Warnings

The Israelites did not heed the Lord’s warnings and were punished. Will you pay attention to what God is trying to tell you?

“Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves. […] ‘This people will arise and play the prostitute with the foreign gods of the land into … which they are going, and they will abandon Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.’”—Deuteronomy 31:14–16 NASB

God revealed how thoroughly He understood His people. He knew what would happen in the days to come—what He would do and how they would respond. His warnings were not speculation but guaranteed to be true.

God knew the intent of their hearts even before He brought them into the Promised Land. He knew they would follow “foreign gods,” forsake Him, and break His covenant. He would become angry and “abandon them.” As a result of their disobedience, “many evils and troubles will find them” (v. 17).

In this context, God gave Moses a song that the Israelites were to sing. The words revealed in advance what would happen and help them know what to do. As they sang, they would be reminded about His promises and His warnings.

God knows us better than we know ourselves. Too often, we’re deceived into thinking His warnings don’t apply to us, that we’re immune to temptations, and that we’d never abandon God or follow the ways of the world. But God knows the human heart just as completely today as in the time of Moses.

Remember, God knows your future and how you will respond to future events. He wants you to be ready to obey Him.

Realize that you are vulnerable to temptation. Take His warnings seriously. Commit yourself to knowing and obeying His Word. Seek first His Kingdom. Be warned and ready!

Reflection Question: What has God been warning you about lately?