Deuteronomy 29-30: God Is Nigh

Deuteronomy 30 is a soothing chapter.  After hearing of those frightful curses in the previous chapters, we are given words of encouragement in this latter chapter of Deuteronomy.  After hearing of what would happen to the Jews if they don't obey, we hear of what will happen if they do.  And what will happen is nothing short of amazing: God will gather them from the far corners of the earth, where they had been scattered, and return them to the Promised Land, with even greater bounties and blessings than their fathers had!  Many interpreters take these verses to mean when the Jews accept Christ, for we have seen that these bounties and blessings are still withheld.  At any rate, these verses lead into some very beautiful and moving passages.  Deuteronomy 30:11 and 30:14 read: "This commandment, that I command thee this day, is not above thee, nor far off from thee:... But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayst do it."  Essentially, God is saying, I am here, follow Me, you can do it.  These are words that prefigure God's Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ, Who will literally be near us to guide us.  But they are consoling words to the Jews of that time as well.  We know the Jews weren't able to keep God's commands, but we also know that through their weaknesses the path was opened up for Jesus to come.  The curses ended up overtaking the Jews, but the blessings are still there, waiting to be bestowed.  As is said in Romans 11:25-26:  "Blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles should come in, And so all Israel should be saved, as it is written."  The blessings will one day be bestowed.