Torah: Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25
PROPHETS: Isaiah 49:14–51:3
APOSTOLIC WRITINGS: Hebrews 11:8–13 

The devotional below is designed to help you dive deeper into God’s heart by exploring Torah as the gateway into transformational Bible reading.

SUNDAY

Torah 1 & 2

Torah 1: 
The Path of Blessing
Deuteronomy 7:12–8:10

Through Moses, God is calling His people to covenant faithfulness. He put His Name on Israel at Mt. Sinai as an outworking of His promise to the patriarchs in order to reach all nations (cf. Genesis 22:18; 26:4; 28:14 and Zechariah 14:9). He reminds them of God’s promises for blessing (7:12–26) and teaches them how remembering can lead down the path of blessing (8:1–10). 

Torah 2:
God Is The Source of All Blessing
Deuteronomy 8:11–9:3

Forgetting, on the other hand, can lead down the path of cursing (8:11–20). God’s immediate call is to exercise faith-based obedience by trusting God enough to go up and take the Land (9:1–3).

7:21 reveals the source of Israel’s identity: God among them. To what degree is your identity bound up in earthly relationships and circumstances (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Galatians 4:6)?

8:3 reveals the source of Israel’s sustenance: the Word of God. To what degree do you feed on things like TV, gossip, sweets or unforgiveness (cf. Matthew 4:4 and Luke 11:28)?

8:14 reveals the source of Israel’s stumbling: forgetting the LORD (not remembering), often due to pride. In what areas is God not at the center of your life and the center of your thinking (cf. Revelation 3:3)?

MONDAY

Torah 3 & 4

Torah 3: 
God Is Faithful Even When His People Are Not 
Deuteronomy 9:4–29

9:4–6
God’s goodness in giving Israel the Land is certainly not due to Israel’s worthiness. God’s reasons for giving Israel the Land are twofold (v. 5): 1) judging sin (of the previous inhabitants); and, 2) keeping His promises (to the patriarchs).

9:7–24
Prone to prideful forgetfulness, Israel needs reminding about their track record of faithlessness. The same is true for us: God’s goodness to us is not due to our worthiness (cf. 2 Timothy 1:9), but in order to fulfill His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).

9:25–29
Moses also reminds Israel of his intercession on their behalf. 
 

Torah 4:
God Judges Sin But Saves Sinners
Deuteronomy 10:1–11

Though the older generation died in the wilderness, God was faithful in giving another set of tablets with His Word on them (vv. 1–5) and also in fulfilling promises to their children (vv. 10–12). We are parenthetically told of Aaron’s death during later wilderness wanderings (cf. Numbers 33:37–39) as a way to highlight the consequences of his participation in the sin of the golden calf (vv. 6–7). “At that time” (v. 8) refers back to the golden calf incident (cf. Exodus 32:26–29). Though Aaron died in the wilderness, God was faithful in giving him almost 40 more years to serve as High Priest and rewarding the tribe of Levi with priestly privileges (vv. 8–9).

application

In what ways has God been faithful to you? Come up with as many specifics as you can and thank Him for each one.

TUESDAY

torah 5 & 6

Torah 5: 
Believing God and Obeying
Deuteronomy 10:12–11:9

The theme remains the same: God is faithful. He has covenanted with you and this changes everything. Live in covenant faithfulness with God, for His glory and your good!

Meditate on the five verbs in 10:12–13 that specifically instruct God’s people how to live (cf. Deuteronomy 6:4–9) and take an inventory of how you are specifically following or neglecting each one. Compare the obligation in 10:16 (cf. Jeremiah 4:4) with God’s promise in Deuteronomy 30:6 (cf. Colossians 2:11).
 

Torah 6: 
Remembering God and Obeying 
Deuteronomy 11:10–21

God chose the Land of Israel to be the inheritance of the people of Israel. The land comes as a benefit of the covenant relationship with Him. The people of Israel do not deserve, nor could ever earn, this free gift. They can, however, temporarily lose it in any given generation due to faithlessness. Your free gift of salvation can never be lost either, but you can temporarily lose the benefits of your covenant relationship with the God of the universe due to faithlessness.

Application

To what degree are you enjoying those benefits these days? How can you make the Word of God more central in your life (11:18–20; cf. Colossians 3:16)?