God’s requirements for obedience: Deuteronomy 10–12

Moses has just reminded the Israelites of the ten commandments and their parents’ disobedience in the wilderness. He then issued a call for obedience. The message is timeless: any minister could say the same thing to a modern congregation and not be out of place.

^10:12-13 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

The reason?

^{10:14, 17-18} Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. … For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.

And how should this obedience be shown?

^10:19-21 So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes.