The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ last words to the Israelites before He died, and is God’s words to the nation before they entered the Promised Land. It was given to Israel as they camped on the Plains of Moab next to the Jordan River in preparation for crossing into the Promised Land, toward the end of their fortieth year after leaving Egypt. The book is part of the Law and reiterates highlights of the Law, but it is much more interesting reading to me than the Law given in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. I believe that you will find it easier reading than what we have been reading.
This book is full of warnings that they would have to be careful and diligent to keep their relationship with God. It might be helpful to you to find a way to mark distinctively each instance of that kind of warning: be diligent, be on your guard, be careful, beware, watch yourself, take heed…. Include in your markings describing words that tell how thorough their keeping was to be, such as “all the commandments,” “just as the Lord has commanded you,” “carefully” and “diligently.” Another help might be to find a way to mark connections in the text between something they might do or not do, and the consequences that will happen as a result. Indicator words that will alert you to these connections will be “then” and “so that.” These markings will help you get the message of Deuteronomy.
Keep in mind as you read about the Israelites’ taking possession of the Promised Land, that it is an object lesson for us. We also have received God’s promises, promises such as everything we need for life and godliness, and that He will be faithful to complete the work He has begun in us…. Like the Israelites, we have got to take possession of the promises God has given us, or we will never enjoy them. Living in the place of God’s promise is wonderful, but it doesn’t come easily even though God is doing most of the work. There are many analogies there. While we must be careful not to over-spiritualize the Israelites’ experience, we don’t want to miss the opportunity to understand the lessons for us. God is good to give us these lessons because having lived all of our lives subject to our fallen human nature, and living in a fallen, sin-cursed world even after we are restored, we do not understand how we are to live set free from sin. God has many instructions for us in His word, and this object lesson is one of them.
Deuteronomy is so rich that this blog will not be able to offer commentary on all of it. I will hit what strikes me as most vital. I may not comment on what you think is important. Please seek understanding from God on what you may find difficult, and trust Him to help you understand. This is one of my goals for this year in this blog, to train you to be a student of the Bible and find understanding from God of difficult passages. Of course, it is early in the year and you perhaps haven’t had much opportunity for training, so if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Numbers 13 gives a different account of whose idea it was to send spies into Canaan, that “the Lord spoke to Moses saying ‘Send out spies….’” Does this mean that the Bible contradicts itself? Not at all. You will see throughout Deuteronomy Moses giving more details as he recounts events covered in the book of Numbers. A difference in the details doesn’t mean a contradiction, but a fuller picture of what happened. This account is the same.
Moses’ summary of their refusal to take possession of the Promised Land is a reminder to us that we have two choices in our relationships with God: we can move ahead under His leadership and fight our battles alongside of Him as we gain victory and take new ground, or we can fall back to familiar territory, which has as much appeal and comfort as the wilderness the Israelites lived (and died) in for forty years. Those are the choices. God wants us to draw closer, ever closer to Him. He wants us to be transformed ever more into His image, and to climb new heights of victory as He accomplishes that work in us. If we don’t allow Him that, we don’t simply plant roots in a place that satisfies us; no, we move backward to the wilderness. If we are rebellious enough, He may allow us to find our way back into the place of slavery to sin. Satan will try to convince us that there are more than two choices in the matter: that we can have it our way and go as far as we desire with God; that if we choose to go only so far, refusal to follow God farther will not come between us and God. The only two options we hear about from Jesus are “Well done, Good and Faithful Servant” and “Depart from me; I never knew you.” Is there an in-between option? Scripture doesn’t tell of any that I know of.
Notice the ways God worked on behalf of His people to help them take possession of the land. He “put the dread and fear of (them) upon the peoples everywhere.” That is a huge part of their battle won right there! He also “hardened (King Sihon’s) spirit and made his heart obstinate,” which probably made him do foolish things – you know how irrational stubborn people are. God moves in mysterious ways, ways we could never imagine. Might He move in situations similarly today on our behalf? Might He do even more than we could think of asking? Yes! So why, when we pray, do we tell Him what to do? Why don’t we leave it to His higher ways and thoughts to know what to do?
Notice also that King Og of Bashan was one of those giants (and probably reigned over giants) that they were so afraid of in Numbers 13. They made pretty short work of them, didn’t they? God can do the same with the giants we face.