PERMANENCE, PROVISION, PROTECTION

Deuteronomy 11:1-32

Saturday, 06 September 2025

 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul…’ –Deuteronomy 11:13

Moses reiterated to God’s people the importance of loving the Lord wholeheartedly, obeying Him and doing His requirements while getting ready to enter the Promised Land. As Moses brought to their remembrance the LORD’s great acts on their behalf in delivering them and sustaining them so far, they were bound to be loyal to Him. They were to lay up God’s words within them and also called to teach them diligently to their children in ways it would be imprinted in their hearts and minds. 

As Moses speaks to the people of Israel about their wholehearted devotion to God and His instructions, he tells them about the blessings they would receive in doing so. We can identify 3 major blessings of obeying God’s Word in this chapter:

• Permanence 

God would strengthen them to go in and posses the land He had promised to their forefathers. The Lord promised to prolong their days (V.9), which means long life would be granted to them. Besides this “land flowing with milk and honey” would not just be for them but for generations to come- their permanent dwelling. V.24 tells them of the length and breadth of the land they were to possess. But the condition was that, they keep every command that the Lord was giving them!

• Provision

God’s provision would be another blessing for them-He would sustain them in the land they were entering. The provision of early rain and latter rain (V.14), each in its season ensured an abundance of grain, wine and oil. Not just them, their cattle would have sufficient grass to feedon. He also warned the consequence of their turning away from Him-no rain, no produce and they would soon disappear from the land too! 

• Protection

God promised His protection as they entered the new land- He would drive out the nations and they would dispossess nations mightier than them (V.23). His presence with His people was sufficient to win their battles against their enemies. He even promised: “No man shall be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you.” (V.25) They needed not to fear as God would fight their battles! All this, if they would obey keep the commands He was giving them!

Brothers and sisters, how does this apply to us today? We become God’s children when we are adopted into His family through our faith in Christ Jesus. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12). It is life everlasting we receive- a permanent dwelling in heaven- if we trust Him as our Saviour and Lord! John 3:16 says so: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What more, every need of ours will be met through Christ Jesus if we live in His will and purpose- for His provision is our sufficiency—And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil.4:19). Besides, the Lord’s presence is constantly with His children to protect –  So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”(Heb.13:6).

Again, we need to remind ourselves that these blessings are for them who wholeheartedly love, obey and walk in the way of the Lord! 

THINK ON: The blessings in keeping God’s Word: Permanence, Provision, Protection!