April 11, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 8
When YeHoVaH spoke His initial Words to the Children of Israel, He made it clear they were “not to have any gods before Him and not to make unto themselves graven images, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”. YeHoVaH commanded Moses to instruct Israel to make sure when they entered the Land, they were to destroy all images, stones, and high places of worship. There was to be only one place of worship in the Land and that would be where YeHoVaH would place His Name.
YeHoVaH’s promise to Abraham was on the verge of being completed as Israel was being prepared by Moses to enter and take possession of the Promised Land. YeHoVaH’s plan from day one was to bless Israel as they came out of Egypt laden with jewels of silver and gold to go into a land flowing with milk and honey. Israel had to make a choice of whether they would live in peace and blessings with YeHoVaH in their midst or in turmoil and curses as a result of not obeying YeHoVaH’s Commandments.
Modern day followers of Jesus Christ boldly declare they are not under the Law but are under grace. They are quick to proclaim that their God no longer requires a circumcision in the flesh, only a circumcision of the heart. Although they are unable to clarify what that actually means, they are equally ignorant of the fact that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, also required a circumcision of the heart from those who were partakers of the Covenant with Abraham, the father of our faith.
