Today’s reading is part of the song which Moses wrote and taught the people, as instructed by God, while they were in the wilderness just before entering the promised land, before Moses’ death. "Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.” (Deut.31:19 NIV). God knows everything beforehand and the Lord told Moses that the children of God would walk away from His ways and would depart and serve other gods. Because of their disobedience, God would punish, and they would have to go through tough times. The purpose as written- And when great disasters come down on them, this song will stand as evidence against them, for it will never be forgotten by their descendants. I know the intentions of these people, even now before they have entered the land I swore to give them.” (Deut.31:21NLT).

 

This chapter clearly draws out the whole history of the nation and the great plan of God towards His own people. The character of God and of His chosen people are also contrasted in the song, describing the great things God had done for them yet their intolerable response towards God. It is written further how God would punish their sins and judge the nation because of their evildoing. Yet, concluding the song, God gives a great hope for them on the destruction of their enemies and how God would bless the remnant of the children of God. God’s unchanging character is clearly drawn out here and through the scriptures—and in the fullness of time through Jesus Christ, the whole character of God towards His creation was manifested. His character never changes - Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, ..?' (Ezekiel 33:11)

Let us examine the key verse: ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.”

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1. I am He: There is nothing to be compared with the living God, ‘I AM WHO I AM’
    

2. There is no God besides Me: Let us understand that the so called other gods or the displayed idols are not gods but those are the evil spirits or dark powers controlled by Satan.  For all the gods of the nations are idols (Ps.96:5) (Isa.44:6-23)
    

3. He is the only One that can take away life: "The LORD brings death and makes alive” (1Sam.2:6)
    

4. He is the only One that can give us life: “You are the giver of life.” (Psa.36:9)
    

5. He can wound and heal: For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. (Job 5:18)
    

6. He is all powerful: Great is our Lord and mighty in power; (Psalm.147:5)
    

7. No one can deliver out of His hand: “No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" (Isa.43:13) 

Throughout history and when we look into our lives too, how many testimonies prove that He is the living God! His everlasting character is indescribable; whatever the evil human race does, He is a loving God who can pardon them through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not one of the other gods; while we share the the good news remember to proclaim Jesus Christ the One true God.

 

To Meditate:

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.

For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.

1 Cor.2:10