Seeing my life in the Old Testament

READ Deuteronomy 1–4

Deuteronomy means “second law” and in it Moses retells the teachings and events of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It reviews of the Ten Commandments and includes Moses’ farewell address to a new generation of Israelites as they stand ready to take possession of the Promised Land.

Moses recalls the initial rebellion to entering the land. Eight of the ten spies reported it filled with people “greater and taller than we” and “cities are great and fortified up to heaven.” He points out what God had done by bringing them out of Egypt and to this place, but they did not believe. Only Caleb and Joshua wanted to take the land. At that, God told them all that generation would die and not see it, except those two men and the children of the rest. At that, the people decided to take a risk but the Lord said, “Do not go up or fight, for I am not in your midst, lest you be defeated before your enemies.” They would not listen and were defeated by the Amorites. (Deuteronomy 1)

After staying put for a time, the Lord moved them toward Seir where the people of Esau lived, then to Moab. In both areas, they were told this was not part of their inheritance but these lands were given to Esau and Lot. (Deuteronomy 2) Instead, they were to take the areas where three of their tribes would possess. This they did, learning that God had great power to help them defeat the pagan people and take possession of what He would give them. At that time, Moses commanded Joshua:

“Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. So will the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing. You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.”(Deuteronomy 3:21–22)

Moses also tells of asking God: “Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon” yet says, “But the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me” and saying, “Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again.” (Deuteronomy 3:25–26) For them, a new leader would take his place. However, they would still need to live by God’s commands:

“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1–2)

This would be their “wisdom and understanding” as well as their testimony. Those who saw them would say: “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” because no other nation has a god so near to it as the Lord whenever they call on Him, or has laws so righteous as they had. This made obedience even more important:

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children . . . . And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone . . . . (Deuteronomy 4:6–14)

He also reminded them that they would “seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.” (Deuteronomy 4:29–31)

He pointed out no other god ever attempted a rescue from bondage, but He did it to show them there is no god like Him. They could hear His voice for discipline and drive out their enemies because He loves them. Therefore they must “keep his statutes and his commandments . . .  that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:34–40)

The bottom line is the same for me. Obedience brings blessing even though even obedience is a gift from God that needs His grace so I can do it. God is God and my lot in life is directed by Him. It is foolish to fight God, to try and take matters into my own hands. The OT people of God had to continually learn this and so do I.