“You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;” Deuteronomy 12:8
If you’ve been following along in your Reading, you’ll know that Moses has been addressing Israel before crossing the Jordan. Much of the Book of Deuteronomy is a Reiteration of what has been said previously. He is preparing God’s People for the next stage of their lives; One that will involve Warfare, and Death, and hence, Complete Trust in God. And, in order to have God on their side, they need to have Hearts set to Honor and Obey Him supremely, something that has been missing in their past. So where do we find this New Generation at this point? Today’s Verse tells us, and it is not a Good Sign!
They have just completed a 40 year period of discipline and learning. They have been instructed as thoroughly as one can possibly be in God’s Law and His Commands. They now have a Tabernacle that houses God’s Law, and an Alter where they can bring their Sacrifices for Failing to Obey it. They have Priests in place to take those animals, slay them, and sprinkle their blood, for the forgiveness of those Sins. They have “Everything” they need to Walk with God and Please Him, and assure His Help for the next stage of the Journey, and what is Moses’ assessment? Everyone was doing what was right in his own eyes!
So what’s missing? Certainly not the Knowledge or the Means; “all that” has been provided! Remember what God had said earlier: “Oh, that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments”? In essence, their Hearts had not been changed. Today, we call that Regeneration or being Born Again. They were still Dead in their Sins and needed to be raised with Christ in New Life. They needed what the Old Covenant could not provide, but the New Covenant could; Something that “The Church” has been promised.
And yet, don’t we see the same thing today: Every One “doing whatever is right in his own eyes”? YES! I believe it’s because we have given people a Cheap Version of the Gospel, one missing the ingredients of The Law, It’s Demands, and Repentance. Instead, substituted a Fake Alternative of “Just ask Jesus into your heart”. When we do something like that is it any wonder that the Holy Spirit hasn’t transformed them into the New Creature that Loves God’s Law? I believe it is! May God Awaken us to this Reality and help us Repent and begin to “Do what is Right in God’s Eyes”!!!