Scripture
29 “he secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV
Observation
Today’s reading is the last verse of chapter 29. Having warned Israel against arrogant dissidents who would lead them astray, Moses, who led his people for forty years through the wilderness, knows their propensity to stray from God’s laws. So he foretells a day when Israel will suffer the consequences of longstanding disobedience and incur the curse of disease, wasted land, and eventual exile (vv. 22-28). Moses then speaks curious words (above verse) that offer a ray of hope, transitioning from the anticipated curses of chapter 29 to the future blessings of chapter 30.
Takeaway
Based on the context of this lengthy pericope addressing blessings and curses, the “secret things” regard their fulfillment that only God can fully know, given he is unrestricted by time and space. Still, Yahweh graciously speaks through his prophets to reveal in part what lies ahead and instill hope in his people that will encourage repentance and obedience. The sentiments of Moses’ aphorism appear in a similar form in other prophetic announcements like that of Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV). Indeed, earlier in this chapter of Isaiah, the prophet proclaims Yahweh’s invitation to all who thirst to come to his waters, to eat what is good, and to listen to him so that their souls may live, for he will make an everlasting covenant with his people (Isaiah 55:1-3).
Our takeaway
These passages point us to the life and ministry of Christ, who has inaugurated our eternal New Covenant and is our living water and bread of life. And like the promise of blessings extended through the Mosaic covenant, Isaiah foretells a day when we shall go out with joy, led forth in peace, and all creation will praise him (55:12-13). Paul alludes to this day when he speaks of how we see in part our hope and future in Christ through our glorious Gospel message, and one day, we will fully know him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12-13 ESV). While that day of Christ has not yet come, as Paul notes in his opening remarks to the Philippians (1:6), our Lord will complete the good work that he has begun in us until that “Day.”
Our part
So, what does this sanctification process look like here and now? Amid our trials, his Holy Spirit will turn our affections away from the world to Jesus through repenting and receiving his forgiveness (quenching our parched souls). And Christ will satiate our hunger for meaning and purpose as we love and obey him. In short, motivated by love, our repentance and obedience to the revealed Son will restore our hope. And that’s no “secret thing”!
Prayer
Father God, we thank you for your Son, our faithful Covenant Keeper, who revealed himself to the world to make his Gospel our treasured possession. So, please help us embrace the good news and cooperate with your Holy Spirit, who enlarges our hearts for your Son, leads us to repentance and obedience to his commands, and restores our hope. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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