THEME: God assures us who are his covenant children that He will bring us to himself from any place where we may wander away. When we return to him then he will faithfully renew and restore us.
Deuteronomy 30:6
U’MAL YHVH ELO’HEI’CHA ET–L’VAV’CHA UV’ET—LE’VAV ZAR’EH’CHA
And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring
LE’A’HA’VAH ET—YHVH ELO’HEI’CHA BE’KOL—LE’VAV’CHA UV’KOL NAF’SHE’CHA
so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
LE’MA’AN CHA’YEH’CHA
so that you may live
As is always the case in the Torah, the simple issue of “a heart for God” that is circumcised from carnal inhibitions, the wandering of desire and the buffeting of human imagination against exalted spiritual life finds detailed description that conforms to real life experience.
Verses 1-3 explain God’s use of the blessing and the curse to lead his wayward children back to him. Is this not the “Prodigal Son” syndrome extended to a whole people? When we are chastened of the LORD we discover that we are truly his. As the scripture says in Hebrews 12:7-8, “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons*.” Is this therefore not also a message to humanity that if God brought upon Adam and Eve the curse for disobedience and self-worship then the final result of that will be his designed return of the creature made in his own image and likeness? This then is a return to himself with maturity of understanding so that we may live with him forever.
*[KJV, updated]
Verses 4-5 tell us that God is able to bring us back to him no matter how far we have wandered away. Is this not a great encouragement to you in your distress—the knowledge that God has not abandoned you but rather that he is even now constructing for you a highway to walk straight back to his enfolding love and care?
We then come to the covenantal assurance of verse 6, the text for this devotion, which tells us that the real solution for us in all our troubles is a heart that is circumcised unto God. This circumcision is an operation of the spirit that God himself brings about through the Gospel of our LORD Jesus. (Colossians 2:12-14)
Therefore, let the work of our LORD’S cross have its full effect in your heart and mind. Messiah’s coming is God’s search for you. Don’t let yourself be too hard to find.
Love always,
Your fellow traveler
Brother Bron
