What did God detest about pagan worship? Does the Bible teach us how we now worship God if special places are no longer necessary? Let’s look in Deuteronomy 12.
What was Israel to do with the idols left behind by the nations they were to drive out of the land?
These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do in the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess all the days that you live on the earth. You shall surely destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall dispossess served their gods: on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree. You shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, and burn their Asherah poles with fire. You shall cut down the engraved images of their gods. You shall destroy their name out of that place. You shall not do so to Yahweh your God. (Deuteronomy 12:1-4 WEB)
Did God mandate a special place of worship for that time?
Instead, you must search for the location the Lord your God will select from all your tribes to put his name there, as his residence, and you must go there. You must bring your entirely burned offerings, your sacrifices, your tenth-part gifts, your contributions, your payments for solemn promises, your spontaneous gifts, and the oldest offspring of your herds and flocks to that place. You will have a feast there, each of you and your families, in the Lord your God’s presence, and you will celebrate all you have done because the Lord your God has blessed you. (Deuteronomy 12:5-7 CEB)
Is that still important? What did Jesus say to a woman who believed that we can only worship God in special places?
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24 ESV)
Could they just do whatever seemed right in their own eyes? Do we?
You are not to do as we are doing here today; everyone is doing whatever seems right in his own eyes. Indeed, you have not yet come into the resting place and the inheritance the Lord your God is giving you. When you cross the Jordan and live in the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all the enemies around you and you live in security, then Yahweh your God will choose the place to have His name dwell. Bring there everything I command you: your burnt offerings, sacrifices, offerings of the tenth, personal contributions, and all your choice offerings you vow to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 12:8-11 HCSB)
What were they to do in that designated place of worship?
Rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the descendant of Levi who is in your city—because there is no territorial allotment for him as you have. Be careful not to offer burnt offerings at any location you happen to see instead of at the place the Lord will choose in one of the tribal areas. There you may offer burnt offerings, and there you may do everything that I’m commanding you. (Deuteronomy 12:12-14 ISV)
When and where could they eat ordinary meat not set apart for God?
Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart. Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water. (Deuteronomy 12:15-16 KJV)
Where were they to eat that meat that was dedicated to God? Were they to share it as a communal meal with the Levites?
You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand. But you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God will choose, you and your son and daughter, and your male and female slaves, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall be glad before Yahweh your God in all that you send forth your hand to do. Beware lest you forsake the Levite all your days upon your land. (Deuteronomy 12:17-19 LSB)
What if the place where God has set His name is too far?
When the Lord your God extends your border as He has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire. If the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter animals from your herd and flock which the Lord has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire. Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you may eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it. (Deuteronomy 12:20-22 NASB)
Would they have eaten things like blood sausage and blood pudding?
But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 12:23-25 NIV)
Is the prohibition against eating blood still valid for us?
But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality. (Acts 21:25 WEB)
What did God command for that time regarding a special place of worship?
Only the holy things which you have, and your vowed offerings, you shall take and go to the place which the Lord chooses. And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the meat and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, and you shall eat the meat. Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 12:26-28 NKJV)
What about pagan worship did God specifically describe as detestable?
When the Lord your God goes ahead of you and destroys the nations and you drive them out and live in their land, do not fall into the trap of following their customs and worshiping their gods. Do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations worship their gods? I want to follow their example.’ You must not worship the Lord your God the way the other nations worship their gods, for they perform for their gods every detestable act that the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods. So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32 NLT)
What did God detest about pagan worship? Does the Bible teach us how we now worship God if special places are no longer necessary? You decide!
The Choice (Deuteronomy 11)
Did God expect Israel to choose between two ways? Were they to bear the fruit of obedience, love and service to God to be blessed in the land? Are we to bear fruit? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 11.
What did Moses preach to Israel about their relationship with God?
The Lord is your God, so you must always love him and obey his laws and teachings. Remember, he corrected you and not your children. You are the ones who saw the Lord use his great power when he worked miracles in Egypt, making terrible things happen to the king and all his people. And when the Egyptian army chased you in their chariots, you saw the Lord drown them and their horses in the Red Sea. Egypt still suffers from that defeat! (Deuteronomy 11:1-4 CEV)
What else did Israel experience of God’s mighty hand in the wilderness?
and what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place, and what he did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel. For your eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord that he did. (Deuteronomy 11:5-7 ESV)
How is the land of Israel very different to Egypt, their former residence?
Keep every command I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to cross into and possess the land you are to inherit, and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your fathers to give them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. For the land you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated by hand as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are entering to possess is a land of mountains and valleys, watered by rain from the sky. It is a land the Lord your God cares for. He is always watching over it from the beginning to the end of the year. (Deuteronomy 11:8-12 HCSB)
Was it a land that would only produce if they carefully observed the Lord’s commands?
If you carefully observe the commands that I’m giving you today—that is, to love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul— then he will send rain on the land in its season (the early and latter rains) and you’ll gather grain, new wine, and oil. He will provide grass in the fields for your livestock, and you’ll eat and be satisfied. Be careful! Otherwise, your hearts will deceive you and you will turn away to serve other gods and worship them. The wrath of God will burn against you so that he will restrain the heavens and it won’t rain. The ground won’t yield its produce and you’ll be swiftly destroyed from the good land that the Lord is about to give you. (Deuteronomy 11:13-17 ISV)
How could they be sure that they and their children were obedient to God?
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:18-21 KJV)
What blessings would flow from God to an obedient nation?
For if you are careful to keep this entire commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cling to Him, then Yahweh will dispossess all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours; your border will be from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea. No man will be able to stand before you; Yahweh your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you on all the land on which you set foot, as He has spoken to you. (Deuteronomy 11:22-25 LSB)
Did they have a free will choice between two end results?
See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NASB)
What were they to ceremonially proclaim from two mountains in the land?
When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today. (Deuteronomy 11:19-32 NIV)
As God chose ancient Israel, had Jesus chosen His disciples? Were they to bear fruit?
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:16 NKJV)
How can we bear fruit? What happens to those who do not remain in Christ Jesus?
I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. (John 15:1-6 NLT)
Did God expect Israel to choose between two ways? Were they to bear the fruit of obedience, love and service to God to be blessed in the land? Are we to bear fruit? You decide!
What did Moses preach to Israel about their relationship with God?
The Lord is your God, so you must always love him and obey his laws and teachings. Remember, he corrected you and not your children. You are the ones who saw the Lord use his great power when he worked miracles in Egypt, making terrible things happen to the king and all his people. And when the Egyptian army chased you in their chariots, you saw the Lord drown them and their horses in the Red Sea. Egypt still suffers from that defeat! (Deuteronomy 11:1-4 CEV)
What else did Israel experience of God’s mighty hand in the wilderness?
and what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place, and what he did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel. For your eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord that he did. (Deuteronomy 11:5-7 ESV)
How is the land of Israel very different to Egypt, their former residence?
Keep every command I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to cross into and possess the land you are to inherit, and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your fathers to give them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. For the land you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated by hand as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are entering to possess is a land of mountains and valleys, watered by rain from the sky. It is a land the Lord your God cares for. He is always watching over it from the beginning to the end of the year. (Deuteronomy 11:8-12 HCSB)
Was it a land that would only produce if they carefully observed the Lord’s commands?
If you carefully observe the commands that I’m giving you today—that is, to love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul— then he will send rain on the land in its season (the early and latter rains) and you’ll gather grain, new wine, and oil. He will provide grass in the fields for your livestock, and you’ll eat and be satisfied. Be careful! Otherwise, your hearts will deceive you and you will turn away to serve other gods and worship them. The wrath of God will burn against you so that he will restrain the heavens and it won’t rain. The ground won’t yield its produce and you’ll be swiftly destroyed from the good land that the Lord is about to give you. (Deuteronomy 11:13-17 ISV)
How could they be sure that they and their children were obedient to God?
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:18-21 KJV)
What blessings would flow from God to an obedient nation?
For if you are careful to keep this entire commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cling to Him, then Yahweh will dispossess all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours; your border will be from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea. No man will be able to stand before you; Yahweh your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you on all the land on which you set foot, as He has spoken to you. (Deuteronomy 11:22-25 LSB)
Did they have a free will choice between two end results?
See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NASB)
What were they to ceremonially proclaim from two mountains in the land?
When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today. (Deuteronomy 11:19-32 NIV)
As God chose ancient Israel, had Jesus chosen His disciples? Were they to bear fruit?
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:16 NKJV)
How can we bear fruit? What happens to those who do not remain in Christ Jesus?
I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. (John 15:1-6 NLT)
Did God expect Israel to choose between two ways? Were they to bear the fruit of obedience, love and service to God to be blessed in the land? Are we to bear fruit? You decide!
Lord of Lords (Deuteronomy 10)
What does the Lord our God require of us? Who is the Lord of lords eventually revealed to be? Let’s review Deuteronomy 10.
How did Moses come to receive a second copy of the tablets?
At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the first two, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself. Then I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed to pieces, and you shall put them in the ark.’ So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the first two, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hand. Then He wrote on the tablets, like the first writing, the Ten Commandments which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me. Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and I put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and they are there, just as the Lord commanded me. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5 NASB)
Why did the Levites have no share or inheritance in the land?
(The Israelites traveled from the wells of Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest. From there they traveled to Gudgodah and on to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water. At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today. That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as the Lord your God told them.) (Deuteronomy 10:6-9 NIV)
When did God give Israel permission to begin to enter the land?
As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, begin your journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.’ (Deuteronomy 10:10-11 NKJV)
What did the Lord God require of the people in ancient Israel? Is a change of heart another way of calling for repentance?
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today. Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn. (Deuteronomy 10:12-16 NLT)
Who does God say that He is? Does the Lord love foreigners, the fatherless and widows?
For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes. He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear Yahweh your God. You shall serve him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name. He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now Yahweh your God has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude. (Deuteronomy 10:17-22 WEB)
Who is the Lord of lords eventually revealed to be?
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider was called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war justly. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and on his head were many royal crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He wore a robe dyed with blood, and his name was called the Word of God. Heaven’s armies, wearing fine linen that was white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword that he will use to strike down the nations. He is the one who will rule them with an iron rod. And he is the one who will trample the winepress of the Almighty God’s passionate anger. He has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11-16 CEB)
What does the Lord our God require of us? Who is the Lord of lords eventually revealed to be? You Decide!
How did Moses come to receive a second copy of the tablets?
