God is near!!!!

How can we be near God?

I have been writing an exegetical paper on Deuteronomy 30:11-20.
This passage is really interesting. Firstly in verses 11-14 we are looking at God being near to his people through his word (commandment). Secondly (verse 15-20) because the commandment is so close Israel has the choice to listen and obey or disobey.

God drawing Israel close.
In 30:11-14 Moses calls Israel to know that the commandment doesn't have to be sought. They are near them. Moses stresses this by the contrast of looking for the commandment in Heaven or earth to finding it in themselves. Moses has already taught them the commandment. He received it from God and taught them everything he was told. They have the commandment.
We think of God as unknowable. This is also what is fed to us in our society. God is not proven by science, therefore he is not there. But Israel in the Old Testament had proof for God. Deuteronomy shows their encounters with God (cf. 4:3-4, 4:11-14, 4:32-40). Israel know God and now they have the knowledge of God revealed to them (29:29). The secret things which we cannot know, God has made known to Israel. Ian Cairns comments that "nearness of the torah [commandment] is in fact a mode of the nearness of Yahweh's [God's] nearness". Israel is near to God because God has revealed himself to them. God has drawn Israel close to himself through the word he has spoken to them.

Moses continues and teaches that the nearness (special relationship to God) has a responsibility. Obedience (30:15-20). If Israel wants to relate to God in a right way they need to listen and obey the commandment. This is how Israel is to be close to God. By having the commandment in their heart and mouth. Acting and speaking the commandment (cf. Deuteronomy 4:32-40, 6:5-7, 10:12-13, 11:13, 26:16-19). Israel's obedience will mean they will be near God in a right relationship. They will also have life.

God drawing us close.
Israel is not the only people who can read this and get something out of it. We are involved in this to. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30:11-14 in Romans 10:5-17. In these verses Paul is saying that Israel in Deuteronomy received the commandments of God through Moses. For us Jesus appeared revealing the gospel. Jesus revealed the gospel of God to us. By believing the gospel we have nearness to God. Faith in Jesus makes us right with God. We are brought near to God through the gospel.
We also have a responsibility to share this message with others. How are others to hear the great news of Jesus without someone to tell them?

Do you want to be close to God?

- Hear the gospel or Read the gospel and Believe with your heart that Jesus is Lord.


Do you know people who want to be close to God?

- Tell them about Jesus.


Praise be to God for his provision of salvation through his son. May he be praised for his provision of the gospel that reveals secret things to us. May we be thankful that God has not left us in the dark but has given us light to see him clearly.