Articles
The LORD is God Deut. 4
The LORD is God
Deut. 4
Today's reading is about Moses explaining to this 'second generation' of Israel what the law and their history was all about. There is an amazing emphasis upon what God had been doing in, not only for Israel but for other nations such as Edom and Moab. Here is a short summary of our reading:
1:3 The LORD gave commandment to Moses to speak.
1:6 The LORD spoke to them at Horeb
1:8 The LORD swore to the Fathers to give them a land
1:10 The LORD has multiplied them to be so numerous.
1:21 The LORD set the land before them and commanded them to go up and take it.
1:30 Moses promised that the LORD would go before them and fight for them.
1:31 The LORD carried them through the wilderness as a father carries his son.
2:1 The LORD gave Mount Seir to Esau.
2:9 The LORD gave Moab their land.
2:20 The LORD gave the Ammonites (descended from Lot) their land, and destroyed the giants that lived there. (vs. 21).
2:24 The LORD gave Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon into Israel's hand.
2:36 The LORD gave all into our hands..
3:3 The LORD gave Og, the king of Bashan and all his people into Israel's hand.
3:22 Moses encouraged them in their upcoming battles: "You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you."
4:3 The LORD destroyed those who turned and worshiped the Baal of Peor.
At the end of our reading (4:32-40), Moses instructs them about their special relationship to the LORD their God. God, for the first time in knowable history, manifested himself to them and they heard His voice (32-33), He took them as a nation of people for Himself (34). This making of them a nation involved trials, signs, wonders, war, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm, and great deeds of terror. Moses concludes saying: "To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him" (Deut. 4:35).
The Lord our God is ONE Lord. Paul declares: "For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." Again: "… there is no God but one" (1Cor. 8:4).
God's people yet need this constant reminder. God is. There is one God. God is not man. God is not an idol made by men. God is not His creation. Man is NOT God. The LORD is God, there is no other besides him. Worship the LORD.
