What does "not too difficult" in Deuteronomy 30:11 imply about God's expectations? The Setting and Immediate Context • Moses is closing his final address to Israel, urging covenant faithfulness before they enter the land (Deuteronomy 30). • He has just laid out the blessings for obedience and the curses for rebellion, then calls the nation to choose life. • Into that plea he inserts v. 11: “For this commandment I give you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.” What “Not Too Difficult” Conveys • Accessibility – God’s law is revealed in everyday language, not hidden in mystical secrets. • Possibility – Obedience is within human capacity when hearts are yielded; He never commands the impossible. • Nearness – vv. 12-14 stress the word is not “in heaven” or “across the sea”; it is “very near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” • Responsibility – Because the command is knowable and doable, Israel is accountable for its response. Supporting Witnesses in Scripture • 1 John 5:3 – “His commandments are not burdensome…” echoes the same truth for New-Covenant believers. • Matthew 11:30 – Jesus says, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” • Romans 10:6-8 applies Deuteronomy 30 to the gospel, showing that God still brings His word near so we can believe and obey. God’s Expectations Summarized • He expects wholehearted love and obedience, not perfection by human effort alone. • He provides grace—Old-Covenant sacrifices then, Christ’s atonement now—to cover failure and restore fellowship. • He anticipates faith-filled action: knowing the word, speaking it, and living it out day by day. • He looks for a willing heart; when that is present, His Spirit empowers practical obedience. Living Out This Truth Today • Read the revealed word regularly; it is already “near.” • Speak it: let Scripture shape conversations, decisions, and worship. • Trust the enabling help of the Holy Spirit rather than relying on self-discipline alone. • Choose life daily—turn from sin, embrace righteousness, confident that God’s will is doable through His provision. Takeaway God never issues commands that are out of reach. His word is clear, near, and, by His grace, entirely livable for people who are willing to hear and obey. |
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