Accuracy is important, especially when a crucial message is being sent. When we send a verbal message to someone through a third party, we want them to get the message correct, word for word what we said. The same would go for a secretary taking a letter for the boss. She needs to get the words of that message down correctly. When bringing a message, it needs to be accurate, not adding any words of our own, nor taking out any words. God feels the same way with His Word, the Bible. Let’s look into our Scripture today from the Book of Deuteronomy.
The Book of Deuteronomy was God’s message to the people of Israel just prior to their entry into the Promised Land. It was the final words that God spoke through His servant Moses, as Moses did not enter the land of Canaan. He died on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Throughout Deuteronomy Moses urged the people to stay true to Yahweh, and not be tempted by the false gods of the Canaanites. He also told the people that they were to stay true to the Word of God, not adding or subtracting a single word, and they were to teach that Word to their children.
The Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is sufficient for us. It is complete, and it contains all we need for life and godliness. Verse 2 warns us that we are not to add or to subtract from it. That is a warning that God gives us at the close of Scripture, as well, in Revelation 22:18-19. No human being, with their limited wisdom and knowledge, can change it. To presume to change the Bible is to assume a place of authority over God. The religious leaders at the time of Jesus did this. They elevated their own man-made laws to the same, or even greater level, than God’s Word (Matthew 23:1-4).
Moses continues on, pleading with the people to stay true to Yahweh, reminding them of what happened at Baal Peor (vs. 3-4). We can read of Baal Peor in Numbers 25. Throughout the wilderness wanderings of the people of Israel, God had warned them not to intermarry with the pagan people. This was to be a rule, though frequently disobeyed, when they entered the land of Canaan as well. The reason behind this order was because marrying a pagan, particularly a pagan woman, would lead them to quickly start worshipping their pagan gods. We see this centuries later with King Solomon, and what brought about his downfall (I Kings 11:1-11). In Numbers 25 we find that many of the Israelites were marrying the Moabite women, and worshipping their gods. Many of the pagan worship rites included immoral sexual practices. The Israelites began taking part in these, along with idolatrous worship of the false Moabite gods. God brought swift and harsh judgment on them at Baal Peor. Only those who held fast to God lived. Though God often holds back and delays punishment, He does not overlook or wink at sin. Judgment will come.
Moses continued instructing the people, telling them that they were to be God’s witnesses to the surrounding nations (vs. 6). Israel was supposed to be a testimony to the world. They were to be a witness nation, drawing the Gentiles to God. The unsaved were to see God’s light shining through them, and thus desire to find out more about Him. This is even more true of Christians today. Is our Christian walk such that the unbelievers see Jesus in us, and want to find out more about Him because of how we live?
As we continue in our passage, Moses reminded the people that God was near them. Unlike the pagan gods, who never cared about the people who worshipped them, Yahweh is the true and only God, and He loves and cares for His people (vs 7). The life and words of Jesus, our Savior, abundantly shows this. These pagan gods only demanded sacrifices, often human sacrifices. Yahweh, though, loved us so much that He gave the sacrifice, the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus! We can call on God for any reason, at any time, regarding any difficulty or challenge.
As Moses closes the Scripture today, he warns to take heed to follow God’s Word. Take heed, watch out, be careful. Evil is everywhere, always seeking to tempt us away from obedience to God, and His Word. Sin promises a better life if we only follow the world’s way. However that promise is empty, as it leads only to destruction. God calls us to listen and obey Him, and not be tempted by what the world has to offer. Who will we listen to and follow? The choice is ours.
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