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Maintaining Faith When God’s Face is Hidden

Moshe (Moses) predicts Israel’s idolatry and apostasy. He also writes a song to remind Israel of what the LORD has done for them, what they did against Him, what happened to them as a result and how the LORD will reconcile them back to Himself.

A striking illustration of a woman with dark, flowing hair, wearing a golden robe, looking upward with tears on her face. Her hands are raised in an expression of prayer or longing. The background features dramatic, radiant light beams against a dark, textured sky. The text reads, "Maintaining Faith When God's Face is Hidden" and "Deuteronomy 31-32," with a logo and the URL "hallel.info" in the lower left corner.

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In Deuteronomy 31-32, Moses, at 120, prepares the Israelites for life without him, urging obedience to God and encouraging Joshua to lead with strength and courage. He predicts Israel’s future disobedience, God’s judgment, and prosperity leading to idolatry, capturing these warnings in a song.

The discussion highlights the concept of God’s hidden face, emphasizing that it signifies His actions are not immediately visible, not His absence. Historical examples, like the flood and Moses’ experiences, illustrate this. The conversation stresses the importance of faith during such times, alongside reflecting on Moses’ perseverance, final instructions, and unwavering commitment to God’s purpose despite personal disappointments.

Trusting God’s Heart When You Can’t See His Hand

Maintaining faith and trust in God when His face is hidden can be challenging, but there are a few key things we can focus on:

1. Remember God’s past faithfulness. Even when we can’t see God’s direct involvement, we can reflect on how He has guided and provided for us before. His character and promises remain the same.

2. Rely on God’s word, not just our circumstances. When we can’t see God’s hand, we must cling to the truth of Scripture and the assurance of His love and plan for us.

3. Foster an attitude of humility and dependence. Recognizing our need for God and our inability to fully understand His ways can help us trust Him even in the midst of uncertainty.

4. Persist in prayer and seeking God. Though His face may be hidden, He promises to be found by those who diligently seek Him.

The key is to shift our focus from what we can see to what we know to be true about God’s nature and character. With faith and patience, we can trust Him even when His face is hidden from our view.

Guarding Against Misinterpretation: The Wisdom of Communal Scripture Reading

Here are a few key lessons we can learn from the emphasis on reading and understanding the law:

1. The importance of corporate engagement with God’s word. The command to gather all the people, including men, women, children, and strangers, shows that God wants everyone to hear and understand His instructions.

2. The need for ongoing education and reinforcement. Requiring the law to be read every seven years indicates that regular, repeated exposure is necessary for the people to truly learn and apply it.

3. The danger of misinterpretation or selective application. By having the entire community hear the law together, it helps prevent individuals or leaders from twisting or ignoring parts of it for their own benefit.

4. The responsibility of parents and leaders. The meeting highlighted how the head of the household would be accountable for ensuring their family and any strangers under their care understood the law properly.

5. The value of context and comprehension over just superficial compliance. Simply reading the law was not enough – the goal was for the people to listen, learn, and fear the Lord, not just go through the motions.

The key takeaway is that God desires a deep, communal understanding of His instructions, not just outward obedience. Regularly engaging with Scripture in community can help us grow in faith and application.

Moses’ Strength and Courage at the Finish Line of Faith

There are several important lessons we can learn from emulating Moses’ dedication and perseverance, even in the face of personal setbacks:

1. Maintain focus on the bigger picture. Despite not being able to enter the Promised Land himself, Moses remained committed to completing the task God had given him – to lead the people to the border. We should keep our eyes on the ultimate goal, even when we face obstacles.

2. Persevere through disappointment. Moses was deeply disappointed that he would not get to fulfill his lifelong dream of entering the land. Yet he did not let that stop him from doing what was required. We can learn to press on despite personal disappointments.

3. Serve selflessly. Moses could have become bitter or resentful, but instead he continued to serve the people and prepare Joshua to lead them. Putting others before ourselves is a hallmark of true dedication.

4. Trust in God’s plan, not just our own. Moses had to accept that God’s plan for him did not align with his personal desires. Submitting to God’s sovereign will, even when it’s difficult, demonstrates faith.

5. Finish strong. Even at 120 years old, Moses remained strong and courageous, completing the task God had given him. We should strive to finish well, regardless of the challenges we face.

The key is to emulate Moses’ unwavering commitment to God’s purpose, even when our personal hopes and dreams are not fulfilled. With God’s help, we can persevere through setbacks and continue serving Him faithfully.

Reader: Hank. Teacher: Daniel.

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