{"id":4711,"date":"2024-11-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-02T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/reading-plan\/november-2\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T10:11:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T15:11:08","slug":"november-2","status":"publish","type":"reading-plan","link":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/reading-plan\/november-2\/","title":{"rendered":"November 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Insight from Deuteronomy 6<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why Must I Obey?:<\/b><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 6:20\u201325[1]<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Have you ever heard a child ask, \u201cWhy do I have to obey?\u201d Moses expects that parents who love and obey God (Deut. 6:4\u20136) and are calling their children to do so as well (v. 7) will get this kind of question (v. 20). In these verses, he shows us how to reply.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, we should recall the context of obedience (vv. 21\u201323). Specifically, we should (1) stress our desperate situation apart from God; (2) highlight God\u2019s saving activity that freed us; and (3) emphasize that God is faithful to the end.<\/span><\/p>\n

We see the first two steps in the statement, \u201cWe were Pharaoh\u2019s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out\u201d (v. 21). God delivered Israel from bondage through the exodus. They were slaves; God was the Savior. Following God is a response to past grace, and heeding God\u2019s rules is about freedom, not slavery. The same is true in a deeper way in the new covenant, as Jesus our Savior frees us from slavery to sin and God\u2019s wrath through the cross.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, \u201cHe brought us out from [Egypt], that he might . . . give us the land\u201d (v. 23). While many Israelites, by their unfaithfulness, forfeited the opportunity to enter the Promised Land (2:14\u201315), God himself is always faithful both to bless and to curse. With God is life and victory; apart from him is death. In Christ, all who believe find real rest now (Matt. 11:28) and have the sure hope of complete rest in eternity (Heb. 4:1\u201313). This fact should motivate our loyalty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, we should recall the benefits of obedience (Deut. 6:24). Moses motivates obedience by emphasizing the blessings that it brings: \u201cThe LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day\u201d (v. 24). Like the circle of blessing that surrounds a child who obeys and honors her parents (Eph. 6:1\u20133), there is a deep connection between heeding God\u2019s word and enjoying life: \u201cMan does not live by bread alone, but . . . by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD\u201d (Deut. 8:3; cf. Matt. 4:4; Deut. 32:47).<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019s perfect obedience secures our pardon, purchases God\u2019s promises, and provides the power to enjoy life (Rom. 8:1\u20134, 13; 2 Cor. 1:20). When your children ask you the point of following God, point them to God\u2019s past grace and faithfulness and remind them of the blessings enjoyed by all who say no to sin and yes to God.<\/span><\/p>\n

[1] This study is taken from Jason S. DeRouchie, \u201cDeuteronomy,\u201d in <\/span>ESV Men\u2019s Devotional Bible<\/span><\/i>, ed. Sam Storms (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015), 197. For the original version, see<\/span> https:\/\/jasonderouchie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/2015-Devotionals-on-Deuteronomy-ESV-Mens-Devotional-Bible-DeRouchie.pdf<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Insight from Hosea 2\u20133<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yahweh has just given glorious promises of restoration and life to the people of Israel and the people of Judah (see 1:10\u201311). Hosea 2:1 is about the proper response to these promises. Based on the glorious promises they have just heard, the people hearing the message are called to respond in faith. In Hosea\u2019s day, obedience to 2:1 would have meant Israelites, hearing these words, going to their \u201cbrothers\u201d and \u201csisters\u201d in Israel, and speaking these words of faith to them. Beyond this, they were to cross the border into Judah and proclaim these words to their \u201cbrothers\u201d and \u201csisters\u201d living in Judah. They were to proclaim the promise of the one coming \u201chead\u201d and the future rescue from slavery, restoration, and reconciliation of the people of God. In other words, faithful Israelites were being called to preach the gospel (even though Christ had not yet come)! How did the people of Israel respond to this command? It is likely that only a very small remnant of people living during Hosea\u2019s day listened to Hosea\u2019s words and began speaking to fellow Israelites and to people living in Judah about the promises spoken here. But while obedience to this command was certainly not common in the days of Hosea, it became common after the death and resurrection of Christ. His death brought great change to the people of God! After the death and resurrection of Jesus, many people began proclaiming that the days of restoration and life had come! See, for instance, how the apostles Paul and Peter speak about these promises in Romans 11:30\u201332 and 1 Peter 2:10. Of course, the people living during Hosea\u2019s day would have been speaking in faith as they looked forward to the gospel event. People living after the death and resurrection of Christ are speaking of something that they have already experienced! They are no longer waiting for this to be fulfilled. It has been fulfilled\u2014and is still being fulfilled\u2014in Christ! Preachers and teachers need to emphasize this command in 2:1 still stands! We need to declare these things to our \u201cbrothers\u201d and to our \u201csisters\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

Tom Kelby, <\/span>The Book of Hosea with Study Notes: A Preacher\u2019s Guide to the Book of \u00a0Hosea<\/span><\/i>, 44.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_crdt_document":""},"class_list":["post-4711","reading-plan","type-reading-plan","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reading-plan\/4711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reading-plan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/reading-plan"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}