Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble and I'm your host for the Bible Recap. Today we continue with Moses and his grand finale before the Israelites cross the Jordan

River and take the Promised Land to live in it.

Moses has been giving laws for how things will shift once they're no longer

camping in the desert. Today he starts out with some laws about worship. He

reminds them that they're entering into foreign territory where pagan gods are

revered.

If anyone does worship those other gods,

there will be a trial involving at least two witnesses

before the death penalty is given.

And the witnesses are the ones who have to carry out that justice. So if they're

lying, then they'd be guilty of murder. And because these situations can be complex and

challenging sometimes, God sets up a court of appeals made up of judges and

priest to handle the more difficult matters. Moses predicts that there will be a day

after they settle in the land when they'll look around and be like,

hey, all these other nations have kings.

We should get one of those.

When the time comes, God will choose an Israelite for them

to set up as a king over them. But it's important for their kings not to be drawn to wealth, power, or women.

If you know much about any Israel-like kings, you already know this isn't going to end well.

The prohibition against these things was supposed

to keep them humble and trusting in God for their provision and protection instead of

in what they could acquire for themselves. Wealth can lead a person's heart astray.

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