2. God’s Design For Life (2)

📖 Bible Discovery

💡 Focus Passage

Deut 8:1-10

This passage uses the Israelites and their journey in the wilderness as a point of reflection. It highlights God’s expectations for His people, as well as the purpose and value of obedience.

Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:

Observe and note any frequently repeated keywords or phrases in the passage. What do these elements teach us about what God expects of His people?
Based on this passage, why is it important to obey God?

🌱 Main Teachings

Obedience is God’s requirement and man’s duty.
As the sovereign Creator of mankind, God has given man His commandments and clearly expressed His expectation for obedience. It is therefore man’s duty and responsibility to keep God’s commandments in order to reflect His image and establish a close relationship with Him.
- God expects man’s obedience (Eccl 12:13).
  - God is sovereign over all (Ps 103:19). As the One who rules over us, He gives us His law and delineates the terms for our conduct, including our obedience.
    - Ex: God’s expectation of obedience for Adam is revealed through His command (Gen 2:16; 3:11, 17).
    - Obedience is not a suggestion, but God’s requirement (Deut 10:12-13).
- God’s call for obedience is relational (Deut 7:9).
  - God invites us to be His own people and He our God.
    - Adam and Eve (Gen 2:15-17; 3:8-10)
    - Abraham (Gen 17:1-2)
    - Israel (Ex 19:5-6; Jer 7:23)
  - We respond to God’s invitation and establish our relationship with Him by obeying His commandments, which include loving Him wholeheartedly (Deut 6:1-6).
    - To love God is to keep His commandments (Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:2-3).
    - If we love God, we will obey His voice, follow His words, and walk according to His commandments (Deut 30:20; Jn 14:21, 23; 2 Jn 1:6).
    - When we love God and keep His commandments, God will also keep His covenant and love with us (Deut 7:9; Dan 9:4).
Obedience helps us learn about God.
The value of obedience does not lie in simply keeping God’s commands. Instead, obedience reveals to us the heart of God and teaches us about our relationship with Him. When we understand the intentions behind His commandments, our obedience helps us grow and mature in our faith.
- God’s commandments teach us about Him.
  - The roles He plays - Creator, Lord, Guide
    - By laying out His commandments for Adam and Eve’s obedience, God emphasized His identity as their Creator who defines their life purpose.
    - By obeying God throughout their wilderness journey, the Israelites learned to trust God as their Guide and Provider (Deut 8:3-4).
  - The value of His words
    - God allowed the Israelites to hunger in order to teach them the value of His words. Physical sustenance is not the most important; rather, it is the word of God that allows man to live (Deut 8:3). This point was also emphasized by the Lord Jesus when He was tempted (Mt 4:3-4).
  - The intention behind His commands
    - God used the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness to help them learn obedience. The Israelites experienced many challenges and humbling moments of testing in the wilderness, all of which God used to determine “whether [they] would keep His commandments or not” (Deut 8:2-3).
      - This was ultimately to do them good in the end (Deut 8:16). Our life experiences (hardships, trials) also serve a similar purpose.
Obedience is a choice.
True obedience does not stem from compulsion or obligation, but from a willing heart motivated by love. Therefore, obeying or disobeying God’s commandments are ultimately choices we make, both with very clear consequences.
- The freedom of choice
  - Unique among all His creation, God gave humans the capacity for free will and decision-making. Thus, He hopes His people will choose to obey, not out of compulsion, but willingly.
- Results of choosing obedience
  - Life (Lev 18:5; Deut 4:1; 30:19-20; 32:46-47)
  - Other blessings (Deut 8:7-10; Prov 3:1-2)

Further Study (L2)

👣 Practical Actions

Pursue the word of God in our daily life.
- Incorporate God’s words into every aspect of life (Deut 6:4-9).
- Be intentional about making time for daily Bible reading, for our spiritual life is sustained by God’s word (Deut 8:3).
  - Taking in the word of God is like eating our physical meals. We need to eat every day, not just once a week. Similarly, we need to read and study God’s words daily, not just on the Sabbath.
- We cannot obey God’s words if we do not read them. We cannot keep His commandments if we do not know what He expects of us.
  - Desire spiritual food and find satisfaction in God’s words (Isa 55:1-3; 1 Pet 2:2).
  - As we read and study the Bible more, we will store up God’s word in our hearts, which can help guide our walk of life (Ps 119:9-11).
Apply the word of God (Jas 1:22-25).
- Knowledge is useless unless we learn to apply it. Similarly, when we have learned God’s words and commandments, we are wise if we both hear and do them (Mt 7:24-27).
- When we encounter different situations, we can consider what we have learned and strive to put those teachings into practice. Examples in Further Study (L2)

💭 Food for Thought

What kind of attitude should we have when it comes to obedience and God’s words?
What hurdles or barriers do you currently face, or have you encountered in the past when it comes to obeying God and His word?

🎯 Challenge Yourself

If you haven’t already, commit to building up a consistent practice of daily Bible reading.

Choose a time
- Find a time of day that works for you to read God’s word. Try to consistently set aside this block of time every day to minimize distractions.
What to read
- Read a short passage (a few verses), or read a chapter a day.
- Follow your local church’s Bible reading schedule.
- If you are looking to study Jesus’ life, start with the Gospel books.
Reflect and respond
- Write down one thing you learned and one way you aim to respond (i.e., how to apply it practically in your daily life).

Bonus:

If you would like, find some company! Reading and studying the Bible with another believer will not only keep you accountable but can also provide a space for sharing and mutual edification.
After a week, take some time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t. This way, you can continually improve the quality of your Bible reading for weeks to come.

