“…the LORD passed before Moses and proclaimed, “YAHWEH, YAHWEH ELOHIM, MERCIFUL (rachûm: compassionate, sympathetic) AND GRACIOUS, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth…” (Exodus 34:6-7) Moses said this to the Israelites, “YOU HAVE BEEN REBELLIOUS against the LORD from the day that I knew you. “Thus, I prostrated myself before the LORD; forty days and forty nights I kept prostrating myself, because the LORD had said He would destroy you. Therefore, I PRAYED TO THE LORD, and said: ‘O LORD GOD, do not destroy Your people and Your inheritance whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.” (Deut. 9:24-26)
Moses, because God had given him A MERCIFUL HEART, prayed for the rebellious Israelites and God delivered them. So, he spoke this to them, “And now, Israel (and all Christians), what does the LORD YOUR GOD REQUIRE OF YOU?
- BUT TO FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD. Fear: (yârê’: to stand in awe of and to be fearful of the consequences of disobeying God)
- TO WALK IN ALL HIS WAYS AND TO LOVE HIM.
- TO SERVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL.
- TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD AND HIS STATUTES WHICH I COMMAND YOU TODAY FOR YOUR GOOD.
Why should we agree to this? “Indeed, heaven and the highest heavens BELONG TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, also the earth with ALL THAT IS IN IT.” (Deut. 10:12-14)
Everything belongs to God, so we want to fear the Lord, love Him serve Him with our all.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham