In Deuteronomy 7 to 13, Moses continues his farewell address to the Israelites, emphasizing God’s covenant faithfulness and the importance of Israel’s obedience to His commandments. These chapters stress the call for Israel to remain a holy and separate nation, dedicated to worshiping the one true God. Moses also warns against idolatry, encourages trust in God, and reiterates the significance of the covenant as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 7: A Holy People Set Apart
Deuteronomy 7 opens with Moses instructing the Israelites to destroy the nations inhabiting the Promised Land. The Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites are mentioned as nations greater and mightier than Israel, but God promises to deliver them into the hands of His people. The Israelites are commanded to utterly destroy these nations, making no covenants with them and showing no mercy: “Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them” (Deuteronomy 7:2 KJV).
The Israelites are also warned against intermarrying with these nations, as such unions would lead them to worship foreign gods. The reason for this strict separation is rooted in Israel’s special calling as a holy people: “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6 KJV).
God’s choice of Israel is not based on their numbers or strength, but on His love and His faithfulness to the covenant made with their ancestors. Moses encourages the people to trust in God’s continued protection and provision, reminding them of His mighty acts in delivering them from Egypt.
Deuteronomy 8: Remember the Lord in the Promised Land
In Deuteronomy 8, Moses emphasizes the importance of remembering God’s past faithfulness once the Israelites enter the land and experience prosperity. He reminds them of their journey through the wilderness, where God tested and humbled them. He provided manna from heaven and ensured their clothing did not wear out: “Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years” (Deuteronomy 8:4 KJV).
Moses urges the Israelites to be mindful of their dependence on God, warning them not to forget Him when they enjoy the wealth and abundance of the Promised Land. The Israelites are reminded that it is God who gives them the ability to prosper: “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV).
If the Israelites turn away from God and follow other gods, Moses warns that they will perish like the nations before them. The key message is that Israel’s success is tied to their obedience and faithfulness to God.
Deuteronomy 9: Israel’s Rebellions Recalled
In Deuteronomy 9, Moses addresses the pride that could arise in Israel’s heart as they conquer the Promised Land. He reminds the people that they are not receiving the land because of their own righteousness, but because of the wickedness of the nations before them: “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out” (Deuteronomy 9:5 KJV).
Moses recounts Israel’s past rebellions to demonstrate that they are a “stiffnecked people” who have continually disobeyed God. He recalls the incident of the golden calf at Mount Horeb, when the Israelites quickly turned away from God while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments. In response to their sin, Moses interceded on behalf of the people, and God spared them.
Moses’ recounting of these events is a sobering reminder that the Israelites’ survival and success depend on God’s mercy, not their own merits.
Deuteronomy 10: The New Tablets of the Law
In Deuteronomy 10, Moses recalls how God commanded him to cut two new tablets of stone after the first set was broken in response to the golden calf incident. God rewrote the Ten Commandments on the new tablets, and Moses placed them in the ark of the covenant.
Moses then calls the people to fear and love the Lord, to walk in His ways, and to serve Him with all their heart and soul: “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12 KJV).
The chapter emphasizes the uniqueness of God, who chose Israel out of all the nations, and it reminds the people of His greatness. Moses urges the Israelites to circumcise the “foreskin of your heart” (Deuteronomy 10:16 KJV), symbolizing inner transformation and true devotion to God.
Deuteronomy 11: The Blessings of Obedience
Deuteronomy 11 highlights the blessings that come from obedience to God’s commandments. Moses reminds the people of all they have witnessed, from the miraculous plagues in Egypt to the crossing of the Red Sea and their survival in the wilderness. He calls on the Israelites to observe God’s laws, promising that their obedience will result in prosperity, rain for their crops, and a long life in the Promised Land.
However, Moses also warns of the consequences of disobedience, including drought and destruction. He commands the people to choose blessing over curse by faithfully keeping God’s commandments: “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse” (Deuteronomy 11:26 KJV).
Moses encourages the Israelites to teach God’s words diligently to their children, to speak of them in their daily lives, and to keep them visible by writing them on doorposts and gates.
Deuteronomy 12: A Call to Worship God Alone
In Deuteronomy 12, Moses instructs the Israelites on how to properly worship God when they enter the Promised Land. He commands them to destroy all the places where the Canaanites worshiped their gods, tearing down altars, smashing sacred pillars, and burning idols. Israel is to be a holy nation that worships only the one true God.
Moses emphasizes that worship must take place in the place that God will choose, and the people are not to worship as they please. Sacrifices, offerings, and feasts must be done according to God’s command, and the Israelites are warned not to adopt the pagan practices of the surrounding nations.
This chapter sets the tone for Israel’s centralized worship and highlights the importance of purity in their devotion to God.
Deuteronomy 13: Warnings Against Idolatry
Deuteronomy 13 contains a stern warning against idolatry. Moses addresses the danger of false prophets or dreamers of dreams who might lead the people astray by performing signs and wonders. Even if a prophet’s sign comes to pass, if they encourage the worship of other gods, they are to be put to death: “Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams” (Deuteronomy 13:3 KJV).
Moses also warns that if a close family member or friend secretly entices someone to worship other gods, they are not to yield to their persuasion but must expose the offender. Similarly, if an entire city turns to idolatry, that city must be destroyed completely, showing the seriousness of maintaining pure worship of God.
The chapter stresses that God demands total loyalty and devotion. Israel is to guard against any influence that would lead them away from Him.
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 7 to 13 emphasizes Israel’s need to remain faithful to God as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Through these chapters, Moses reminds the people of God’s promises, His past faithfulness, and the importance of obedience to His commandments. By destroying idolatry, teaching their children, and choosing to follow God’s ways, Israel would receive blessings and enjoy prosperity in the land. Moses’ words serve as a powerful reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, encouraging them to live in wholehearted devotion to Him.
