1 - 29 Acts of Conveyance and Investiture
When Moses finishes speaking, he says to them that since he's getting old (120! Trivia from my notes: a) it's 3 generations and b) it's the maximum age allowed to humans according to Genesis 6:3), God has told him not to cross the river Jordan. The Lord will cross instead and destroy any nation against Israel.
Moses summons Joshua and tells him to be strong.
Moses writes down the law and gives it to the priests & sons of Levi, who carry it to the Ark. He commands them to read it every 7 years (At the rate we're going that will be about the time we get back to it . . . ).
God tells Moses his time to die is near. He asks for Joshua to be commissioned. He tells Moses that after he dies, the Isrealites will forsake him again and turn to other gods. He tells Moses to write a song so that the Israelites won't forget. The commissions Joshua and Moses writes the song and teaches it to the Israelites. Moses asks for the Law to be put beside the Ark of the Covenant and he calls an assembly.
Question of the Day: Moses knows he is going to die. In what way does he prepare for the Law to go on after him. Can we do similar things in our lives?
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I'll tell you what's interesting about this chapter. In my church's theology class which I take on Sunday evenings we are currently studying God's providence which also involves Arminianism vs. Calvinism. Arminians hold that men have choice and free will in their destinies. Calvinists hold that God has it all planned and it doesn't matter what we decide, that our decisions are part of God's plan from the beginning.
This chapter seems to prove the Calvinist point of view. God has said that the Israelites will turn from him afte Moses death. I guess Arminianists would say (somehow) that the Israelites could decide to "stick with God" and not turn. This would make God a liar and would change all of history. To me, this chapter proves that God has already determined our destinies, even though it means here death and destruction.
The other thing I notice is that God's plan up to now is for the Israelites to take over the land that he is giving thim and destroy anyone who gets in their way. Christ's instructions are to convert everyone to Him, spread the "good news" that "you" can be a member of God's chosen family. It's an interesting contrast. Again, concerning God's providence, God can do whatever he wants to do. We are to praise him for ALL he is and does and obey him. If we happen to be "slotted for demolition", to me, we should still be thankful that WE ARE IN GOD'S PLAN and that he DOES EXIST and HIS WORD PROVES ALL THIS.
Answer: God tells Moses to write down everything that has happened and that God has said and to read it to everyone every 7 years. We can certainly do the same thing. We can write a "Book of Karlton", "Book of J.P.", etc. describing God's working in our lives and pass it on to others. It would be a biography but focusing on God's work in our life not simply general stuff that happened to us and general stuff we did.
hmn . . . "The Book of Karlton" . . .
Great notes too. Of course, as Presbyterians, we're big Calvinists. The way we look at it is, that while God has planned everything and knows what's going to happen, we don't - therefore we can act with free will.
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