the things I speak, I speak just as

In Deut29, Moses is nearly done wrapping up the presentation of laws to the Israelites. (The "choose life" summary occurs in Deut 30.) In Deut29:4, we get an interesting point of context. Moses points out that the people had seen "all that the LORD did" (referring to the miraculous plagues); that they had witnessed "great trials" and "great signs and wonders". These are people who had seen water thicken into blood. These are people who had seen dust morph into flies. These are people who had walked through a tunnel lined with surging waters. These are people following pillars in the sky, for crying out loud.

But in v4, Moses says that the people hadn't yet been given "a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear." After all the miracles they had witnessed, Moses says they were given the privilege to see all that, but hadn't been gifted with the Spirit to fully understand the nature of God. It is striking to think that understanding Who God is actually is a greater miracle than first-born children passing away en masse.

But when you stop to consider that fully, you better understand the gift we have as believers. Prepping for Communion on Sunday, and thinking about what the word "communion" means. Absent the religious connotations, "communion" refers to the process of sharing thoughts and feelings with another. Now imagine having the ability to freely share thoughts and feelings with the One who placed the stars in the sky and you realize that yes that is a far greater wonder than swarms of locusts. The gift to converse with God Almighty whenever you choose makes hailstones seem some parlor trick.