Deuteronomy is a record of the words of Moses that he shared with the people of Israel before the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River to occupy the Promised Land. He spoke to the people for 1-2 weeks and then he died in the last chapter.
The chapter begins with the Israelites camped in the Jordan Valley, and it states that from where they began their journey to where they’re located now, it normally only takes eleven days to travel. Wow...but it took the people of Israel 40 years!!! Let that be a lesson to all of us...Listen to God!!!
Moses began his first speech to the people of Israel while they were camped in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan River. “When we were at Mount Sinai (This was shortly after crossing the Red Sea to escape the Egyptians), the Lord our God said to us, “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions--the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River. I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.” (Deuteronomy 1:6-8)
Moses then explains how he told the people of Israel they were too great a burden for him to carry by himself. He said that God had made them as numerous as stars, and he couldn’t solve all of their problems himself. As a result, he appointed leaders from each tribe, as judges and officials to oversee the people. “You must be perfectly fair at all times, not only to fellow Israelites, but also to the foreigners living among you. When you make decisions, never favor those who are rich; be fair to lowly and great alike. Don’t be afraid of how they will react, for you are judging in the place of God. Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them.” (Deuteronomy 1:16-17)
Side note...when Moses said, “...be fair to lowly and great alike”, that is a lesson for us all today! When God led the people of Israel out of Egypt, and they traveled from camp to camp, He was teaching them with laws and guidelines how to be a great nation. Remember… Moses received the Ten Commandments while they were camped at Mount Sinai.
Moses continues in this first speech explaining how God directed them to leave Mount Sinai and travel through the wilderness to the land of Canaan. Once they arrived, Moses said, “You have now reached the land that the Lord our God is giving us. Look! He has placed it in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!” (Deuteronomy 1:20-21)
Moses follows that statement with, “But you responded, “First, let’s send out scouts to explore the land for us. They will advise us on the best route to take and decide which towns we should capture.” This seemed like a good idea to me, so I chose twelve scouts, one from each of your tribes.” (Deuteronomy 1:22-23)
Hold it, we have a contradiction in the text because in Numbers 13, the text says, “The Lord now said to Moses, “Send men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to Israel.” So which is it? Did God tell Moses to send men to explore, or did the Israelites tell him?
No need for debate; just one of those questions that popup periodically. Moses is the author of both Numbers and Deuteronomy. Why is the account of what happened different, if he is the author? Who really spoke to Moses in this situation, God or the Israelites? Just thinking aloud.
At this point, Moses reminds the people that they rebelled against the command of the Lord, and refused to have faith in Him, complaining that the people were giants and more powerful than them. Moses said, “But I said to you, “Don’t be afraid! The Lord your God is going before you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you again and again here in the wilderness...But even after all he did, you refused to trust the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 1:29-32)
As a result, the Lord was angry and sentenced the people of Israel to 40 years in the wilderness. “And the Lord was also angry with me because of you. He said to me, “You will never enter the Promised Land! Instead, your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will lead the people into the land....I will give the land to your innocent children. You were afraid they would be captured, but they will be the ones who occupy it.” (Deuteronomy 1:37-39)
This is interesting to me, it seems like our biggest fears become the things God forces us to deal with. We’ve heard that FEAR represents False Expectations Appearing Real, which I believe is totally true; however, I also believe we speak things into existence. If we continually focus on negative things, negative things happen. If we speak positively, positive things happen, sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you keep telling yourself something long enough, good or bad, it becomes your reality.
The enemy wants us to believe we are less, but we are more than conquerors! We are children of God...chosen, loved, and gifted by God, the head and not the tail, wise; we are strong...we can do all things through Christ; we are special...set apart for God’s purpose; we are the light of the world, and we are powerful and not ruled by fear because the Holy Spirit lives in us!
Refocus your attention on the amazing individuals we all are, and stop letting the world and the enemies of this world tell you differently.
This is a great spot to end this lesson, but I can’t because God has more to say in Deuteronomy 1!
So Moses continues to remind the Israelites of the events of their journey, explaining that at this point God told us to go back through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. “Then you confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord! We will go into the land and fight for it, as the Lord our God has told us...”
“But the Lord said to me, “Tell them not to attack, for I will not go with them. If you do, they will be crushed by their enemies.” This is what I told you, but you would not listen.” (Deuteronomy 1:41-43) Moses then reminded them that the Amorites came out against them like a swarm of bees and battered them. Moses then said, “Then you returned and wept before the Lord, but he refused to listen.” (Deuteronomy 1:45)
Wow...how many times have we not listened to God, and we find ourselves licking our wounds, crying to God because we’re too hard-headed to let God lead us, thinking we can do it ourselves or thinking we can’t do it...even though God has already shown us the power we have through Him? God keeps telling us, “the battle is not yours, but it’s the Lord’s”, but we won’t listen and we keep trying to fight battles without God. Is God not listening to us because we want to be in control? Do you find yourself continually crying out to God? Does it seem like God isn’t listening to you? If so, maybe we need to submit ourselves to the Lord. Move when He moves. Listen to His voice, instead of that irrational, angry, faithless, self-serving voice that separates us from Him...causing God to be dormant, temporarily inactive, as He waits for us to LISTEN.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! We are amazing new creatures in Christ! Help us to know we are more and not less, and help us lead our lives with you at the wheel, listening to your commands and doing your will and not our own. We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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