In chapters 10 and 11 Moses makes his closing
appeal before he starts to review and apply the various
laws that would govern the lives of the people in the
Promises Land. The people were to fear the Lord their
God, to walk in His ways, to love Him, and to serve Him
with all their heart and with all their soul.

In chapter 11 Moses makes it clear that the real
issue is the heart. If the people truly loved God with
all their heart they would obey His Word. Moses
continually warns them that they could not live as they
pleased, but they must comply with the instructions of
God. The land of Canaan was not like the land of Egypt.
Now that the people were in Canaan they would have to
depend on the Lord watering their crops by the rains
from heaven, which would come twice a year. The
fruitfulness of the land depended on the rain from
heaven, but if the people disobeyed God He would not
send rain. As we continue our reading we will notice
that rain was withheld several times in Israel’s
history.

In verses 26-32 there is set before the people
the choice of a blessing or a curse. If they obeyed the
commandments of the Lord they would receive a blessing,
but if they disobeyed them they would receive a curse.

To obey is better than to sacrifice. God’s
desire for His children is that we obey His Word. The
basic principle of obedience has never changed in the
sight of God. If God’s people will obey His Word, He
will bless them, but if they disobey, He will chasten
them. Obedience will keep you from sin and chastisement.
Obedience is the key to complete happiness as a
Christian.