At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the first two, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself. Then I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed to pieces, and you shall put them in the ark.’ So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the first two, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hand. Then He wrote on the tablets, like the first writing, the Ten Commandments which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me. Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and I put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and they are there, just as the Lord commanded me. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5 NASB)
Why did the Levites have no share or inheritance in the land?
(The Israelites traveled from the wells of Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest. From there they traveled to Gudgodah and on to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water. At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today. That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as the Lord your God told them.) (Deuteronomy 10:6-9 NIV)
When did God give Israel permission to begin to enter the land?
As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, begin your journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.’ (Deuteronomy 10:10-11 NKJV)
What did the Lord God require of the people in ancient Israel? Is a change of heart another way of calling for repentance?
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today. Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn. (Deuteronomy 10:12-16 NLT)
Who does God say that He is? Does the Lord love foreigners, the fatherless and widows?
For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes. He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear Yahweh your God. You shall serve him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name. He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now Yahweh your God has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude. (Deuteronomy 10:17-22 WEB)
Who is the Lord of lords eventually revealed to be?
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider was called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war justly. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and on his head were many royal crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He wore a robe dyed with blood, and his name was called the Word of God. Heaven’s armies, wearing fine linen that was white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword that he will use to strike down the nations. He is the one who will rule them with an iron rod. And he is the one who will trample the winepress of the Almighty God’s passionate anger. He has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11-16 CEB)
What does the Lord our God require of us? Who is the Lord of lords eventually revealed to be? You Decide!
A Stubborn People (Deuteronomy 9)
Is it good for us to be reminded of our sins? Is it easy to become self-righteous? Is there a law that gives us freedom from sin? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 9.
What was about to happen to the people of Israel?
Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?’ Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you. (Deuteronomy 9:1-3 NKJV)
Did God give Israel the land because they were good or because other nations were wicked and to fulfill a promise?
After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people. (Deuteronomy 9:4-6 NLT)
What were they to remember about their past actions?
Remember, and don’t forget, how you provoked Yahweh your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. Also in Horeb you provoked Yahweh to wrath, and Yahweh was angry with you to destroy you. When I had gone up onto the mountain to receive the stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant which Yahweh made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. Yahweh delivered to me the two stone tablets written with God’s finger. On them were all the words which Yahweh spoke with you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly. (Deuteronomy 9:7-10 WEB)
What did God threaten to do with Israel because of their national stubbornness?
At the end of those forty days and nights, the Lord gave me the two stone tablets—the covenant tablets. Then the Lord said to me, “Get going! Get down from here quickly because your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have ruined everything! They couldn’t wait to turn from the path I commanded them! They’ve made themselves an idol out of cast metal.” The Lord said more to me: “I have seen this people. Look! What a stubborn people they are! Now stand back. I am going to wipe them out. I will erase their name from under heaven, then I will make a nation out of you—one stronger and larger than they were.” (Deuteronomy 9:11-14 CEB)
How did Moses intervene on behalf of their idolatry?
Fire was raging on the mountaintop as I went back down, carrying the two stones with the commandments on them. I saw how quickly you had sinned and disobeyed the Lord your God. There you were, worshiping the metal idol you had made in the shape of a calf. So I threw down the two stones and smashed them before your very eyes. I bowed down at the place of worship and prayed to the Lord, without eating or drinking for 40 days and nights. You had committed a terrible sin by making that idol, and the Lord hated what you had done. He was angry enough to destroy all of you and Aaron as well. So I prayed for you and Aaron as I had done before, and this time the Lord answered my prayers. (Deuteronomy 9:15-20 CEV)
What did Moses do with the idol that they had made?
Then I took the sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. And I threw the dust of it into the brook that ran down from the mountain. At Taberah also, and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked the Lord to wrath. And when the Lord sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and take possession of the land that I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God and did not believe him or obey his voice. You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. (Deuteronomy 9:21-24 ESV)
What was Moses’ specific prayer on Israel’s behalf?
I fell down in the presence of the Lord 40 days and 40 nights because the Lord had threatened to destroy you. I prayed to the Lord: Lord God, do not annihilate Your people, Your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a strong hand. Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Disregard this people’s stubbornness, and their wickedness and sin. Otherwise, those in the land you brought us from will say, ‘Because the Lord wasn’t able to bring them into the land He had promised them, and because He hated them, He brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.’ But they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and outstretched arm. (Deuteronomy 9:25-29 HCSB)
Were we once slaves to sin? Have we learned obedience?
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thank God that, though you were once slaves of sin, you became obedient from your hearts to that form of teaching with which you were entrusted! And since you have been freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18 ISV)
Did Jesus also give us teachings of various commandments?
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21 KJV)
Is what Jesus taught a perfect law that gives us freedom to be doers of the word?
But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he looked at himself and has gone away, he immediately forgot what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25 LSB)
Is it good for us to be reminded of our sins? Is it easy to become self-righteous? Is there a law that gives us freedom from sin? You decide!
What was about to happen to the people of Israel?
Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?’ Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you. (Deuteronomy 9:1-3 NKJV)
Did God give Israel the land because they were good or because other nations were wicked and to fulfill a promise?
After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people. (Deuteronomy 9:4-6 NLT)
What were they to remember about their past actions?
Remember, and don’t forget, how you provoked Yahweh your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. Also in Horeb you provoked Yahweh to wrath, and Yahweh was angry with you to destroy you. When I had gone up onto the mountain to receive the stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant which Yahweh made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. Yahweh delivered to me the two stone tablets written with God’s finger. On them were all the words which Yahweh spoke with you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly. (Deuteronomy 9:7-10 WEB)
What did God threaten to do with Israel because of their national stubbornness?
At the end of those forty days and nights, the Lord gave me the two stone tablets—the covenant tablets. Then the Lord said to me, “Get going! Get down from here quickly because your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have ruined everything! They couldn’t wait to turn from the path I commanded them! They’ve made themselves an idol out of cast metal.” The Lord said more to me: “I have seen this people. Look! What a stubborn people they are! Now stand back. I am going to wipe them out. I will erase their name from under heaven, then I will make a nation out of you—one stronger and larger than they were.” (Deuteronomy 9:11-14 CEB)
How did Moses intervene on behalf of their idolatry?
Fire was raging on the mountaintop as I went back down, carrying the two stones with the commandments on them. I saw how quickly you had sinned and disobeyed the Lord your God. There you were, worshiping the metal idol you had made in the shape of a calf. So I threw down the two stones and smashed them before your very eyes. I bowed down at the place of worship and prayed to the Lord, without eating or drinking for 40 days and nights. You had committed a terrible sin by making that idol, and the Lord hated what you had done. He was angry enough to destroy all of you and Aaron as well. So I prayed for you and Aaron as I had done before, and this time the Lord answered my prayers. (Deuteronomy 9:15-20 CEV)
What did Moses do with the idol that they had made?
Then I took the sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. And I threw the dust of it into the brook that ran down from the mountain. At Taberah also, and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked the Lord to wrath. And when the Lord sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and take possession of the land that I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God and did not believe him or obey his voice. You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. (Deuteronomy 9:21-24 ESV)
What was Moses’ specific prayer on Israel’s behalf?
I fell down in the presence of the Lord 40 days and 40 nights because the Lord had threatened to destroy you. I prayed to the Lord: Lord God, do not annihilate Your people, Your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a strong hand. Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Disregard this people’s stubbornness, and their wickedness and sin. Otherwise, those in the land you brought us from will say, ‘Because the Lord wasn’t able to bring them into the land He had promised them, and because He hated them, He brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.’ But they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and outstretched arm. (Deuteronomy 9:25-29 HCSB)
Were we once slaves to sin? Have we learned obedience?
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thank God that, though you were once slaves of sin, you became obedient from your hearts to that form of teaching with which you were entrusted! And since you have been freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18 ISV)
Did Jesus also give us teachings of various commandments?
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21 KJV)
Is what Jesus taught a perfect law that gives us freedom to be doers of the word?
But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he looked at himself and has gone away, he immediately forgot what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25 LSB)
Is it good for us to be reminded of our sins? Is it easy to become self-righteous? Is there a law that gives us freedom from sin? You decide!
Don't Forget God (Deuteronomy 8)
Are we much different than the ancient Israelites? Do we also easily forget God? Do we think our blessings are from our own abilities? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 8.
What was an important thing to remember all their lives? Is it also important for us?
Be careful to observe every command that I’m instructing you today, in order that you may live, increase, and enter and take possession of the land that the Lord promised by an oath to your ancestors. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way these 40 years in the desert to humble and test you in order to make known what was in your heart—whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to be hungry, yet he fed you with manna that neither you nor your ancestors had known, in order to teach you that human beings are not to live by food alone—instead human beings are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:1-3 ISV)
Did their clothes get old? Did God chasten them? Was old Israel a good land?
Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. (Deuteronomy 8:4-10 KJV)
What should they beware of? Does the same warning apply to us?
Beware lest you forget Yahweh your God by not keeping His commandments and His judgments and His statutes which I am commanding you today; lest you eat and are satisfied and build good houses and live in them, and your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, and your heart becomes lifted up and you forget Yahweh your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. He led you through the great and fearsome wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end (Deuteronomy 8:11-16 LSB)
Did they have the tendency to think the success was because of their abilities? Do we?
Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you are to remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, in order to confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And it shall come about, if you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and serve and worship them, I testify against you today that you will certainly perish. Like the nations that the Lord eliminates from you, so you shall perish, because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 8:17-20 NASB)
Does God still provide for the faithful under the new covenant?
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 NIV)
Are we much different than the ancient Israelites? Do we also easily forget God? Do we think our blessings are from our own abilities? You decide!
What was an important thing to remember all their lives? Is it also important for us?
Be careful to observe every command that I’m instructing you today, in order that you may live, increase, and enter and take possession of the land that the Lord promised by an oath to your ancestors. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way these 40 years in the desert to humble and test you in order to make known what was in your heart—whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to be hungry, yet he fed you with manna that neither you nor your ancestors had known, in order to teach you that human beings are not to live by food alone—instead human beings are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:1-3 ISV)
Did their clothes get old? Did God chasten them? Was old Israel a good land?
Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. (Deuteronomy 8:4-10 KJV)
What should they beware of? Does the same warning apply to us?
Beware lest you forget Yahweh your God by not keeping His commandments and His judgments and His statutes which I am commanding you today; lest you eat and are satisfied and build good houses and live in them, and your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, and your heart becomes lifted up and you forget Yahweh your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. He led you through the great and fearsome wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end (Deuteronomy 8:11-16 LSB)
Did they have the tendency to think the success was because of their abilities? Do we?
Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you are to remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, in order to confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And it shall come about, if you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and serve and worship them, I testify against you today that you will certainly perish. Like the nations that the Lord eliminates from you, so you shall perish, because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 8:17-20 NASB)
Does God still provide for the faithful under the new covenant?
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 NIV)
Are we much different than the ancient Israelites? Do we also easily forget God? Do we think our blessings are from our own abilities? You decide!
Chosen to Obey (Deuteronomy 7)
What was Israel’s responsibility after taking the promised land from corrupt and perverse nations? What is our individual responsibility in a corrupt world? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 7.
Did God forbid Israel from making covenants with corrupt and perverse nations? Why do our politicians do so?
When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire. (Deuteronomy 7:1-5 NKJV)
Does God lavish His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey Him?
For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Therefore, you must obey all these commands, decrees, and regulations I am giving you today. (Deuteronomy 7:6-11 NLT)
Would Israel be blessed above all peoples for keeping the covenant with God?
It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances and keep and do them, that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which he swore to your fathers. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your livestock and the young of your flock, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you. You will be blessed above all peoples. There won’t be male or female barren among you, or among your livestock. Yahweh will take away from you all sickness; and he will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you. You shall consume all the peoples whom Yahweh your God shall deliver to you. Your eye shall not pity them. You shall not serve their gods; for that would be a snare to you. (Deuteronomy 7:12-16 WEB)
What if Israel doubted their ability to conquer the perverted nations?
If you happen to think to yourself, These nations are greater than we are; how can we possibly possess their land? don’t be afraid of them! Remember, instead, what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt: the great trials that you saw with your own eyes, the signs and wonders, and the strong hand and outstretched arm the Lord your God used to rescue you. That’s what the Lord your God will do to any people you fear. The Lord your God will send terror on them until even the survivors and those hiding from you are destroyed. Don’t dread these nations because the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is with you and among you. (The Lord your God will drive out these nations before you bit by bit. You won’t be able to finish them off quickly; otherwise, the wild animals would become too much for you to handle.) The Lord your God will lay these nations before you, throwing them into a huge panic until they are destroyed. He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe their names out from under the skies. No one will be able to stand before you; you will crush them. (Deuteronomy 7:17-24 CEB)
What was Israel to do with the idols left behind by conquered nations?
After you conquer a nation, burn their idols. Don't get trapped into wanting the silver or gold on an idol. Even the metal on an idol is disgusting to the Lord, so destroy it. If you bring it home with you, both you and your house will be destroyed. Stay away from those disgusting idols! (Deuteronomy 7:25-26 CEV)
What did Jesus pray for the church in regard to our place in a sinful world?
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:15-16 ESV)
Do we hide or go into the world? Do we observe what Moses or Jesus commanded?
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 HCSB)
What was Israel’s responsibility after taking the promised land from corrupt and perverse nations? What is our individual responsibility in a corrupt world? You decide!
Did God forbid Israel from making covenants with corrupt and perverse nations? Why do our politicians do so?
When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire. (Deuteronomy 7:1-5 NKJV)
Does God lavish His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey Him?
For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Therefore, you must obey all these commands, decrees, and regulations I am giving you today. (Deuteronomy 7:6-11 NLT)
Would Israel be blessed above all peoples for keeping the covenant with God?
It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances and keep and do them, that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which he swore to your fathers. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your livestock and the young of your flock, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you. You will be blessed above all peoples. There won’t be male or female barren among you, or among your livestock. Yahweh will take away from you all sickness; and he will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you. You shall consume all the peoples whom Yahweh your God shall deliver to you. Your eye shall not pity them. You shall not serve their gods; for that would be a snare to you. (Deuteronomy 7:12-16 WEB)
What if Israel doubted their ability to conquer the perverted nations?
If you happen to think to yourself, These nations are greater than we are; how can we possibly possess their land? don’t be afraid of them! Remember, instead, what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt: the great trials that you saw with your own eyes, the signs and wonders, and the strong hand and outstretched arm the Lord your God used to rescue you. That’s what the Lord your God will do to any people you fear. The Lord your God will send terror on them until even the survivors and those hiding from you are destroyed. Don’t dread these nations because the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is with you and among you. (The Lord your God will drive out these nations before you bit by bit. You won’t be able to finish them off quickly; otherwise, the wild animals would become too much for you to handle.) The Lord your God will lay these nations before you, throwing them into a huge panic until they are destroyed. He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe their names out from under the skies. No one will be able to stand before you; you will crush them. (Deuteronomy 7:17-24 CEB)
What was Israel to do with the idols left behind by conquered nations?
After you conquer a nation, burn their idols. Don't get trapped into wanting the silver or gold on an idol. Even the metal on an idol is disgusting to the Lord, so destroy it. If you bring it home with you, both you and your house will be destroyed. Stay away from those disgusting idols! (Deuteronomy 7:25-26 CEV)
What did Jesus pray for the church in regard to our place in a sinful world?
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:15-16 ESV)
Do we hide or go into the world? Do we observe what Moses or Jesus commanded?
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 HCSB)
What was Israel’s responsibility after taking the promised land from corrupt and perverse nations? What is our individual responsibility in a corrupt world? You decide!
The Greatest Command (Deuteronomy 6)
Which is the greatest command of all? What was the purpose of God’s commands? What were people to teach their children? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 6.
What was God’s purpose for giving Israel His old covenant law?
This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has instructed me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all His statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey. (Deuteronomy 6:1-3 HCSB)
What is the greatest command of all? How often should we teach our children?
Listen, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Let these words that I’m commanding you today be always on your heart. Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up. Tie them as reminders on your forearm, bind them on your forehead, and write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ISV)
What warning did God give to Israel at that time in their history?
And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 6:10-15 KJV)
Should they test God like their parents did or be obedient to Him? Why?
You shall not put Yahweh your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. You should diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of Yahweh, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to give your fathers, by driving out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken. (Deuteronomy 6:16-19 LSB)
What is one of the things that they ought to teach their children?
When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What do the provisions and the statutes and the judgments mean which the Lord our God commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Moreover, the Lord provided great and terrible signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household; He brought us out of there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.’ So the Lord commanded us to follow all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our own good always and for our survival, as it is today. And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to follow all this commandment before the Lord our God, just as He commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NASB)
Did Jesus confirm what the greatest commandment was?
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:35-37 NIV)
Which is the greatest command of all? What was the purpose of God’s commands? What were people to teach their children? You decide!
What was God’s purpose for giving Israel His old covenant law?
This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has instructed me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all His statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey. (Deuteronomy 6:1-3 HCSB)
What is the greatest command of all? How often should we teach our children?
Listen, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Let these words that I’m commanding you today be always on your heart. Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up. Tie them as reminders on your forearm, bind them on your forehead, and write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ISV)
What warning did God give to Israel at that time in their history?
And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 6:10-15 KJV)
Should they test God like their parents did or be obedient to Him? Why?
You shall not put Yahweh your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. You should diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of Yahweh, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to give your fathers, by driving out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken. (Deuteronomy 6:16-19 LSB)
What is one of the things that they ought to teach their children?
When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What do the provisions and the statutes and the judgments mean which the Lord our God commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Moreover, the Lord provided great and terrible signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household; He brought us out of there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.’ So the Lord commanded us to follow all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our own good always and for our survival, as it is today. And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to follow all this commandment before the Lord our God, just as He commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NASB)
Did Jesus confirm what the greatest commandment was?
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:35-37 NIV)
Which is the greatest command of all? What was the purpose of God’s commands? What were people to teach their children? You decide!
The Ten Words (Deuteronomy 5)
Whether we number the Ten Words or Ten Commandments as do Jews, Catholics, Protestants or others, do we know them? Do they outline Deuteronomy and all 613 commandments of the law? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 5.
How did Moses reintroduce the words of the covenant, what we also call the Ten Commandments?
Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: (Deuteronomy 5:1-5 NIV)
The first sentence is left off most depictions of the Ten Commandments, but was part of what was written by God. Catholics include this sentence with the first commandment. By Jewish reckoning, what is the first of the Ten Words?
I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (Deuteronomy 6:6 NKJV)
What are the first three commandments, according to most Protestants, or the rest of the first two according to Catholics, or the second and third Word according to Jewish counting? Do two carved images of cherubs over the mercy seat contradict some interpretations of this? Were those graven images simply not bowed down to?
You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make a carved image for yourself—any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me; and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God; for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name. (Deuteronomy 5:7-11 WEB)
No matter how we number them, which is the longest of the ten words or commandments? Why is this the only commandment not repeated by either Jesus or the apostles in the New Testament?
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do. Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NLT)
What is the only rest command given by Jesus in the New Testament?
Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 HCSB)
Did Sabbath-keeping people under Moses not enter true rest (Hebrews 3:7-19)? Did Sabbath-keeping people under Joshua enter the land, but still not enter true rest (Hebrews 4:1-8)? Is there a land of rest, an eternal Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God?
There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God to keep, because the one who enters God’s rest has himself rested from his own actions, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fail by following their example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11 ISV)
What are the rest of the Ten Words or Ten Commandments? Catholics divide the tenth, in Jewish and Protestant reckoning, into two: don’t desire and don’t covet, making it two commandments.
Honor your father and your mother, exactly as the Lord your God requires, so that your life will be long and so that things will go well for you on the fertile land that the Lord your God is giving you. Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely against your neighbor. Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife. Do not crave [covet] your neighbor’s house, field, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor. (Deuteronomy 5:16-21 CEB)
How did the people react to hearing God’s voice at the mountain?
When we were gathered at the mountain, the Lord spoke to us in a loud voice from the dark fiery cloud. The Lord gave us these commands, and only these. Then he wrote them on two flat stones and gave them to me. Moses said to Israel: When fire blazed from the mountain, and you heard the voice coming from the darkness, your tribal leaders came to me and said: Today the Lord our God has shown us how powerful and glorious he is. He spoke to us from the fire, and we learned that people can live, even though God speaks to them. But we don't want to take a chance on being killed by that terrible fire, and if we keep on hearing the Lord's voice, we will die. Has anyone else ever heard the only true God speaking from fire, as we have? And even if they have, would they live to tell about it? Moses, go up close and listen to the Lord. Then come back and tell us, and we will do everything he says. (Deuteronomy 5:22-27 CEV)
What was God’s response to the request of the congregation?
And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess. (Deuteronomy 5:28-33 ESV)
Whether we number the Ten Words or Ten Commandments as do Jews, Catholics, Protestants or others, do we know them? Do they outline Deuteronomy and all 613 commandments of the law? You decide!
How did Moses reintroduce the words of the covenant, what we also call the Ten Commandments?
Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: (Deuteronomy 5:1-5 NIV)
The first sentence is left off most depictions of the Ten Commandments, but was part of what was written by God. Catholics include this sentence with the first commandment. By Jewish reckoning, what is the first of the Ten Words?
I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (Deuteronomy 6:6 NKJV)
What are the first three commandments, according to most Protestants, or the rest of the first two according to Catholics, or the second and third Word according to Jewish counting? Do two carved images of cherubs over the mercy seat contradict some interpretations of this? Were those graven images simply not bowed down to?
You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make a carved image for yourself—any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me; and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God; for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name. (Deuteronomy 5:7-11 WEB)
No matter how we number them, which is the longest of the ten words or commandments? Why is this the only commandment not repeated by either Jesus or the apostles in the New Testament?
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do. Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NLT)
What is the only rest command given by Jesus in the New Testament?
Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 HCSB)
Did Sabbath-keeping people under Moses not enter true rest (Hebrews 3:7-19)? Did Sabbath-keeping people under Joshua enter the land, but still not enter true rest (Hebrews 4:1-8)? Is there a land of rest, an eternal Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God?
There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God to keep, because the one who enters God’s rest has himself rested from his own actions, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fail by following their example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11 ISV)
What are the rest of the Ten Words or Ten Commandments? Catholics divide the tenth, in Jewish and Protestant reckoning, into two: don’t desire and don’t covet, making it two commandments.
Honor your father and your mother, exactly as the Lord your God requires, so that your life will be long and so that things will go well for you on the fertile land that the Lord your God is giving you. Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely against your neighbor. Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife. Do not crave [covet] your neighbor’s house, field, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor. (Deuteronomy 5:16-21 CEB)
How did the people react to hearing God’s voice at the mountain?
When we were gathered at the mountain, the Lord spoke to us in a loud voice from the dark fiery cloud. The Lord gave us these commands, and only these. Then he wrote them on two flat stones and gave them to me. Moses said to Israel: When fire blazed from the mountain, and you heard the voice coming from the darkness, your tribal leaders came to me and said: Today the Lord our God has shown us how powerful and glorious he is. He spoke to us from the fire, and we learned that people can live, even though God speaks to them. But we don't want to take a chance on being killed by that terrible fire, and if we keep on hearing the Lord's voice, we will die. Has anyone else ever heard the only true God speaking from fire, as we have? And even if they have, would they live to tell about it? Moses, go up close and listen to the Lord. Then come back and tell us, and we will do everything he says. (Deuteronomy 5:22-27 CEV)
What was God’s response to the request of the congregation?
And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess. (Deuteronomy 5:28-33 ESV)
Whether we number the Ten Words or Ten Commandments as do Jews, Catholics, Protestants or others, do we know them? Do they outline Deuteronomy and all 613 commandments of the law? You decide!
Obedience (Deuteronomy 4)
What are biblical descriptions of divisions of the law? Were the Ten Commandments a covenant? Were they to personally teach their children and grandchildren or just send them to children’s church? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 4.
Did the law (torah) contain commandments, statutes and judgments? Was keeping the Sabbath a command (mitzvah)? Was letting animals also rest a statute (choq)? Was punishment when people broke the Sabbath a judgment (mishpat)?
So now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to do, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I am commanding you. Your eyes have seen what Yahweh has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who walked after Baal-peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from among you. But you who clung to Yahweh your God are alive today, every one of you. (Deuteronomy 4:1-4 LSB)
Were they oppressive laws or filled with wisdom and understanding?
See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you are to do these things in the land where you are entering to take possession of it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole Law which I am setting before you today? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8 NASB)
Are parents responsible to teach their children and grandchildren all week long or just shuffle them off to children’s church once a week?
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” (Deuteronomy 4:9-10 NIV)
What was the old covenant? Was it the Ten Commandments or Words?
Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice. So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments [Words]; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess. (Deuteronomy 4:11-14 NKJV)
If Israel made statues of two covering cherubs over the mercy seat, is it wrong to make icons, or is the point not to bow down to and worship those sculptures?
But be very careful! You did not see the Lord’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai. So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman, an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky, a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea. And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth. Remember that the Lord rescued you from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today. (Deuteronomy 4:15-20 NLT)
Was Moses humble enough to admit his faults before the whole congregation? Are we?
Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance; but I must die in this land. I must not go over the Jordan, but you shall go over and possess that good land. Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he made with you, and make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which Yahweh your God has forbidden you. For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:21-24 WEB)
Did Moses warn them against idolatry and the consequences that would result?
Once you have had children and grandchildren and have grown old on the land, if you ruin things by making an idol, in any form whatsoever, and do what is evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and anger him, I call heaven and earth as my witnesses against you today: You will definitely disappear—and quickly—from the land that you are crossing over the Jordan River to possess. You won’t extend your time there but will instead be totally destroyed. The Lord will scatter you among the nations. Only a very few of you will survive in the countries where the Lord will drag you. There you will worship other gods, made of wood and stone by human hands—gods that cannot see, listen, eat, or smell. (Deuteronomy 4:25-28 CEB)
Would God show mercy to future generations if after punishment they repented?
In all of your troubles, you may finally decide that you want to worship only the Lord. And if you turn back to him and obey him completely, he will again be your God. The Lord your God will have mercy—he won't destroy you or desert you. The Lord will remember his promise, and he will keep the agreement he made with your ancestors. (Deuteronomy 4:29-31 CEV)
What nation in history has been rescued from slavery with such great miracles as Israel?
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? (Deuteronomy 4:32-34 ESV)
Why was Israel shown such mighty wonders by God?
You were shown these things so that you would know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him. He let you hear His voice from heaven to instruct you. He showed you His great fire on earth, and you heard His words from the fire. Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power, to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance, as is now taking place. (Deuteronomy 4:35-38 HCSB)
What were they expected to do after witnessing such things?
May you acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in the heavens above and over the earth below—there is no other God. May you observe his statutes and keep his commands that I’m giving you today, so that life may go well for you and for your descendants after you. That way, you’ll live a long life in the land that the Lord your God is about to give you permanently. (Deuteronomy 4:39-40 ISV)
What were the three cities of refuge on the east side of Jordan?
Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live: Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites. (Deuteronomy 4:41-43 KJV)
What law was about to be repeated as Israel entered the land?
Now this is the law which Moses set before the sons of Israel; these are the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments which Moses spoke to the sons of Israel when they came out from Egypt, across the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the sons of Israel struck down when they came out from Egypt. And they took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were across the Jordan to the east toward the sunrise, from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, even as far as Mount Sion (that is, Hermon), with all the Arabah across the Jordan to the east, even as far as the sea of the Arabah, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah. (Deuteronomy 4:44-49 LSB)
Is such judgment now gone under the new covenant?
Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day — things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17 NASB)
What are biblical descriptions of divisions of the law? Were the Ten Commandments a covenant? Were they to personally teach their children and grandchildren or just send them to children’s church? You decide!
Did the law (torah) contain commandments, statutes and judgments? Was keeping the Sabbath a command (mitzvah)? Was letting animals also rest a statute (choq)? Was punishment when people broke the Sabbath a judgment (mishpat)?
So now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to do, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I am commanding you. Your eyes have seen what Yahweh has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who walked after Baal-peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from among you. But you who clung to Yahweh your God are alive today, every one of you. (Deuteronomy 4:1-4 LSB)
Were they oppressive laws or filled with wisdom and understanding?
See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you are to do these things in the land where you are entering to take possession of it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole Law which I am setting before you today? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8 NASB)
Are parents responsible to teach their children and grandchildren all week long or just shuffle them off to children’s church once a week?
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” (Deuteronomy 4:9-10 NIV)
What was the old covenant? Was it the Ten Commandments or Words?
Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice. So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments [Words]; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess. (Deuteronomy 4:11-14 NKJV)
If Israel made statues of two covering cherubs over the mercy seat, is it wrong to make icons, or is the point not to bow down to and worship those sculptures?
But be very careful! You did not see the Lord’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai. So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman, an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky, a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea. And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth. Remember that the Lord rescued you from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today. (Deuteronomy 4:15-20 NLT)
Was Moses humble enough to admit his faults before the whole congregation? Are we?
Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance; but I must die in this land. I must not go over the Jordan, but you shall go over and possess that good land. Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he made with you, and make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which Yahweh your God has forbidden you. For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:21-24 WEB)
Did Moses warn them against idolatry and the consequences that would result?
Once you have had children and grandchildren and have grown old on the land, if you ruin things by making an idol, in any form whatsoever, and do what is evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and anger him, I call heaven and earth as my witnesses against you today: You will definitely disappear—and quickly—from the land that you are crossing over the Jordan River to possess. You won’t extend your time there but will instead be totally destroyed. The Lord will scatter you among the nations. Only a very few of you will survive in the countries where the Lord will drag you. There you will worship other gods, made of wood and stone by human hands—gods that cannot see, listen, eat, or smell. (Deuteronomy 4:25-28 CEB)
Would God show mercy to future generations if after punishment they repented?
In all of your troubles, you may finally decide that you want to worship only the Lord. And if you turn back to him and obey him completely, he will again be your God. The Lord your God will have mercy—he won't destroy you or desert you. The Lord will remember his promise, and he will keep the agreement he made with your ancestors. (Deuteronomy 4:29-31 CEV)
What nation in history has been rescued from slavery with such great miracles as Israel?
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? (Deuteronomy 4:32-34 ESV)
Why was Israel shown such mighty wonders by God?
You were shown these things so that you would know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him. He let you hear His voice from heaven to instruct you. He showed you His great fire on earth, and you heard His words from the fire. Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power, to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance, as is now taking place. (Deuteronomy 4:35-38 HCSB)
What were they expected to do after witnessing such things?
May you acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in the heavens above and over the earth below—there is no other God. May you observe his statutes and keep his commands that I’m giving you today, so that life may go well for you and for your descendants after you. That way, you’ll live a long life in the land that the Lord your God is about to give you permanently. (Deuteronomy 4:39-40 ISV)
What were the three cities of refuge on the east side of Jordan?
Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live: Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites. (Deuteronomy 4:41-43 KJV)
What law was about to be repeated as Israel entered the land?
Now this is the law which Moses set before the sons of Israel; these are the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments which Moses spoke to the sons of Israel when they came out from Egypt, across the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the sons of Israel struck down when they came out from Egypt. And they took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were across the Jordan to the east toward the sunrise, from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, even as far as Mount Sion (that is, Hermon), with all the Arabah across the Jordan to the east, even as far as the sea of the Arabah, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah. (Deuteronomy 4:44-49 LSB)
Is such judgment now gone under the new covenant?
Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day — things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17 NASB)
What are biblical descriptions of divisions of the law? Were the Ten Commandments a covenant? Were they to personally teach their children and grandchildren or just send them to children’s church? You decide!
Destroying Bashan (Deuteronomy 3)
Did Israel inherit land from people who no longer deserved it? Do our people deserve to live where we do? Have we allowed a moment of arrogance to ruin our leadership? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 3.
What was God’s decree regarding Og and his kingdom of Bashan?
Next we turned and headed for the land of Bashan, where King Og and his entire army attacked us at Edrei. But the Lord told me, ‘Do not be afraid of him, for I have given you victory over Og and his entire army, and I will give you all his land. Treat him just as you treated King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.’ (Deuteronomy 3:1-2 NLT)
Was God’s judgment fair to include the innocent? Is God sparing them suffering in a perverse society? Will He give some kind of teaching even after death? Whatever our theories about this mystery, do we trust that God is pure love and righteous justice?
So Yahweh our God also delivered into our hand Og, the king of Bashan, and all his people. We struck him until no one was left to him remaining. We took all his cities at that time. There was not a city which we didn’t take from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, in addition to a great many villages without walls. We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. But all the livestock, and the plunder of the cities, we took for plunder for ourselves. (Deuteronomy 3:3-7 WEB)
Did God command Israel to take the land of both Amorite kings, Sihon and Og? Does God still punish gross national sins?
So at that time, we took the land that had belonged to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan, all the way from the Arnon Ravine to Mount Hermon (Sidonians call Hermon “Sirion,” but the Amorites call it “Senir”), including all the towns on the plateau, in the regions of Gilead and Bashan, and all the way to Salecah and Edrei—all the towns that belonged to Og’s kingdom in Bashan. (Deuteronomy 3:8-10 CEB)
How tall was Og, as a member of the Rephaim, a race of towering men? Does his bed or coffin give us a clue?
King Og was the last of the Rephaim, and his coffin [or bed] is in the town of Rabbah in Ammon. It is made of hard black rock and is four meters long and almost two meters wide. (Deuteronomy 3:11 CEV)
Which two and a half tribes of Israel inherited that land?
When we took possession of this land at that time, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory beginning at Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities. The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, all the region of Argob, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (All that portion of Bashan is called the land of Rephaim. Jair the Manassite took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called the villages after his own name, Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.) To Machir I gave Gilead, and to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a border, as far over as the river Jabbok, the border of the Ammonites; the Arabah also, with the Jordan as the border, from Chinnereth as far as the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah on the east. (Deuteronomy 3:12-17 ESV)
What were the two and a half tribes obligated to do before fully settling their land?
I commanded you at that time: The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. All your fighting men will cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers the Israelites. But your wives, young children, and livestock—I know that you have a lot of livestock—will remain in the cities I have given you until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as He has to you, and they also take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession that I have given you. (Deuteronomy 3:18-20 HCSB)
Why was there a change of leadership from Moses to Joshua?
I also charged Joshua at that time, ‘You witnessed everything that the Lord your God did to the two kings. Indeed, the Lord will do this to all the kingdoms which you are about to enter. You are not to fear them, because the Lord your God will fight for you.’ I pleaded with the Lord at that time, ‘Lord God, you’ve begun to show your greatness and your strong power to your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can equal your works and mighty deeds? Let me cross over that I may see the good land on the other side of the Jordan River—the good hill country—as well as Lebanon.’ (Deuteronomy 3:21-25 ISV)
Did an otherwise humble Moses allow a moment of arrogance to destroy his leadership?
But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor. (Deuteronomy 3:26-29 KJV)
Did Israel inherit land from people who no longer deserved it? Do our people deserve to live where we do? Have we allowed a moment of arrogance to ruin our leadership? You decide!
What was God’s decree regarding Og and his kingdom of Bashan?
Next we turned and headed for the land of Bashan, where King Og and his entire army attacked us at Edrei. But the Lord told me, ‘Do not be afraid of him, for I have given you victory over Og and his entire army, and I will give you all his land. Treat him just as you treated King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.’ (Deuteronomy 3:1-2 NLT)
Was God’s judgment fair to include the innocent? Is God sparing them suffering in a perverse society? Will He give some kind of teaching even after death? Whatever our theories about this mystery, do we trust that God is pure love and righteous justice?
So Yahweh our God also delivered into our hand Og, the king of Bashan, and all his people. We struck him until no one was left to him remaining. We took all his cities at that time. There was not a city which we didn’t take from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, in addition to a great many villages without walls. We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. But all the livestock, and the plunder of the cities, we took for plunder for ourselves. (Deuteronomy 3:3-7 WEB)
Did God command Israel to take the land of both Amorite kings, Sihon and Og? Does God still punish gross national sins?
So at that time, we took the land that had belonged to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan, all the way from the Arnon Ravine to Mount Hermon (Sidonians call Hermon “Sirion,” but the Amorites call it “Senir”), including all the towns on the plateau, in the regions of Gilead and Bashan, and all the way to Salecah and Edrei—all the towns that belonged to Og’s kingdom in Bashan. (Deuteronomy 3:8-10 CEB)
How tall was Og, as a member of the Rephaim, a race of towering men? Does his bed or coffin give us a clue?
King Og was the last of the Rephaim, and his coffin [or bed] is in the town of Rabbah in Ammon. It is made of hard black rock and is four meters long and almost two meters wide. (Deuteronomy 3:11 CEV)
Which two and a half tribes of Israel inherited that land?
When we took possession of this land at that time, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory beginning at Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities. The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, all the region of Argob, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (All that portion of Bashan is called the land of Rephaim. Jair the Manassite took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called the villages after his own name, Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.) To Machir I gave Gilead, and to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a border, as far over as the river Jabbok, the border of the Ammonites; the Arabah also, with the Jordan as the border, from Chinnereth as far as the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah on the east. (Deuteronomy 3:12-17 ESV)
What were the two and a half tribes obligated to do before fully settling their land?
I commanded you at that time: The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. All your fighting men will cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers the Israelites. But your wives, young children, and livestock—I know that you have a lot of livestock—will remain in the cities I have given you until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as He has to you, and they also take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession that I have given you. (Deuteronomy 3:18-20 HCSB)
Why was there a change of leadership from Moses to Joshua?
I also charged Joshua at that time, ‘You witnessed everything that the Lord your God did to the two kings. Indeed, the Lord will do this to all the kingdoms which you are about to enter. You are not to fear them, because the Lord your God will fight for you.’ I pleaded with the Lord at that time, ‘Lord God, you’ve begun to show your greatness and your strong power to your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can equal your works and mighty deeds? Let me cross over that I may see the good land on the other side of the Jordan River—the good hill country—as well as Lebanon.’ (Deuteronomy 3:21-25 ISV)
Did an otherwise humble Moses allow a moment of arrogance to destroy his leadership?
But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor. (Deuteronomy 3:26-29 KJV)
Did Israel inherit land from people who no longer deserved it? Do our people deserve to live where we do? Have we allowed a moment of arrogance to ruin our leadership? You decide!
Destroying Heshbon (Deuteronomy 2)
Was Israel merciful to many neighboring nations? Did God destroy perverse nations? Does God still curse aberrant nations? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 2.
What were the Israelites to do as they passed through the land of their relatives, Esau?
Then we turned around and headed back across the wilderness toward the Red Sea, just as the Lord had instructed me, and we wandered around in the region of Mount Seir for a long time. Then at last the Lord said to me, ‘You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north. Give these orders to the people: You will pass through the country belonging to your relatives the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. The Edomites will feel threatened, so be careful. Do not bother them, for I have given them all the hill country around Mount Seir as their property, and I will not give you even one square foot of their land. If you need food to eat or water to drink, pay them for it. For the Lord your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched your every step through this great wilderness. During these forty years, the Lord your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.’ (Deuteronomy 2:1-7 NLT)
What were the Israelites to do as they passed through the land of Moab?
So we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. Yahweh said to me, “Don’t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you any of his land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.” (The Emim lived there before, a great and numerous people, and tall as the Anakim. These also are considered to be Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. The Horites also lived in Seir in the past, but the children of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before them, and lived in their place, as Israel did to the land of his possession, which Yahweh gave to them.) (Deuteronomy 2:8-12 WEB)
What were the Israelites to do as they passed through the land of the Ammonites?
“So then, get going. Cross the Zered ravine.” So we crossed the Zered ravine. It took us a total of thirty-eight years to go from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the Zered ravine. It was at that point that the last of the previous generation, every one of fighting age in the camp, had died, just as the Lord had sworn about them. In fact, the Lord’s power was against them, to rid the camp of them, until they were all gone. Now as soon as all those of fighting age had died, the Lord said to me: Today you are crossing through the territory of Moab and Ar and you will come close to the Ammonites. Don’t aggravate them. Don’t fight with them because I won’t give any part of the Ammonites’ land to you as your own. I’ve given it to Lot’s descendants as their property. (Deuteronomy 2:13-19 CEB)
Who were going to be some of Israel’s other neighbors?
Before the Ammonites conquered the land that the Lord had given them, some of the Rephaim used to live there, although the Ammonites called them Zamzummim. The Zamzummim were a large and powerful tribe and were as tall as the Anakim. But the Lord helped the Ammonites, and they killed many of the Zamzummim and forced the rest to leave. Then the Ammonites settled there. The Lord helped them as he had helped the Edomites, who killed many of the Horites in Seir and forced the rest to leave before settling there themselves. A group called the Avvim used to live in villages as far south as Gaza, but the Philistines killed them and settled on their land. (Deuteronomy 2:20-23 CEV)
What were the first steps in conquering the land of Canaan?
‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’ (Deuteronomy 2:24-25 ESV)
What happened in Heshbon? God had made Sihon’s heart strong. The same word is used for Joshua in a positive sense (Joshua 1:6). Sihon used his strength in stubborn rebellion. Not letting Israel through was his own decision.
So I sent messengers with an offer of peace to Sihon king of Heshbon from the Wilderness of Kedemoth, saying, ‘Let us travel through your land; we will keep strictly to the highway. We will not turn to the right or the left. You can sell us food in exchange for silver so we may eat, and give us water for silver so we may drink. Only let us travel through on foot, just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir did for us, and the Moabites who live in Ar, until we cross the Jordan into the land the Lord our God is giving us.’ But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the Lord your God had made his spirit stubborn [strong] and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place. (Deuteronomy 2:26-30 HCSB)
Why did God destroy Heshbon? Did they have child sacrifice, ritual sex, and other perversions? What about the innocent? Did God save them from evils to provide for them in some manner after death? Do we trust God?
