Overwhelmed

But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear! [Deuteronomy 29.4]

As I read today's OYCB reading, it was overwhelming how much it confirmed what I have been on the fringe of understanding for quite some time now. The subject passage above seems to answer much of what I have struggled with - or at least felt like I have been struggling with.

Deuteronomy chapters 29-30 sum up much of Israel's history and relationship with God. This relationship involves God's covenant with Israel as revealed in the Law with all its rules and regulations and Israel's compliance with it. There is one very revealing passage that we should all be aware of:

“But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses. I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the LORD our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today. [Deuteronomy 29.14-15]

Lest we think, "that was Old Testament," thus excluding ourselves from all that is said in Deuteronomy involving blessings and curses, we have verses 14-15 above indicating the perpetuity of the Law to future generations - to us! However, some will still argue that Jesus changed all that... And, they are absolutely right!

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. [Matthew 5.17]

Jesus came to accomplish the purpose of the Law - that is, to make us right with God. We MUST keep the Law in order to be right with God - but that can only be done AS WE ARE IN CHRIST. We MUST understand that the New Covenant is simply the Old Covenant improved and fulfilled by Jesus instead of by us. All the rules and regulations still stand - all the promises still stand. But instead of it being our responsibility to keep them, it is now our responsibility to keep them IN CHRIST!

I could quote nearly the entirety of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Colossians in support of what is said here. We should all be encouraged to read this letter and understand the "in Christ"/"Christ in me" relationship Paul speaks of. But this understanding is incomplete without the foundation of what is said in Deuteronomy 29-30.

Again, it is overwhelming. The WHOLE Bible is for us today - not just the New Testament! And, that is exactly what Moses was saying in the subject passage above relative to the time in which he wrote it: But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear! BECAUSE THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS! Look at what Jesus Himself said concerning those who refuse to believe in Him and those who do believe in Him:

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. [Matthew 13.14-17]

God has given us today minds that understand, eyes that see, and ears that hear JESUS! Again! Jesus accomplished the purpose of the Law - to make all those "in Him (Jesus)" right with God. 

If we are not sensing an enormous emotion of gratitude right now, then, perhaps we have yet to understand Jesus.

Oh, how good God's Word is! How complete! How amazing!

Father, thank You for this revelation of Jesus today! May I be found in Jesus!