God is instructing the people to follow his laws: where to worship and how to worship – “Turn to the place the Lord your God chooses from all your tribes to put his name for his dwelling and go there (12:5).” There are instructions on tithing and the sacrifice and burnt offerings of animals. There are instructions on how to eat meat – “Don’t eat the blood, since the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat (12:23).” There are warnings against following the rituals of the cities they go through on their way to the promised land, as they worship other gods and offer sacrifices to them – “Be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking ‘How did these nations worship their gods? I’ll do the same.’ You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice every detestable act, which the Lord hates, for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods (12: 30-31).”
I have a varied background of religions. I was very against Christianity and wandered for over 50 years. It is very easy for me, when talking to someone, to get caught up in their anger, frustration and disappointment against Christianity, because I understand those feelings. It feels like there are a lot of rules and if someone is not perfect and does not follow all the rules, they will be judged and condemned to hell when they die. I am very aware that I’m not perfect and based on what I knew of Christianity, I was going to Hell and there was no way out. I wish I had known what I know now about Christ!
In the old testament, where Deuteronomy comes from, if rules were not followed, one would be condemned to hell when they died. That was before Christ came. Although things changed after Christ came, one of the laws that is outlined in Deuteronomy 12 sticks with me as very important – post Christ: “Be careful not to be ensnared by their ways.”
There are many false Gods in todays society. They may look quite different from those that were there before Christ. To me, they are more subtle and not as pronounced. In today’s society, the internet, social media, cars, food, drugs, sex, working out, just to name a few, can be false Gods. If we go to these things when we are stressed, tired, frustrated and depressed to lift us up, and not God, then they become false Gods. I have had many of these false Gods – mainly social media and food. When I am stressed, upset or board, a reality check for me is – what am I being drawn to? Am I running to food because I am stressed and need to take the edge off? Am I procrastinating on a project and turning to social media? When I recognize that I have turned away from God and my feelings are being satisfied by things of the world, I pull out my Bible and read one chapter, find a verse and write it down, pulling it out whenever I feel the desire to turn to food or social media. Am I perfect? Not at all. When I realize that I have turned away from God, I pull myself back, and I have to believe that that is progress.