Study in Deuteronomy

1. Study in Deuteronomy Presentation 01

2. Review And Appraisal Chap 1v1-46 Presentation 01

3. Introduction The name ‘Deuteronomy’ signifies ‘the second giving of the law’. The book contains three addresses given by Moses in the closing months of his life to the people of Israel who were camped on the plains of Moab prior to moving forward into a new stage of their life as the people of God [1:1; 4:44; 29:1; 31:10]. Some historical and geographical background may prove useful. Almost 40 previously Israel had been delivered from her Egyptian bondage. She had been constituted a nation at the foot of Mt. Sinai where she was prepared for nationhood but disobedience had left her wandering in the wilderness for a further 38 years. Presentation 01

4. Introduction The opportunities for blessing had been immense as Joshua, the next historical book makes plain, Josh 1v1-9. Previously Israel had turned her back on entry into the Promised Land [Deut. 1v6, 8, 21, 26]. And now, before a new opportunity of entry is laid before them, Moses seeks to prepare God’s people. Moses not only reviews their past history and God's dealings with them, but for a second time causes them to sit under the instruction of God's Law. Once again they were standing on the threshold of decision! Presentation 01

5. Introduction Geographically, the area of wilderness where they were located is situated between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqabah. Just south-west of the Dead Sea is Kadesh-Barnea, the point of entry they had previously refused. Now the Israelites were to travel east of the Dead Sea through the territory of Edom and Moab and finally would cross the Jordan, north of the Dead Sea, and attack Jericho. [ See map] Note, the people being challenged had temperaments and problems very similar to our own. Jericho Dead Sea Moab Goshen KadeshBarnea Edom Wilderness Egypt Gulf of Suez Gulf of Aqabah Sinai Presentation 01

6. Past Failure Moses reminded Israel that they were no ordinary people. God had chosen them through no merit of their own and, had redeemed them out of the house of bondage in Egypt. In his sovereign grace God had entered into a binding covenant of grace with them for their good and his glory. Through Moses’ leadership, God had led them out into the liberty of the children of God and on a journey that was destined for remarkable blessing provided God’s grace was met with loyal obedience. Presentation 01

7. Past Failure They came to Horeb (Sinai) in the third month after their departure [Ex. 19v1], and there the Law was given. It is important to understand that it was to a redeemed people that the Law was given, not as a way of salvation but as family guidance to show God’s children how to live in the world as God's chosen people and in a way that would reflect his character. It was a call to a life of obedience. They had journeyed only eleven days from Horeb before reaching KadeshBarnea[v2] and from there they sent the spies to view the land of Canaan. Presentation 01

8. Past Failure Israel refused to obey God and in consequence, almost forty years later, they were still in the same place [v3]. Oh they had not remained static. They had been on the move. But they had not made any spiritual progress. What a picture of many Christian lives! God had led them to Sinai [v6] where they had settled for a whole year but after a mere eleven days and approx. 165 miles later at Kadesh-Barnea, they put on the brakes. And as a result of their disobedience they caused future blessing to wither. Unbelief and the disobedience that comes with it can wreck havoc on our lives. Presentation 01

9. Past Failure To prepare them for the future Moses reviewed their past history so that significant lessons might be learned for the people had moved from Kadesh-Barneaup the east side of the Dead Sea and rested opposite Jericho v4-5 . The story is told in Num. 20v21-26, 31-35; 22v1; 33v50-56. Moses a faithful minister who spoke plainly to his "congregation." But by their gracelessness, ingratitude and stubbornness they had driven him to the end of his tether [Num. 11v10-16 ff.]. All this was the context for the bountiful blessing, which Moses prayed would continue and increase [10-11]. Presentation 01

10. Shared Responsibility Difficulty, and the disaffection that lies behind it, do not need to curtail God’s blessing. But then some must be found who are both willing and able to share the burden of the work. Moses does not mention here that the suggestion for such a pattern of help came from God through Jethro, [Ex. 18v8-26]. By the time of the incident in Num. 11v16 ff.the shared pattern of work may have fallen into disuse and Moses was again carrying the load alone. The seventy may still have held the office of ‘partners’ with Moses and been ‘honoured’ by the people but they were not ‘burden-bearers’ and so the work and its leader were hindered. Presentation 01

11. Shared Responsibility In v14Moses describes a unanimity in decision indicating not only that God was in it but that the people were becoming aware of their spiritual responsibility. This is a good sign and often a sign that God is planning to lead his work into a new phase. Shared responsibility often breaks down in practice. Our Lord took three with him to pray in Gethsemane, yet despite their earlier protest of support they fell asleep and were no help to Jesus. He had to carry them [Mk. 14v32 ff.]. Paul too, called for partnership in the Gospel, but sadly often he too was left alone. Cf. 2 Tim. 4:16, 17; Phil, 4:15, 16 Presentation 01

12. Shared Responsibility Moses was aware of how easily ‘position’ or ‘office’ can corrupt a man and he urged on them the need for integrity and impartiality. We can be gentle with someone we like and are drawn to while at the same time displaying a harshness towards another guilty of the same fault but to whom we are not particularly attracted. But this is no way to deal with situations remitted to us by God [17]. There must always be care and sympathy for the sinner but this must never become a sentimental concession to their wrongdoing. Presentation 01

