only God. Moses asked the people to take all the words to heart so they can command their children to obey. The words are not idle; The words are their life. God once again told Moses that he will not enter the land of Canaan for he did not uphold God’s holiness at the waters of Meribah.
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Chapter 33: Moses’ blessing to the twelve tribes. It began with God’s glory and ended with praises to the graces the people have received. It is such a blessing being chosen by God and His mercy can be seen easily through Moses’ blessing even though Israel would eventually fail.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The rebellious people of Israel worshiped those useless false gods. We, too, often spend much energy pursuing those temporary pleasures and corruptible materials. Like the children who see only the sand on a beautiful beach, we forget the eternal treasure in heaven. Pray to God to help me see beyond my nose, help me see what He has planned for me in heaven.