Then the Lord told me, ‘See, I’ve begun to deliver Sihon and his territory over to you. Prepare to take possession of his land.’ Sihon came out to meet us, including his entire army, at the battle of Jahaz. The Lord our God delivered him to us, so we attacked him, his son, and his whole army. We captured all his towns at that time. We utterly destroyed every town—the men, the women, and the children—leaving no survivors. We only appropriated the livestock for our use, along with plunder from the cities that we captured. From Aroer on the edge of Arnon Valley and from the town all the way to Gilead, there was no city that was too strong for us—the Lord our God delivered them all to us. You did not encroach onto Ammonite land, the banks of the Wadi Jabbok, the towns in the hill country, and all the other places that were forbidden by the Lord our God. (Deuteronomy 2:31-37 ISV)
In a false sense of mercy, do we allow debauchery to flourish? Will God punish us as He did ancient nations?
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32 NIV)
Was Israel merciful to many neighboring nations? Did God destroy perverse nations? Does God still curse aberrant nations? You decide!
What were the Israelites to do as they passed through the land of their relatives, Esau?
Then we turned around and headed back across the wilderness toward the Red Sea, just as the Lord had instructed me, and we wandered around in the region of Mount Seir for a long time. Then at last the Lord said to me, ‘You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north. Give these orders to the people: You will pass through the country belonging to your relatives the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. The Edomites will feel threatened, so be careful. Do not bother them, for I have given them all the hill country around Mount Seir as their property, and I will not give you even one square foot of their land. If you need food to eat or water to drink, pay them for it. For the Lord your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched your every step through this great wilderness. During these forty years, the Lord your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.’ (Deuteronomy 2:1-7 NLT)
What were the Israelites to do as they passed through the land of Moab?
So we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. Yahweh said to me, “Don’t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you any of his land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.” (The Emim lived there before, a great and numerous people, and tall as the Anakim. These also are considered to be Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. The Horites also lived in Seir in the past, but the children of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before them, and lived in their place, as Israel did to the land of his possession, which Yahweh gave to them.) (Deuteronomy 2:8-12 WEB)
What were the Israelites to do as they passed through the land of the Ammonites?
“So then, get going. Cross the Zered ravine.” So we crossed the Zered ravine. It took us a total of thirty-eight years to go from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the Zered ravine. It was at that point that the last of the previous generation, every one of fighting age in the camp, had died, just as the Lord had sworn about them. In fact, the Lord’s power was against them, to rid the camp of them, until they were all gone. Now as soon as all those of fighting age had died, the Lord said to me: Today you are crossing through the territory of Moab and Ar and you will come close to the Ammonites. Don’t aggravate them. Don’t fight with them because I won’t give any part of the Ammonites’ land to you as your own. I’ve given it to Lot’s descendants as their property. (Deuteronomy 2:13-19 CEB)
Who were going to be some of Israel’s other neighbors?
Before the Ammonites conquered the land that the Lord had given them, some of the Rephaim used to live there, although the Ammonites called them Zamzummim. The Zamzummim were a large and powerful tribe and were as tall as the Anakim. But the Lord helped the Ammonites, and they killed many of the Zamzummim and forced the rest to leave. Then the Ammonites settled there. The Lord helped them as he had helped the Edomites, who killed many of the Horites in Seir and forced the rest to leave before settling there themselves. A group called the Avvim used to live in villages as far south as Gaza, but the Philistines killed them and settled on their land. (Deuteronomy 2:20-23 CEV)
What were the first steps in conquering the land of Canaan?
‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’ (Deuteronomy 2:24-25 ESV)
What happened in Heshbon? God had made Sihon’s heart strong. The same word is used for Joshua in a positive sense (Joshua 1:6). Sihon used his strength in stubborn rebellion. Not letting Israel through was his own decision.
So I sent messengers with an offer of peace to Sihon king of Heshbon from the Wilderness of Kedemoth, saying, ‘Let us travel through your land; we will keep strictly to the highway. We will not turn to the right or the left. You can sell us food in exchange for silver so we may eat, and give us water for silver so we may drink. Only let us travel through on foot, just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir did for us, and the Moabites who live in Ar, until we cross the Jordan into the land the Lord our God is giving us.’ But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the Lord your God had made his spirit stubborn [strong] and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place. (Deuteronomy 2:26-30 HCSB)
Why did God destroy Heshbon? Did they have child sacrifice, ritual sex, and other perversions? What about the innocent? Did God save them from evils to provide for them in some manner after death? Do we trust God?
Then the Lord told me, ‘See, I’ve begun to deliver Sihon and his territory over to you. Prepare to take possession of his land.’ Sihon came out to meet us, including his entire army, at the battle of Jahaz. The Lord our God delivered him to us, so we attacked him, his son, and his whole army. We captured all his towns at that time. We utterly destroyed every town—the men, the women, and the children—leaving no survivors. We only appropriated the livestock for our use, along with plunder from the cities that we captured. From Aroer on the edge of Arnon Valley and from the town all the way to Gilead, there was no city that was too strong for us—the Lord our God delivered them all to us. You did not encroach onto Ammonite land, the banks of the Wadi Jabbok, the towns in the hill country, and all the other places that were forbidden by the Lord our God. (Deuteronomy 2:31-37 ISV)
In a false sense of mercy, do we allow debauchery to flourish? Will God punish us as He did ancient nations?
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32 NIV)
Was Israel merciful to many neighboring nations? Did God destroy perverse nations? Does God still curse aberrant nations? You decide!
Recounting the Exodus (Deuteronomy 1)
What can we learn from Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness? Are we learning to trust God? Are we learning not to make things worse when God disciplines us? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 1.
What history did Moses recount before Israel crossed the Jordan into Canaan?
These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him as commandments to them, after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei. (Deuteronomy 1:1-4 NKJV)
What were the Lord’s instructions regarding the land?
While the Israelites were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River, Moses carefully explained the Lord’s instructions as follows. “When we were at Mount Sinai, 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. Look, 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 1:5-8 NLT)
What had Moses told Israel about delegating the burden of leadership?
I spoke to you at that time, saying, “I am not able to bear you myself alone. Yahweh your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the sky for multitude. Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you! How can I myself alone bear your problems, your burdens, and your strife? Take wise men of understanding who are respected among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.” (Deuteronomy 1:9-13 WEB)
How did Israel respond to Moses delegating leadership?
You answered me: “What you have proposed is a good idea.” So I took leading individuals from your tribes, people who were wise and well-regarded, and I set them up as your leaders. There were commanders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, as well as officials for each of your tribes. At that same time, I commanded your judges: Listen to your fellow tribe members and judge fairly, whether the dispute is between one fellow tribe member or between a tribe member and an immigrant. Don’t show favoritism in a decision. Hear both sides out, whether the person is important or not. Don’t be afraid of anyone because the ruling belongs to God. Any dispute that is too difficult for you to decide, bring to me and I will take care of it. (Deuteronomy 1:14-17 CEB)
What did Moses do after instructing the judges?
After I gave these instructions to the judges, I taught you the Lord's commands. The Lord had commanded us to leave Mount Sinai and go to the hill country that belonged to the Amorites, so we started out into the huge desert. You remember how frightening it was, but soon we were at Kadesh-Barnea, and I told you, “We have reached the hill country. It belongs to the Amorites now, but the Lord our God is giving it to us. He is the same God our ancestors worshiped, and he has told us to go in and take this land, so don't hesitate and be afraid.” (Deuteronomy 1:18-21 CEV)
How did Moses choose the twelve explorers of the land?
Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’ The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe. And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out. And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, ‘It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.’ (Deuteronomy 1:22-25 ESV)
How did the people react after the explorers gave further details?
But you were not willing to go up, rebelling against the command of the Lord your God. You grumbled in your tents and said, ‘The Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites so they would destroy us, because He hated us. Where can we go? Our brothers have discouraged us, saying: The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, fortified to the heavens. We also saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’ (Deuteronomy 1:26-28 HCSB)
What did Moses tell the Israelites after ten of the explorers discouraged them? Was the real problem trust in God?
Then I told you, ‘Don’t be terrified or afraid of them. The Lord your God is the One who will be going ahead of you. He’ll fight for you just as he did in Egypt before your eyes. In the desert you saw that the Lord carried you like a man carries his son, on every road you traveled until you reached this place.’ But despite this, you didn’t trust in the Lord your God, who walked ahead of you along the way to scout a place for you to pitch camp—by fire at night and cloud by day—to lead you on the way you should go.” (Deuteronomy 1:29-33 ISV)
What did God say about Israel’s lack of faith in Him?
And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers. Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the Lord. (Deuteronomy 1:34-36 KJV)
Was God also angry with Moses? Who would lead Israel instead of Moses?
Yahweh was angry with me also on your account, saying, ‘Not even you shall enter there. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there; strengthen him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it. Moreover, your little ones who you said would become plunder, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.’ (Deuteronomy 1:37-40 LSB)
Did Israel change their minds too late, because God had already made His decision?
“Then you replied to me, ‘We have sinned against the Lord; we ourselves will go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And every man of you strapped on his weapons of war, and you viewed it as easy to go up into the hill country. But the Lord said to me, ‘Say to them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; otherwise you will be defeated by your enemies.”’ (Deuteronomy 1:41-42 NASB)
Did Moses try to prevent them from disobeying God?
So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. And so you stayed in Kadesh many days—all the time you spent there. (Deuteronomy 1:43-46 NIV)
Do we trust our lives to God and for Him to supply our needs? What did Jesus teach?
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:25-26 NKJV)
What can we learn from Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness? Are we learning to trust God? Are we learning not to make things worse when God disciplines us? You decide!
What history did Moses recount before Israel crossed the Jordan into Canaan?
These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him as commandments to them, after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei. (Deuteronomy 1:1-4 NKJV)
What were the Lord’s instructions regarding the land?
While the Israelites were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River, Moses carefully explained the Lord’s instructions as follows. “When we were at Mount Sinai, 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. Look, 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 1:5-8 NLT)
What had Moses told Israel about delegating the burden of leadership?
I spoke to you at that time, saying, “I am not able to bear you myself alone. Yahweh your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the sky for multitude. Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you! How can I myself alone bear your problems, your burdens, and your strife? Take wise men of understanding who are respected among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.” (Deuteronomy 1:9-13 WEB)
How did Israel respond to Moses delegating leadership?
