Study Desk

And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day.

Perhaps you will think to yourselves, ‘How can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?'

"So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him.

Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock!

He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.'

But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.

It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Even at Mount Sinai you made the Lord so angry he was ready to destroy you.

Leave me alone so I may destroy them and erase their name from under heaven. Then I will make a mighty nation of your descendants, a nation larger and more powerful than they are.'

"So while the mountain was blazing with fire I turned and came down, holding in my hands the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant.

So I took the stone tablets and threw them to the ground, smashing them before your eyes.

The Lord was so angry with Aaron that he wanted to destroy him, too. But I prayed for Aaron, and the Lord spared him.

"So I made an Ark of acacia wood and cut two stone tablets like the first two. Then I went up the mountain with the tablets in my hand.

Then the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and resume the journey, and lead the people to the land I swore to give to their ancestors, so they may take possession of it.'

So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

"Therefore, be careful to obey every command I am giving you today, so you may have strength to go in and take over the land you are about to enter.

then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil.

"But be careful. Don't let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods.

"So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.

so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.