In verse 19 we see Moses calling the Israelites to choose life…

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and

death, blessing and curses, Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live…”

And what Moses is talking about here is concerning the “Works of the Law” or the Levitical Code. And as the Chosen people, the Israelites can either follow these statues, be faithful to God and repent of their sins, or they can fall victim of their sin nature, worship other pagan gods and perish.

This is not however a text dedicated to the idea of being able to choose life or death in terms of eternal salvation.

When looking at the repercussions of the fall, it’s clear that the only desire of the heart of man in its natural state is sin. Meaning, man’s natural instinct is to lust against the Spirit. (Galatians 5:17)

Therefore, man in his natural condition (post-fall) is depraved from God. And that means all/every man, as there are no outliers to this condition. God does not choose to condemn some men to hell and to save others. But instead it’s the idea that in our natural state all men deserve to be condemned to hell forever and it’s through God’s grace that he saves anyone.

We look at the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. (Exodus 9:12) This is not the idea of God forcing sin on anyone. More so, it’s the idea of God taking away grace from Pharaoh’s heart and allowing him to operate in his own natural/sinful state.

Therefore, verse 19 is a text where Moses is urging the Israelites to follow the law of God in order to help separate themselves from the other lands as God’s Chosen people. To trust in God and be obedient to him. So that God will “circumcise” the heart and allow the Israelites through his grace to love him fully and to live.

His Humbled Servant,

W.H. Carston