April 18, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Deuteronomy? Here’s today’s reading:
Deuteronomy 1 (NIV)
The Command to Leave Horeb
1 These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan—that is, in the Arabah—opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 2 (It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.)............Continue Reading
I read that Deuteronomy means “second law” which seems fitting as the book is in essence Moses’ retelling of His journey with the Israelites into the promised land and all the instruction and laws given to them by God through this time. I imagine if Moses was speaking these words knowing his time on earth was ending and that he wasn’t entering Canaan he wanted to be sure the Israelites would not fall back into their same patterns of behavior and disobedience of their past as they finally enter the promise land. This was his chance to remind them all that had happened and all God had done for them to this point.
Deuteronomy 1
Hebrews 10-13
The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ communication to the new generation of Israelites who will enter the promised land after the colossal failure of the former generation that failed to enter. It is humorous that it mentions this journey is 11 days, because it took them 40 years, enough time for that former generation to die off. We get a more personal, behind the scenes communication from Moses as he recounts the events that lead to the poor decision that that generation made. It is important to spell it out for this generation who were children when all this happened so that they will not fall into the same trap. The dynamics of the peoples of the promised land probably hadn’t changed much, They would confront the same fears. They, like us, must choose to believe in the greater plan and power of God when we face overwhelming circumstances or things that we don’t understand. Often God will bring us to places that challenge our faith so we will have a chance to choose. May we be found faithful in choosing faith.
Deuteronomy 1
Moses summarizes all that has transpired and the Israelite’s rebellion and wandering.
Their sin is unbelief. God tells them, “this is the land, go and take it.” and they refuse to go in.
I was thinking how often do we let our fear overrule the truth we know about God….and even specifically what He tells us to do.
“The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.””
Deuteronomy 1:30-31 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/deu.1.30-31.niv
Amen !
29Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. 30The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”
32In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, 33who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go.
And he is with us today, in our circumstances, with the same promises !!!