You answered me: “What you have proposed is a good idea.” So I took leading individuals from your tribes, people who were wise and well-regarded, and I set them up as your leaders. There were commanders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, as well as officials for each of your tribes. At that same time, I commanded your judges: Listen to your fellow tribe members and judge fairly, whether the dispute is between one fellow tribe member or between a tribe member and an immigrant. Don’t show favoritism in a decision. Hear both sides out, whether the person is important or not. Don’t be afraid of anyone because the ruling belongs to God. Any dispute that is too difficult for you to decide, bring to me and I will take care of it. (Deuteronomy 1:14-17 CEB)
What did Moses do after instructing the judges?
After I gave these instructions to the judges, I taught you the Lord's commands. The Lord had commanded us to leave Mount Sinai and go to the hill country that belonged to the Amorites, so we started out into the huge desert. You remember how frightening it was, but soon we were at Kadesh-Barnea, and I told you, “We have reached the hill country. It belongs to the Amorites now, but the Lord our God is giving it to us. He is the same God our ancestors worshiped, and he has told us to go in and take this land, so don't hesitate and be afraid.” (Deuteronomy 1:18-21 CEV)
How did Moses choose the twelve explorers of the land?
Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’ The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe. And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out. And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, ‘It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.’ (Deuteronomy 1:22-25 ESV)
How did the people react after the explorers gave further details?
But you were not willing to go up, rebelling against the command of the Lord your God. You grumbled in your tents and said, ‘The Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites so they would destroy us, because He hated us. Where can we go? Our brothers have discouraged us, saying: The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, fortified to the heavens. We also saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’ (Deuteronomy 1:26-28 HCSB)
What did Moses tell the Israelites after ten of the explorers discouraged them? Was the real problem trust in God?
Then I told you, ‘Don’t be terrified or afraid of them. The Lord your God is the One who will be going ahead of you. He’ll fight for you just as he did in Egypt before your eyes. In the desert you saw that the Lord carried you like a man carries his son, on every road you traveled until you reached this place.’ But despite this, you didn’t trust in the Lord your God, who walked ahead of you along the way to scout a place for you to pitch camp—by fire at night and cloud by day—to lead you on the way you should go.” (Deuteronomy 1:29-33 ISV)
What did God say about Israel’s lack of faith in Him?
And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers. Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the Lord. (Deuteronomy 1:34-36 KJV)
Was God also angry with Moses? Who would lead Israel instead of Moses?
Yahweh was angry with me also on your account, saying, ‘Not even you shall enter there. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there; strengthen him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it. Moreover, your little ones who you said would become plunder, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.’ (Deuteronomy 1:37-40 LSB)
Did Israel change their minds too late, because God had already made His decision?
“Then you replied to me, ‘We have sinned against the Lord; we ourselves will go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And every man of you strapped on his weapons of war, and you viewed it as easy to go up into the hill country. But the Lord said to me, ‘Say to them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; otherwise you will be defeated by your enemies.”’ (Deuteronomy 1:41-42 NASB)
Did Moses try to prevent them from disobeying God?
So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. And so you stayed in Kadesh many days—all the time you spent there. (Deuteronomy 1:43-46 NIV)
Do we trust our lives to God and for Him to supply our needs? What did Jesus teach?
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:25-26 NKJV)
What can we learn from Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness? Are we learning to trust God? Are we learning not to make things worse when God disciplines us? You decide!
The Narrow Way (Luke 13)
Do we blame the suffering for their plight? Does repentance happen without fruit? Is relieving human suffering more important than the letter of the law? Is the way narrow? Is Jerusalem known for killing the prophets? Let’s look at Luke 13.
Do we blame the suffering for their plight or must we all come to repentance?
Now at that same time there were some present who were reporting to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered these things? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 LSB)
Is repentance just a change of heart without fruit?
And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9 NASB)
Was a synagogue leader indignant that Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath?
On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” (Luke 13:10-14 NIV)
Did Jesus answer this accusation softly or bluntly?
The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. (Luke 13:15-17 NKJV)
Several plants are called mustard, but black mustard can grow very large. Would God’s kingdom always remain small and exclusive?
Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19 NLT)
Would God’s kingdom be like leaven in three separate loaves?
Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom? It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” (Luke 13:20-21 WEB)
When the kingdom comes in its fullness, will many be told I don’t know you?
Jesus traveled through cities and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” Jesus said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and won’t be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from.’ (Luke 13:22-25 CEB)
What will they say and how will Jesus answer them?
Then you will start saying, “We dined with you, and you taught in our streets.” But he will say, “I really don't know who you are! Get away from me, you evil people!” Then when you have been thrown outside, you will weep and grit your teeth because you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom. People will come from all directions and sit down to feast in God's kingdom. There the ones who are now least important will be the most important, and those who are now most important will be least important. (Luke 13:26-30 CEV)
What did Jesus call Herod? Would Jesus have to die in Jerusalem?
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ (Luke 13:31-33 ESV)
What did Jesus lament over Jerusalem and her attitude?
Jerusalem, Jerusalem! She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is abandoned to you. And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One’! (Luke 13:34-35 HCSB)
How does Matthew further describe that narrow way?
Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it. How narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and there aren’t many people who find it! (Matthew 7:13-14 ISV)
Do we blame the suffering for their plight? Does repentance happen without fruit? Is relieving human suffering more important than the letter of the law? Is the way narrow? Is Jerusalem known for killing the prophets? You decide!
Do we blame the suffering for their plight or must we all come to repentance?
Now at that same time there were some present who were reporting to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered these things? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 LSB)
Is repentance just a change of heart without fruit?
And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9 NASB)
Was a synagogue leader indignant that Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath?
On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” (Luke 13:10-14 NIV)
Did Jesus answer this accusation softly or bluntly?
The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. (Luke 13:15-17 NKJV)
Several plants are called mustard, but black mustard can grow very large. Would God’s kingdom always remain small and exclusive?
Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19 NLT)
Would God’s kingdom be like leaven in three separate loaves?
Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom? It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” (Luke 13:20-21 WEB)
When the kingdom comes in its fullness, will many be told I don’t know you?
Jesus traveled through cities and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” Jesus said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and won’t be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from.’ (Luke 13:22-25 CEB)
What will they say and how will Jesus answer them?
Then you will start saying, “We dined with you, and you taught in our streets.” But he will say, “I really don't know who you are! Get away from me, you evil people!” Then when you have been thrown outside, you will weep and grit your teeth because you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom. People will come from all directions and sit down to feast in God's kingdom. There the ones who are now least important will be the most important, and those who are now most important will be least important. (Luke 13:26-30 CEV)
What did Jesus call Herod? Would Jesus have to die in Jerusalem?
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ (Luke 13:31-33 ESV)
What did Jesus lament over Jerusalem and her attitude?
Jerusalem, Jerusalem! She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is abandoned to you. And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One’! (Luke 13:34-35 HCSB)
How does Matthew further describe that narrow way?
Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it. How narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and there aren’t many people who find it! (Matthew 7:13-14 ISV)
Do we blame the suffering for their plight? Does repentance happen without fruit? Is relieving human suffering more important than the letter of the law? Is the way narrow? Is Jerusalem known for killing the prophets? You decide!
Zelophehad's Daughters (Numbers 36)
Concluding Numbers with Zelophehad’s daughters, highlights the equality and independence guaranteed in Israel’s land grants. Greedy oligarchs, predatory Communist party bosses and selfish billionaires do not exhibit God’s way. Are we narcissistic takers or selfless givers? Let’s look at Numbers 36.
What dilemma did Zelophehad’s five daughters face if they married outside their tribe?
The leaders of the households of the clans of Gilead, Machir’s son and Manasseh’s grandson, of Joseph’s clans, approached and spoke before Moses and the chiefs, who were the leaders of the Israelite households. They said, “The Lord commanded my master to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelites. But my master was also commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. If they are married to someone from another Israelite tribe, their inheritance will be taken away from our household and given to another tribe into which they marry. Then it will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance. At the Israelite Jubilee, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they married. Then their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of our ancestral tribe.” (Numbers 36:1-4 CEB)
Did Moses enquire of an answer from God or just make an “executive” decision? Could tribal land pass to another tribe?
So Moses told the people that the Lord had said: These men from the Manasseh tribe are right. I will allow Zelophehad's daughters to marry anyone, as long as those men belong to one of the clans of the Manasseh tribe. Tribal land must not be given to another tribe—it will remain the property of the tribe that received it. In the future, any daughter who inherits land must marry someone from her own tribe. Israel's tribal land is never to be passed from one tribe to another. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah the daughters of Zelophehad obeyed the Lord and married their uncles' sons and remained part of the Manasseh tribe. So their land stayed in their father's clan. (Numbers 36:5-12 CEV)
Where did the commandments contained in the book of Numbers come from?
These are the commandments and the rules that the Lord commanded through Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. (Numbers 36:13 ESV)
In a world without such beneficial laws, are we greedy and selfish or the exact opposite?
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.’ (Matthew 25:31–46 HCSB)
What will Jesus say on judgment day to those who refused to help the needy?
Then he will say to them, ‘I tell all of you with certainty, since you didn’t do it for one of the least important of these, you didn’t do it for me.’ These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life. (Matthew 25:45-46 ISV)
Concluding Numbers with Zelophehad’s daughters, highlights the equality and independence guaranteed in Israel’s land grants. Greedy oligarchs, predatory Communist party bosses and selfish billionaires do not exhibit God’s way. Are we narcissistic takers or selfless givers? You decide!
What dilemma did Zelophehad’s five daughters face if they married outside their tribe?
The leaders of the households of the clans of Gilead, Machir’s son and Manasseh’s grandson, of Joseph’s clans, approached and spoke before Moses and the chiefs, who were the leaders of the Israelite households. They said, “The Lord commanded my master to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelites. But my master was also commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. If they are married to someone from another Israelite tribe, their inheritance will be taken away from our household and given to another tribe into which they marry. Then it will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance. At the Israelite Jubilee, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they married. Then their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of our ancestral tribe.” (Numbers 36:1-4 CEB)
Did Moses enquire of an answer from God or just make an “executive” decision? Could tribal land pass to another tribe?
So Moses told the people that the Lord had said: These men from the Manasseh tribe are right. I will allow Zelophehad's daughters to marry anyone, as long as those men belong to one of the clans of the Manasseh tribe. Tribal land must not be given to another tribe—it will remain the property of the tribe that received it. In the future, any daughter who inherits land must marry someone from her own tribe. Israel's tribal land is never to be passed from one tribe to another. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah the daughters of Zelophehad obeyed the Lord and married their uncles' sons and remained part of the Manasseh tribe. So their land stayed in their father's clan. (Numbers 36:5-12 CEV)
Where did the commandments contained in the book of Numbers come from?
