As Moses' life was coming to an end, and Joshua is about to become his successor and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, Moses calls on heaven and earth to witness against Israel in a covenant-renewal ceremony.
He exhorts Israel, saying in Deut 30:15: "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity." Then, in verses 19-20, he concludes with this promise attached to the covenant: "Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
As I think on and pray about the present conflict between Israel and Hamas, these words are a living reminder that the Hamas terrorist tactics, with their constant bombardment of rockets into Israel, have chosen death rather than life not only for themselves, but tragically, for many of their civilian citizens in Gaza. They can stop this choice of death by choosing life, ending the launching of rockets, and abandoning their hate policy of destroying the state of Israel.
I am also reminded of the wise words of one of Israel's distinguished leaders, Golda Meir.
