Floods and wind failed to destroy the house because it was built on rock. Wise people know that. Foolish people don't seem to. "What did you think was going to happen?" Jesus asks, "You've seen what happens to sand castles; why did you think your house was going to survive any better than that?" Moses is saying pretty much the same thing to his people, "You've got a choice now. Take the right one."
We need to be careful what we do with the truth in these passages. We need to use them to help us remember to make good choices, ones that comply with the wishes of God. What we need to refrain from doing is to use them to chastise people in dire circumstances. Neither the words of Matthew nor the Deuteronomist give us permission to say to them, "You should have known better."
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