These are the commandments and the rules that the Lord commanded through Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. (Numbers 36:13 ESV)
In a world without such beneficial laws, are we greedy and selfish or the exact opposite?
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.’ (Matthew 25:31–46 HCSB)
What will Jesus say on judgment day to those who refused to help the needy?
Then he will say to them, ‘I tell all of you with certainty, since you didn’t do it for one of the least important of these, you didn’t do it for me.’ These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life. (Matthew 25:45-46 ISV)
Concluding Numbers with Zelophehad’s daughters, highlights the equality and independence guaranteed in Israel’s land grants. Greedy oligarchs, predatory Communist party bosses and selfish billionaires do not exhibit God’s way. Are we narcissistic takers or selfless givers? You decide!
Manslaughter & Murder (Numbers 35)
How were manslaughter and murder handled under the old covenant? Where was custody until a case was decided? How should we act towards our enemies? Let’s look at Numbers 35.
How were the Levitical cities to be appointed among the tribes of Israel?
The Lord told Moses in the wilderness of Moab, beside the Jordan River near Jericho, “Instruct the Israelis to set aside a portion of their inheritance for the descendants of Levi to live in, along with grazing land surrounding their towns. The towns are to be reserved for their dwelling places and the grazing lands are to be reserved for their cattle, livestock, and all their animals. The grazing lands that you are to reserve for use by the descendants of Levi are to extend 1,000 cubits from the walls of the town. You are to measure from outside the wall of the town on the east side 2,000 cubits, on the south side 2,000 cubits, on the west side 2,000 cubits, and on the north side 2,000 cubits, with the town placed at the center. This reserved area is to serve as grazing land for their towns. (Numbers 35:1-5 ISV)
How many Levitical cities were to be appointed as cities of refuge?
And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth. (Numbers 35:6-8 KJV)
What was to be the purpose of these cities of refuge? Was it like protective custody until a trial date?
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has struck down any person unintentionally may flee there. And the cities shall be for you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. And the cities which you are to give shall be your six cities of refuge. You shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge. These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel and for the sojourner and for the foreign resident among them; that anyone who strikes a person down unintentionally may flee there. (Number 35:9-15 LSB)
When was a person not deemed qualified for a city of refuge? Who carried out the death penalty in those days?
But if he struck him with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. And if he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he himself shall put him to death when he meets him. Now if he pushed him in hatred, or he threw something at him with malicious intent, and as a result he died, or if he struck him with his hand with hostility, and as a result he died, the one who struck him must be put to death; he is a murderer. The blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him. (Number 35:16-21 NASB)
What of a death by accident where no harm was intended?
But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. (Numbers 35:22-25 NIV)
What if the man who caused the death does not stay within protective custody of the city of refuge?
But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled, and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood, because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. (Numbers 35:26-28 NKJV)
How did God summarize the necessity of the death penalty for murder?
These are legal requirements for you to observe from generation to generation, wherever you may live. All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death. And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest. This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.” (Numbers 35:29-34 NLT)
How should we act towards those who have wronged us?
Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” (Romans 12:19-20 WEB Deuteronomy 32:35; Proverbs 25:21-22)
How were manslaughter and murder handled under the old covenant? Where was custody until a case was decided? How should we act towards our enemies? You decide!
How were the Levitical cities to be appointed among the tribes of Israel?
The Lord told Moses in the wilderness of Moab, beside the Jordan River near Jericho, “Instruct the Israelis to set aside a portion of their inheritance for the descendants of Levi to live in, along with grazing land surrounding their towns. The towns are to be reserved for their dwelling places and the grazing lands are to be reserved for their cattle, livestock, and all their animals. The grazing lands that you are to reserve for use by the descendants of Levi are to extend 1,000 cubits from the walls of the town. You are to measure from outside the wall of the town on the east side 2,000 cubits, on the south side 2,000 cubits, on the west side 2,000 cubits, and on the north side 2,000 cubits, with the town placed at the center. This reserved area is to serve as grazing land for their towns. (Numbers 35:1-5 ISV)
How many Levitical cities were to be appointed as cities of refuge?
And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth. (Numbers 35:6-8 KJV)
What was to be the purpose of these cities of refuge? Was it like protective custody until a trial date?
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has struck down any person unintentionally may flee there. And the cities shall be for you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. And the cities which you are to give shall be your six cities of refuge. You shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge. These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel and for the sojourner and for the foreign resident among them; that anyone who strikes a person down unintentionally may flee there. (Number 35:9-15 LSB)
When was a person not deemed qualified for a city of refuge? Who carried out the death penalty in those days?
But if he struck him with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. And if he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he himself shall put him to death when he meets him. Now if he pushed him in hatred, or he threw something at him with malicious intent, and as a result he died, or if he struck him with his hand with hostility, and as a result he died, the one who struck him must be put to death; he is a murderer. The blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him. (Number 35:16-21 NASB)
What of a death by accident where no harm was intended?
But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. (Numbers 35:22-25 NIV)
What if the man who caused the death does not stay within protective custody of the city of refuge?
But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled, and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood, because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. (Numbers 35:26-28 NKJV)
How did God summarize the necessity of the death penalty for murder?
These are legal requirements for you to observe from generation to generation, wherever you may live. All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death. And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest. This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.” (Numbers 35:29-34 NLT)
How should we act towards those who have wronged us?
Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” (Romans 12:19-20 WEB Deuteronomy 32:35; Proverbs 25:21-22)
How were manslaughter and murder handled under the old covenant? Where was custody until a case was decided? How should we act towards our enemies? You decide!
Israel's Inheritance (Numbers 34)
Was the promised land divided by lot among the remaining nine and a half tribes? Was there a committee member from each tribe? How will our inheritance in eternity be decided differently? Let’s begin in Numbers 34.
What were the southern and western borders of Israel’s land?
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries. Your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom; then your southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea; your border shall turn from the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and be on the south of Kadesh Barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar Addar, and continue to Azmon; the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the Sea. As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border.’ (Numbers 34:1-6 NKJV)
What were the northern and eastern borders of Israel’s land?
Your northern boundary will begin at the Mediterranean Sea and run east to Mount Hor, then to Lebo-hamath, and on through Zedad and Ziphron to Hazar-enan. This will be your northern boundary. The eastern boundary will start at Hazar-enan and run south to Shepham, then down to Riblah on the east side of Ain. From there the boundary will run down along the eastern edge of the Sea of Galilee, and then along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. These are the boundaries of your land. (Numbers 34:7-12 NLT)
To which tribes was the land inside these boundaries allotted?
Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, “This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which Yahweh has commanded to give to the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe; for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers’ houses, the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers’ houses, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise.” (Numbers 34:13-15 WEB)
Who were the committee members designated by God to assign the land?
The Lord spoke to Moses: These are the names of the men who will assign the inheritance of the land: Eleazar the priest and Joshua, Nun’s son. You will also take one chief from each tribe to apportion the land. These are the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb, Jephunneh’s son; from the tribe of the Simeonites, Shemuel, Ammihud’s son; from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad, Chislon’s son; from the tribe of the Danites, a chief, Bukki, Jogli’s son; from Joseph’s descendants: of the tribe of the Manassites, a chief, Hanniel, Ephod’s son; and from the tribe of the Ephraimites, a chief, Kemuel, Shiphtan’s son; from the tribe of the Zebulunites, a chief, Elizaphan, Parnach’s son; from the tribe of the Issacharites, a chief, Paltiel, Azzan’s son; from the tribe of the Asherites, a chief, Ahihud, Shelomi’s son; from the tribe of the Naphtalites, a chief, Pedahel, Ammihud’s son. These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to assign the inheritance of the Israelites in the land of Canaan. (Numbers 34:16-29 CEB)
Is our inheritance in eternity based upon different criteria, not numbers, but according to our good works of faithfulness?
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:21, 23 ESV)
What of those who did no good works, who chose the lie that they only needed to believe like the demons, but did nothing with their faith?
And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30 HCSB)
Was the promised land divided by lot among the remaining nine and a half tribes? Was there a committee member from each tribe? How will our inheritance in eternity be decided differently? You decide!
What were the southern and western borders of Israel’s land?
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries. Your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom; then your southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea; your border shall turn from the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and be on the south of Kadesh Barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar Addar, and continue to Azmon; the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the Sea. As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border.’ (Numbers 34:1-6 NKJV)
What were the northern and eastern borders of Israel’s land?
Your northern boundary will begin at the Mediterranean Sea and run east to Mount Hor, then to Lebo-hamath, and on through Zedad and Ziphron to Hazar-enan. This will be your northern boundary. The eastern boundary will start at Hazar-enan and run south to Shepham, then down to Riblah on the east side of Ain. From there the boundary will run down along the eastern edge of the Sea of Galilee, and then along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. These are the boundaries of your land. (Numbers 34:7-12 NLT)
To which tribes was the land inside these boundaries allotted?
Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, “This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which Yahweh has commanded to give to the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe; for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers’ houses, the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers’ houses, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise.” (Numbers 34:13-15 WEB)
Who were the committee members designated by God to assign the land?
The Lord spoke to Moses: These are the names of the men who will assign the inheritance of the land: Eleazar the priest and Joshua, Nun’s son. You will also take one chief from each tribe to apportion the land. These are the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb, Jephunneh’s son; from the tribe of the Simeonites, Shemuel, Ammihud’s son; from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad, Chislon’s son; from the tribe of the Danites, a chief, Bukki, Jogli’s son; from Joseph’s descendants: of the tribe of the Manassites, a chief, Hanniel, Ephod’s son; and from the tribe of the Ephraimites, a chief, Kemuel, Shiphtan’s son; from the tribe of the Zebulunites, a chief, Elizaphan, Parnach’s son; from the tribe of the Issacharites, a chief, Paltiel, Azzan’s son; from the tribe of the Asherites, a chief, Ahihud, Shelomi’s son; from the tribe of the Naphtalites, a chief, Pedahel, Ammihud’s son. These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to assign the inheritance of the Israelites in the land of Canaan. (Numbers 34:16-29 CEB)
Is our inheritance in eternity based upon different criteria, not numbers, but according to our good works of faithfulness?
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:21, 23 ESV)
What of those who did no good works, who chose the lie that they only needed to believe like the demons, but did nothing with their faith?
And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30 HCSB)
Was the promised land divided by lot among the remaining nine and a half tribes? Was there a committee member from each tribe? How will our inheritance in eternity be decided differently? You decide!
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