The eagle is majestic and ever protective of it's young within the nest. He provides for, nurtures, and covers His young, as they are vulnerable to attack of predators. 

Without these pinion feathers, the eagle cannot fly. But our God, as a Majestic Eagle, spreads His wings to catch us as we fall; to lift us up to higher heights. 

He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.
Psalm 91:4

How thankful, Lord, are we for Your majesty.
​How grateful for your mighty wings of protection.

Teachers don't often give answers to the test... not before the test. But here, our God... the greatest teacher of all, has set His people up for acing the most important multiple-choice test. He has prepared them though His servant, Moses. For three chapters of Deuteronomy, we can read of the consequences Moses clearly states for obeying, as well as for disobeying God. Moses tutored the Israelites thoroughly for both choices.

And this is the culmination, the bottom line: obey and live, disobey and die. But the greatest part, is that God points us in the right direction for the reality which will come for all people. Not just a nation, not just the leaders, but each individual. Would  you prefer to live with blessings, or die slowly of curses?

Because here, God tells us... encourages us here, to CHOOSE LIFE. But isn't that obvious? I mean the list of curses is overwhelming. Why would we not choose life?

He is the ultimate giver of life. But here He is not just offering physical sustenance. He is offering the most blessed life, a heart of joy and happiness, rather than just surviving.

He is a God who desperately desires to bless us. Otherwise why would He go this lengthy detail to caution us... to give us the biggest hint to the right answer for the test of this earth.

He desires not just obedience, but following His example because we love Him. Thesis not just a Old Testament issue. For even Jesus said, If you love me, you will keep My commandments (John 14:15). This is the way to remain faithful even in today's culture. This is the way to abundant life... in this world, and eternally.

If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.
John 15:10

Living this way follows the example which Jesus set for us. Let us be encouraged by this, realizing that there is no in between. There is no gap of gray in the middle, but only two extremes... Life or Death.

But this is the most challenging way. For how easy it is to only choose Jesus for eternity, but self for now. With all the distractions of this world, it is often hard to maintain focus with God's way in mind. But the truth is that we are living in that eternal choice right now. Once we have made a decision for Christ, our eternity begins... here on earth.

And now this test has become a daily choice. Not as a pop-quiz, but as a tutored, forwarned choice. Let us take heed from the Obvious-Choice Giver... let us choose life!

We don not have a God who is unaware of our trials. Rather we have a compassionate Father who longs to save us when we cry out... our First Responder.

Just as He did for the Israelites long ago, who found themselves in a place of bondage, He does for us. First He hears our cry... He sees our misery, hardship and oppression. Then He responds.

Then the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with terrifying power, and with signs and wonders.
Deuteronomy 26:8

His arm is never to short that it cannot reach us where we are... and His strong hand is might to save. If we are willing, He will change our lives, change our hearts, change our minds to look to Him always.

​He will respond, if we will only seek Him.

Long ago there were battles for territory. Real men, real weapons, real life and death. And the LORD encouraged His people, as spoken through His servants, that they were to be brave, unafraid and courageous. They were to know they were not in the battle alone... that He was ever present with them.

And today... while there are still battles fought for freedom, many of us do not see such warfare; and likely never will. But that does not discount the spiritual battles which we face throughout our life.

And this same encouragement is available for us.
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For there is a real battle of light and dark forces... of good and evil. It is very real. Unfortunately, it is waged not only through our circumstances, but in our thought life as well.

Discouraging thoughts... false arguments that keep us tied up and tangled in a mindset of reasoning. These can defeat us before we even step forward into battle.

But our God is the same as He was long ago for the Israelites. He is still present with us, wiling to escort us to victory. So let us take our thoughts... the ones that cause us to doubt ourselves... and let's lead them captive to Jesus. He will banish them from our mind if we only ask Him.

Then we can stand firm and see the victory of the Lord.

Just off the heels of an election of our President, it's interesting to read the instructions the Lord gave to the Israelites just before entering their promised land. He knew that one day they would long to be like other nations. He knew their eyes would wander away from Him as King and look to the leadership of man.

So He asked the they be certain to appoint a king the Lord chooses... a leader with a heart for Him. And these are the other requirements of their choosing such a man.

1. Not a foreigner, but one of your own people. (Deut. 17:15)
2. Not one who would acquire many horses. (v16)
3. Nor would he send people back to Egypt to bring horses for him. (v16)
4. Not one who acquires many wives for himself. (v17)
5. Nor one who thinks to acquire only silver or gold for himself. (v17)
6. From the throne he must write a copy of God's law for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. (v18)
7. This scroll is to remain with him and he is to read it every day of his life so that he learns to fear God (v19)
8. He is to observe all the words of this instruction, and to follow it's statutes. (v19)

Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, he will not turn from this command to the right or the left, and he and his sons will continue ruling many years over Israel. (v20)

Oh that we would have a leader as such.
Oh that we could lead our lives as such.

What if we had our hearts set on not acquiring so much for ourselves, and took the time to write out the Word of God... observing all His instructions? Then our hearts will not be exalted above others and we would not turn to the right or left. Then our children... and our children's children would also let Him rule in their hearts.