“Choose life so that you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19b)
Vicar of Healing Waters Lutheran Parish, Lutheran Seminary Student Dallas Willard, an American philosopher, wrote in his book The Divine Conspiracy, “Who teaches you? Whose disciple are you? Honestly. One thing is sure: you are somebody’s disciple.” I think that is what Moses is really asking as he sums up his almost three-hour sermon in our reading from Deuteronomy on the 6th Sunday After Epiphany. Moses was getting close to the Promised Land. But right before he gets there, God lets him know that he’s going to die and never make it. Moses decides to take the time to go over all the laws and rules that the people need to stay right with God. Moses has been with these people for over forty years. He knows them well. He knows how they react when faced with hard times. He knows how weak they are when faced with trials. He knows they struggle with worshipping the one true God. So, Moses tries to make his last words to the people as simple as he can. Choose life—that’s what Moses said.