13. Shared Responsibility It is costly to rebuke and to hurt someone you love, and costly to bear the ensuing estrangement when the rebuke is resented. But we must minister to each other for our good and not for our ease. This is not a charter for harshness. Some find it too easy to dish out ‘correction’. Moses chose men who were spiritually minded [Ex. 18v21] and the N.T. counterpart is the standard for elders [1 Pet. 5v1-5]. It was indeed to be a shared work. But Moses' leadership under God was not to be laid aside [17b, 18]. Presentation 01

14. Blessing On A Plate As Moses continued to recall their journey, remember that this people had already seen God’s mighty power at work in their deliverance from Egypt, in crossing the Red Sea and in their swift eleven day journey through the terrible wilderness. Then, right on the borders of the land, the will of God had been made perfectly clear [20-21]. They were to go right forward into a land already described as bountiful and desirable [Ex. 3v8] and already gifted to them [20]. This was the goal of their amazing journey and it was within their grasp. Why then, in spite of all assurances and encouragements did they want to spend time seeking guidance? Presentation 01

15. Investigation In Num. 13v1 the plan to send 12 spies into the land seems to have come from God. However, Moses now provides another insight, suggesting that the plan was not a good one at all. Did this investigation stem from unbelief and so lead to further doubt and disobedience? The people stopped formed an ‘investigating committee’ who engaged in a ‘survey’ and produced a ‘report’ v 25 . The fatal plan had seemed good to Moses at the time v23 [but no man is infallible] and when earnest appeal is made by other ‘believers’ it is easy to be swayed away from what God has in fact made plain. They should simply have entered the land! Presentation 01

16. Rebellion In v26-40 we read that unbelief became disobedience giving rise to criticism, discontent, and slander against God. Everything became distorted and paralysing fear laid hold of the people. Even Moses reassurances [v29 ff] failed to check the momentum of terror that gripped them. Their attitude had set into stubborn unbelief. Faith had given way to fear. The giants of the land and the problems they represented loomed so large in their vision that they just could not see God. He might as well not have existed. All their resolve had gone. The situation, from their point of view, was ‘impossible’ and therefore inaction was justified in their eyes. Call it anything other than what it really was ‘unbelief’ and a slap in the face for God. Presentation 01

17. Rebellion Here in Deuteronomy Moses was teaching the new generation the lesson of the obedience of faith, with the clear message that unbelief has consequences that are far more long term than may first be realised. God's full, long term strategy cannot ever be frustrated. He has plenty of time and patience. But God’s displeasure was made plain and even Moses forfeited his place in the future possession of the land. If you think this is harsh O.T. doctrine read 1 Cor. 9v27 where Paul speaks of being disqualified, or ‘laid aside as of no further use’. Also the possibility of becoming ‘shipwrecked’ 1Tim.1.19 Presentation 01

18. Rebellion Hazor A whole generation had forfeited its future. They lived out their days in a spiritual and literal wilderness with two exceptions, Joshua and Caleb who were to spearhead the future occupation of the land. But even they had a burden to carry because, instead of entering the land from the south and proceeding directly north, they had to go round the Dead Sea, confront Jericho, and then campaign in both directions. What a legacy is sometimes left by unbelief, whether in home congregations or on the mission field. How we must see to it that those who come after us take over a situation with as few complications as possible. Shechem Ai Jericho Ajalon Gaza Debir Moab Canaan Edom KadeshBarnea Northern Campaign Southern Campaign Presentation 01

19. Rebellion Israel had a great reputation and the people had a great opinion of themselves by the time they had reached Kadesh-Barnea. But their unbelief was exposed. Their obedience did not match their reputation [Rev. 2v4-5; 3v1-3]. Verse40 provides God's verdict which is responded to by a surge of emotion and enthusiasm in v41 they would go up! This was not repentance. It was simple self-interest and remorse [2 Cor. 7v8-11]. They did not want to live with the consequences of their own actions. They resented being cast off and learning that the children, they used as an excuse not to go up [v39], would possess the land and its blessing in their place. Presentation 01

20. Rebellion When they should have gone forward they refused, and when they should have humbled themselves under God's mighty hand [1 Pet. 5v6] they refused. They were determined that God should change his mind and that they should prove their own spiritual worth. But easy repentance and spiritual bravado have no value. This is evident in the fact that they were still unwilling to listen to the counsel of Moses, and equally unwilling to accept the fact that the Lord would not be with them to bless them [42, 43]. Here is the great presumption of the people they were sure that it was God who should change his mind – was sending them the wrong signal- and not they who should change their heart attitude! Presentation 01

21. Rebellion Those contemplating any other form of full-time service or any major change of direction in life, like marriage, should go to tried and trusted men or women of faith and seek their counsel before decisions are made. No-one will make your decisions for you but they can help you to think more clearly and pray for you. The safest place to find guidance is in a praying congregation. God makes His will known to the church fellowship. Cf. Acts 13v2. This is the biblical pattern. The individual, doing his own thing, very often gets it wrong. Israel were confounded and put to shame. They became a demoralised people, the Lord did not hear their prayers they knew nothing of a contrite heart, [Ps. 51v17] only a personal remorse. Presentation 01

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