Go Beyond

• The Choice before Israel | Deuteronomy 11:26-32

11:26-32 | Moses called upon the people to make a choice. Notice the following things concerning the choice set before Israel:

First, it was a plain choice — “I am setting before you … “ (11:26). There was sufficient information available for the people to make an intelligent choice. Moses had not kept anything from them. He had spoken openly and plainly with them about God’s requirements. The people knew what God expected of them.

Second it was an urgent choice — “today … “ (11:26). The people had to decide whether or not they were going to obey God alone. This was not a decision they could put off to some future day. Moses called upon the people to choose to follow God “today.” He made no allowance for indecision. Joshua would later say to the people, “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Someone noted: “Defer not till tomorrow to be wise / Tomorrow’s sun to thee may never rise.”

Third, it was a serious choice — “a blessing and a curse” (11:26). Their choice would have an impact on them … either a blessing or a curse. The blessing was contingent upon obedience and complete loyalty to God (11:27) and the curse was the consequence of disobedience and “following other gods” (11:28). We can make choices in a moment, but the fruit of those choices can be endless.

Fourth, it was an inescapable choice — “and you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the judgments which I am setting before you today” (11:32).

Indecision is debilitating. | The Israelites were at a crossroads — at the intersection between their past and their future. Moses called upon them to choose a course of action that would determine the kind of future they would have. Indecision was not an option. Moses did not give the people the luxury of not deciding. Instead, he impressed upon them the urgency of making the right choice. Indecision keeps people from confidently pressing on toward the realization of God’s richest blessings. Indecision debilitates people. What we do at the crossroads of life reveals not only who we are, but impacts what we may become.