See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. - Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Two alternatives laid out before the people listening: life and prosperity or death and destruction. Love God and you will live. These words were written because these two alternatives were both possible and there was a strong temptation to choose the path not recommended.
Many incentives are placed before them: you will live, you will increase, God will bless your future, God will bless you children's future, God's voice will guide you, God will grant you many years in the land where you will go, God will allow you to fulfill the destiny promised to your ancestors.
Many dis-incentives are placed before them: you will die, you will be cursed and your future plans will be cut short.
What was so tempting that people would risk the downside? Moses called it being "drawn away to bow down to other gods". These other gods promised rewards more in line with their plans on a timeline that met their agenda and with permission to indulge their their preferred desires. And the cost was more manageable than loving the Lord and following him and his commands. Yes, it was a smaller payoff, but also smaller sacrifice. You didn't have to be all in, surrendered, just enough to pay the gods their due.
The people didn't want a "lord" they just wanted an add-on to their ok lifestyle. The temptations to search for partial surrender are just as strong today: just a pound worth of sacrifice for a happy-enough risk-reduced life. And just as deadly to our souls.
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