Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life
and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving
the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of
days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Moses was saying that a time of decision was at hand. The people of Israel could no longer
walk on both sides of the fence. They must make a choice.
You are I are continually making choices. Some of them are very minor choices. Think of all the
choices you made getting ready for work this morning.
Some choices are really not choices at all. Frequent fliers will undoubtedly sympathize with the
passengers on a cross-country flight who were considering the announced luncheon
choices--chicken Marengo, beef burritos, or fruit salad. After announcing these choices the flight
attendant added this useful piece of advice: "If you do not get your first choice, please do not be
distressed, as all our entrees taste very much the same." Let's see, was that an airline that
made that announcement or was that a hospital? Some choices are no choice at all.
We have to make several choices everyday of our lives. Will we follow Christ or our own way?
(Deuteronomy 30.19
NRSV)
Moses was delivering to the children of Israel the covenant he had received from God. There
was no danger that he would overstate his case. He had no choice but to deliver a hard
message. The stakes were high. The very survival of his people was at stake. In the midst of
Moses' oration we find these critical words: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against
you, that I have set before you life and death . . . therefore choose life, that both you and your
seed may live."
Dear God, sometimes I get lost and make poor choices. Show me the way to make good
choices today. Amen.
