Holy Moses! Why Am I Doing This Again?
Moses had led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. They had just finished their 40 years of wilderness wanderings and are standing at the door to the promised land – preparing to go through. This is as far as Moses is allowed to go. But before he departs and Israel enters, Moses delivers his final challenge to the children of Abraham. There were some things that the Israelites needed to remember. There were some things that Israel would be tempted to forget. We need to remember the same things as our time in the land can reorder our loves, our allegiances, and our memories.
I love this book! Up until the end of chapter six he has been elaborating on the significance and importance of following God’s commands. And he knows that there will be a good handful of them, and some of the commands will seem difficult and odd. And he knows that obedience to them will not go unquestioned by future generations.
“When your son asks you in time to come. ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ … (Deuteronomy 6:20)
There will be a day when the kids stop and take inventory and ask, “Hey, why are we doing this again? This makes no sense, seems like an empty tradition, costs a lot, delivers nothing, wastes time, and requires that we kill animals – so why are we doing this again?”
These are normal questions from second generation believers. And they will come up. Maybe even by your own kids.
“Hey, why are we doing this again? This is strange. It is embarrassing. None of my friends at school do this. Why do we have to be so different?”
“When your son asks you… then you shall say to your son, ‘BECAUSE I SAID SO! DO IT OR ELSE! OBEY OR GOD IS GOING TO BURY YOU IN A BOX!” Sorry. The text does not say this. Such an answer may initially scare a person into a sham of obedience, but it has no permanent or transforming impact. Actually, the text says…
“When your son asks you… 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. 23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’
The answer is your testimony. It is painting an accurate picture of your lostness and the hopelessness and futility involved. It is helping your child see the love of God in reaching into your mess and delivering you from it. It’s helping the child to see that these commands, though sometimes hard to understand and execute, are for our good – they help us truly live life as it was meant to be! Also, following the commands “will be righteousness to us.” God has given us an incredible opportunity to know him personally! Obeying his word is the only path to intimacy with God!
Granted, Moses’ answer takes a bit more time and energy than “BECAUSE I SAID SO,” but it is so good for our kids (or others) to hear. And, it is so good for us to say.
In our repeating this, we are reminded about why we are following.
It is often in the repeating of this answer that we are purified and find the strength and joy to persevere.
So, let me ask you, why are you following him? Maybe it’s been a long time since you reminded yourself of the answer.
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