In verses 1-5, God told Moses to cut two stone tablets and He would write the instructions as He did on the first set. He was also to make an ark to put them into it. Verses 6-7 recorded some parts of their journey and verses 8-9, the setting apart of the tribe of Levi for service in the sanctuary. Then in verses 10-11, Moses went up the mountain for 40 days and nights and was instructed by God to take in leading the Israelites towards Canaan's land. This passage in verses 12-22 is the exhortation for them to fear the Lord, to serve him, and to keep his commands willingly or as described in verse 16 as “circumcised hearts.”

In verses 12-13, God commanded, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?”

The reason is because of His love for them according to verses 14-15, “Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.”

He exhorted them to circumcise their hearts and not just their foreskins. In verses 16-17, “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.” As He declared in verses 18-19, “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”

He then commanded in verses 20-21, “You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name, you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.” As

He kept His promise to their forefather Abraham as He said in verse 22, “Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.”

The Israelites had the problem with being stubborn of heart (v. 16) but God acted justly towards them (v. 18). And He did great things for them (v. 21) and fulfilled His promise to their forefather, Abraham (v. 22). Though the Old Testament Covenant was based on the Law, God’s desire was for them to love Him from their hearts. He wanted them to follow Him willingly with “circumcised hearts” that would obey Him willingly.

Likewise, God desires us to love Him willingly as well. As in the New Covenant, He calls us to follow Jesus and submit to His Lordship in obedience to His command to love Him and our fellowmen as well as to go and make disciples of all nations. This is what a “circumcised heart” ought to do, seek to obey Him wholeheartedly. Many believers study the scripture to seek God but they do not follow Him or make disciples for Him. It is merely an intellectual ascent. There is a saying, “Too spiritual for any earthly use” but at least there is spirituality unlike those who have intellectual but no spirituality or earthly use which is even worse.

Reflection and Prayer: Where are you as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ?