Moses obeyed God's instructions to encourage and train Joshua to be the leader he needed to be. Moses is reminding the Israelites not to forget all that they have seen and heard from their ancestors. He wisely advises them not to add or subtract from the commands that God has given them. How tempting it is to modify God's commands into something we want and to make them easier for us to follow. Moses speaks to the people he has spent years leading. He speaks to the people that he has loved and is now watching cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. His desire is that the people not forget the God that has shown his power over and over to them. He wants those memories to stay with them for generations to come.

Why do we make life so difficult? Follow God's commands and teaching just as they are given. God promises to honor those that do. Moses learned the hard way about disobedience and yet he continued to be obedient even after harsh discipline.

Our loving and omnipresent God, thank you for giving us your commands to follow. Keep them on our hearts and in our minds as we desire to live and serve you daily.

Karen E. Lawson