Moses may have thought, “How many times do I have to tell ‘ya?” In the fifth book of our Root 66 series, we discover that Deuteronomy is a repeat of the Law given forty years earlier. Moses repeated the Law because those who had originally heard it had died in the Wilderness and the next generation needed to remember.

Why do we continue to repeat what God has commanded? When we consider the Gospel and how the Old Testament sets the foundation for the coming of Christ, we remember. In Deuteronomy, Moses teaches the people in three sermons: what God has done in the past to rescue His people (chapters 1-4), what He is doing now (chapters 5-26), and what they are to do upon entering the Promised Land (chapters 27-34). In essence, Deuteronomy is a record of Moses’ dying words. He repeatedly commands the people to “remember” (14 times) and “don’t forget” (10 times).

When we remember that everything we have is a gift from God, we are grateful and humble. We remember what God has instructed so that we obey His word and honor His name. When we forget, pride and disobedience invade our hearts and lives. However, our faith is strengthened and our hope secure as we are reminded of the steadfast love of God.

How can we remember?

1. Create rituals. In Leviticus 23, the Lord instructed the people to observe seven feasts to remember Him. Family rituals help us reconnect to milestones and other moments significant to our lives and our faith in Christ.

2. Invite Conversations. The “Shema” in Deuteronomy 6:4 reminded the people to hear with the intent of obeying. With purpose, parents can share stories of how God transformed their lives at specific times and in specific places. Moments along the way can be captured with the goal of teaching. When we teach children to listen within the context of love, obedience becomes more than duty or manipulation. Listening with love becomes a blessing.

You can watch The Bible Project’s summary video of Deuteronomy here.