This verse, Deuteronomy 31:18, speaks to a consequence of the Israelites' disobedience and idolatry. Let's break it down:
"I will surely hide my face in that day...": "That day" refers to a future time when the Israelites will experience hardship and suffering. "Hiding my face" is a powerful metaphor for God withdrawing his presence, protection, and favor from his people. It suggests a severing of the close relationship they once enjoyed with God. He will not intervene to deliver them from their troubles.
"...for all the evil which they have done...": This is the reason for God's action. It's a direct consequence of their accumulated sins, their moral failings, and their failure to uphold the covenant with God.
"...in that they have turned to other gods.": This specifies the primary evil that has led to this situation: idolatry. The Israelites have abandoned the worship of the one true God, Yahweh, and instead have turned to worshiping other deities. This is seen as a fundamental betrayal and a breaking of the covenant that God established with them.
In essence, the verse means:
Because the Israelites have repeatedly committed evil acts, especially by abandoning the worship of God and turning to other gods, God will withdraw his presence and protection from them in a future time of trouble. This verse conveys God's disappointment and anger with their unfaithfulness and suggests a period of hardship as a result.
Important Context:
This verse is part of Moses' final address to the Israelites before his death. He is warning them of the consequences of their disobedience and predicting their future apostasy.
The "hiding of God's face" doesn't mean God ceases to exist or abandons them completely. It signifies a change in their relationship, where God is less accessible and less actively involved in their lives due to their unfaithfulness.
The verse underscores the importance of faithfulness to God and the dangers of idolatry, themes that are central to the book of Deuteronomy.
This verse, Deuteronomy 31:18, speaks to a consequence of the Israelites' disobedience and idolatry. Let's break it down:
"I will surely hide my face in that day...": "That day" refers to a future time when the Israelites will experience hardship and suffering. "Hiding my face" is a powerful metaphor for God withdrawing his presence, protection, and favor from his people. It suggests a severing of the close relationship they once enjoyed with God. He will not intervene to deliver them from their troubles.
"...for all the evil which they have done...": This is the reason for God's action. It's a direct consequence of their accumulated sins, their moral failings, and their failure to uphold the covenant with God.
"...in that they have turned to other gods.": This specifies the primary evil that has led to this situation: idolatry. The Israelites have abandoned the worship of the one true God, Yahweh, and instead have turned to worshiping other deities. This is seen as a fundamental betrayal and a breaking of the covenant that God established with them.
In essence, the verse means:
Because the Israelites have repeatedly committed evil acts, especially by abandoning the worship of God and turning to other gods, God will withdraw his presence and protection from them in a future time of trouble. This verse conveys God's disappointment and anger with their unfaithfulness and suggests a period of hardship as a result.
Important Context:
This verse is part of Moses' final address to the Israelites before his death. He is warning them of the consequences of their disobedience and predicting their future apostasy.
The "hiding of God's face" doesn't mean God ceases to exist or abandons them completely. It signifies a change in their relationship, where God is less accessible and less actively involved in their lives due to their unfaithfulness.
The verse underscores the importance of faithfulness to God and the dangers of idolatry, themes that are central to the book of Deuteronomy.