2. God’s Design For Life (2)

📖 Bible Discovery

💡 Focus Passage

Deut 8:1-10

This passage uses the Israelites and their journey in the wilderness as a point of reflection. It highlights God’s expectations for His people, as well as the purpose and value of obedience.

Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:

Observe and note any frequently repeated keywords or phrases in the passage. What do these elements teach us about what God expects of His people?
Based on this passage, why is it important to obey God?

🌱 Main Teachings

Obedience is God’s requirement and man’s duty.
As the sovereign Creator of mankind, God has given man His commandments and clearly expressed His expectation for obedience. It is therefore man’s duty and responsibility to keep God’s commandments in order to reflect His image and establish a close relationship with Him.
- God expects man’s obedience (Eccl 12:13).
  - God is sovereign over all (Ps 103:19). As the One who rules over us, He gives us His law and delineates the terms for our conduct, including our obedience.
    - Ex: God’s expectation of obedience for Adam is revealed through His command (Gen 2:16; 3:11, 17).
    - Obedience is not a suggestion, but God’s requirement (Deut 10:12-13).
- God’s call for obedience is relational (Deut 7:9).
  - God invites us to be His own people and He our God.
    - Adam and Eve (Gen 2:15-17; 3:8-10)
    - Abraham (Gen 17:1-2)
    - Israel (Ex 19:5-6; Jer 7:23)
  - We respond to God’s invitation and establish our relationship with Him by obeying His commandments, which include loving Him wholeheartedly (Deut 6:1-6).
    - To love God is to keep His commandments (Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:2-3).
    - If we love God, we will obey His voice, follow His words, and walk according to His commandments (Deut 30:20; Jn 14:21, 23; 2 Jn 1:6).
    - When we love God and keep His commandments, God will also keep His covenant and love with us (Deut 7:9; Dan 9:4).
Obedience helps us learn about God.
The value of obedience does not lie in simply keeping God’s commands. Instead, obedience reveals to us the heart of God and teaches us about our relationship with Him. When we understand the intentions behind His commandments, our obedience helps us grow and mature in our faith.
- God’s commandments teach us about Him.
  - The roles He plays - Creator, Lord, Guide
    - By laying out His commandments for Adam and Eve’s obedience, God emphasized His identity as their Creator who defines their life purpose.
    - By obeying God throughout their wilderness journey, the Israelites learned to trust God as their Guide and Provider (Deut 8:3-4).
  - The value of His words
    - God allowed the Israelites to hunger in order to teach them the value of His words. Physical sustenance is not the most important; rather, it is the word of God that allows man to live (Deut 8:3). This point was also emphasized by the Lord Jesus when He was tempted (Mt 4:3-4).
  - The intention behind His commands
    - God used the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness to help them learn obedience. The Israelites experienced many challenges and humbling moments of testing in the wilderness, all of which God used to determine “whether [they] would keep His commandments or not” (Deut 8:2-3).
      - This was ultimately to do them good in the end (Deut 8:16). Our life experiences (hardships, trials) also serve a similar purpose.
Obedience is a choice.
True obedience does not stem from compulsion or obligation, but from a willing heart motivated by love. Therefore, obeying or disobeying God’s commandments are ultimately choices we make, both with very clear consequences.
- The freedom of choice
  - Unique among all His creation, God gave humans the capacity for free will and decision-making. Thus, He hopes His people will choose to obey, not out of compulsion, but willingly.
- Results of choosing obedience
  - Life (Lev 18:5; Deut 4:1; 30:19-20; 32:46-47)
  - Other blessings (Deut 8:7-10; Prov 3:1-2)

Further Study (L2)

👣 Practical Actions

Pursue the word of God in our daily life.
- Incorporate God’s words into every aspect of life (Deut 6:4-9).
- Be intentional about making time for daily Bible reading, for our spiritual life is sustained by God’s word (Deut 8:3).
  - Taking in the word of God is like eating our physical meals. We need to eat every day, not just once a week. Similarly, we need to read and study God’s words daily, not just on the Sabbath.
- We cannot obey God’s words if we do not read them. We cannot keep His commandments if we do not know what He expects of us.
  - Desire spiritual food and find satisfaction in God’s words (Isa 55:1-3; 1 Pet 2:2).
  - As we read and study the Bible more, we will store up God’s word in our hearts, which can help guide our walk of life (Ps 119:9-11).
Apply the word of God (Jas 1:22-25).
- Knowledge is useless unless we learn to apply it. Similarly, when we have learned God’s words and commandments, we are wise if we both hear and do them (Mt 7:24-27).
- When we encounter different situations, we can consider what we have learned and strive to put those teachings into practice. Examples in Further Study (L2)

💭 Food for Thought

What kind of attitude should we have when it comes to obedience and God’s words?
What hurdles or barriers do you currently face, or have you encountered in the past when it comes to obeying God and His word?

🎯 Challenge Yourself

If you haven’t already, commit to building up a consistent practice of daily Bible reading.

Choose a time
- Find a time of day that works for you to read God’s word. Try to consistently set aside this block of time every day to minimize distractions.
What to read
- Read a short passage (a few verses), or read a chapter a day.
- Follow your local church’s Bible reading schedule.
- If you are looking to study Jesus’ life, start with the Gospel books.
Reflect and respond
- Write down one thing you learned and one way you aim to respond (i.e., how to apply it practically in your daily life).

Bonus:

If you would like, find some company! Reading and studying the Bible with another believer will not only keep you accountable but can also provide a space for sharing and mutual edification.
After a week, take some time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t. This way, you can continually improve the quality of your Bible reading for weeks to come.