What does Deuteronomy 10:12 tell us God requires of us?

Answer

As Israel gathered across the Jordan River from the Promised Land, Moses posed a question to the people: “Now Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you?” In the same breath, Moses answered: “To fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).

God’s covenant faithfulness toward His people came with an expectation of reverence, love, and obedience. However, these were requests from God intended for the people’s benefit.

Fear Him

The concept of fearing God is best understood as reverence and awe. In the original Hebrew, the word translated as “fear” means “to regard with feelings of respect; consider holy and exalted, be in awe of.” Fearing the Lord involves a keen awareness of what God hates, namely, sin and wickedness (Deuteronomy 12:31;Deuteronomy 16:22;Psalm 5:4-6;Proverbs 6:16-19). It includes understanding God’s holiness (Joshua 24:19;Psalm 99:9), His judgment on sin (Isaiah 26:21;Psalm 99:8), and His discipline of believers who sin (Hebrews 12:5-11).

The apostle Paul described fearing the Lord as hating what is evil and clinging to what is good « Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. », (Romans 12:9). God desires us to avoid His discipline and lead our lives in a manner that is pleasing to Him.

Walk in Obedience to Him

The term “walk” in Deuteronomy 10:12 refers to how we live and behave. The expression “walk in obedience to him” conveys the concept of walking “in all his ways” (ESV) and living “in a way that pleases him” (NLT). God wants us to emulate His example in every aspect – in holiness, love, and service. Jesus explained, “Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15; NLT; see also Matthew 10:38).

The apostle John taught, “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” «He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. », (1 John 2:6, NLT). Paul suggested, “You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” «Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. », (1 Corinthians 11:1, NLT).

Love Him

God demands our love. Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). All other requirements and commands stem from our love for God.

Scripture states that God set His loyal love on Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). He always takes the first step but invites our loving response in return «We love him, because he first loved us. », (1 John 4:1).

9″>(1 John 4:19). Jesus instructs us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” «and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. », (Mark 12:30). Our devotion to God is not lukewarm; instead, we long for Him like a deer pants for streams of water «As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. », (Psalm 42:1).

Serve Him Wholeheartedly

Authentic love for God manifests itself through service (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). Jesus Christ, our role model, exemplified true servanthood «just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. », (Matthew 20:28). Serving God is not a coerced duty but a voluntary, innate, and joyful response to the love God has poured out on us (1 John 4:9-11). Love serves, not out of obligation, but as one who is deeply in love.

Obey His Commands

By obeying the Lord’s commands, we demonstrate our love for Him (John 14:15;1 John 5:2-3) and exhibit our loyalty to Him (1 John 2:3-5). Furthermore, the Lord urges us to follow His commands for our own good: “The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes” (Psalm 19:8; see also John 13:17).

The query in Deuteronomy 10:12, “What does the Lord your God require of you?” resembles the one in Micah 6:8: “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Both verses aim to demonstrate that a declaration of faith lacking genuine love and devotion to God is not true faith.

In essence, what God demands from us is our wholehearted devotion. Considering that we owe God our very lives, what He asks of us may seem insignificant, especially as His expectations are all crafted with our best interests in mind.