1:1-46 - With the
exception of Caleb and Joshua, the older generation – including Moses –
was not to enter the land (34-38). For the new generation, there was a
challenge. There must be no more failures. One wasted generation was
enough. This was the time for real commitment to the Lord. He loved
them – He had ‘set the land before’ them. They were to rise up in faith
and ‘ take possession of the land’ (8). We are called to go on with
the Lord. ‘You have stayed long enough’ at a low level of Christian
living. God is calling us on to maturity: ‘go in and take possession of
the land; (6,8; Philippians 3:13-14). Do not hesitate to move forward
with God: ‘do not fear… It is a good land which the Lord gives us’
(21,25). Will we be the new generation, ‘a new creation in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) ?
2:1-37
- During their wilderness years, God’s people had many problems. God
is greater than all the problems! Israel’s journey began in the land
of ‘bondage’ (Exodus 2:23-25). From there, He led them to the land of
promise, ‘the land which the Lord our God gives to us’ (29). This is
‘amazing grace’: ‘Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have
already come; ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will
lead me home’ (Mission Praise, 31). In the giving and taking of the land, we see both grace and faith:
‘I have begun to give… this land over to you; begin to take
possession…’ (31). We are not saved by grace apart from faith. We are
‘saved by grace through faith’. We are not saved by faith without
grace. We are ‘saved by grace through faith’. Saved by the Lord, let
us press on to a life of ‘good works’ (Ephesians 2:8-10).
3:1-29
- The promised land was near. For Moses, it was ‘so near and yet so
far’. He was excluded. Together with the sadness of Moses’
exclusion, there was the joy of the people’s entrance (27-28). When we
consider Moses’ sadness and the people’s joy, we must remember this: Nobody
deserved to go into the land! The land was God’s gift. Without His
strength, the people of Israel would fail. With Him, they would be
victorious: ‘You shall not fear them; for it is the Lord your God who
fights for you’ (22). There is here a basic principle of Christian
living: ‘not by might , nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of
hosts’ (Zechariah 4:6). ‘In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land. The
battle belongs to the Lord. No weapon that’s fashioned against us will
stand. The battle belongs to the Lord’ (Mission Praise, 639).4:1-43 - The people of Israel were involved in the work of the Lord. The work was based on God – not Moses. Moses would not be in the promised land. God would be there. Moses would ‘not go over the Jordan’. As God’s man. he was to prepare the people for their task: ‘you shall go over and take possession of that good land’ (22). Privilege involves responsibility. Israel was a privileged people, redeemed by the Lord, delivered from bondage ‘by a mighty hand and outstretched arm’ (34). Israel was a responsible people, called to obey the Lord: ‘Obey His laws and commands’ (40). The Lord our God is ‘a merciful God’ (31). He has saved us. We are to serve Him. Let Him reign in your heart. Let there be ‘no other besides Him’ (35). Flee to Christ for refuge (42-43), and live each day with ‘the attitude of gratitude’.
4:44-5:33
- Obedience is grounded in salvation. The Ten Commandments (7-21) are
preceded by the divine declaration: ‘I am the Lord your God’ who
brought you… out of the house of bondage’ (6). He has redeemed us. We
are to live for Him. The Word of God was spoken to Moses before it was spoken by
him (27). We cannot begin to live for the Lord until we begin to
listen to Him. The way of obedience is the way of blessing. Our
obedience is to be offered in a spirit of gratitude to God for His
gracious salvation. Never imagine it is because of our obedience that
God loves us. His love for us is always prior to our love for Him.
Remember what the Lord has done for you, and your love for Him will grow
stronger. Forget, and you love will grow weaker. Loved by God, let us
love Him – more!
6:1-25
- ‘Hear’ and ‘do’ (1-3; James 1:22-25). In our obedience to God,
there is to be the fear of the Lord and love for the Lord (2,5). Fear
and love: the two belong together. God is holy – fear Him. God is love
– love Him. This is for every generation: ‘you and your son and your
son’s son’(2). ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart’ (5). Teach
the children well so that the blessing of God may be ‘prolonged’ among
us (7,2). Our promised land – heaven (John 14:1-3) – is far better than
Israel’s promised land. Through faith in Christ, we have received
‘eternal life’ (John 5:24; 6:40). Never take the Lord’s blessing for
granted. Always remember to thank Him for all that He has done for you
(10-12). Teach the children what the Lord has done for them (20-23).
Then, and only then, tell them what they must ‘do’ for Him (24-25).
7:1-26
- Enter, Destroy, Possess (1-2). Don’t try to jump straight from
entering to possessing. Don’t forget to destroy. We enter the
Christian life through faith in Christ. We will not ‘take possession
of’ a fuller enjoyment of His salvation if we refuse to ‘destroy’ the
obstacles to His blessing in our lives. Sin is like a ‘cancer’. It
will ‘kill’ us if we let it (Romans 6:23). This is why we must fight it
– with ‘the whole armour of God’ (Ephesians 6:10-17). From beginning
to end, our salvation is the work of God: ‘…it is because the Lord
loves you… that He has… redeemed you…’ (6-8). The Lord’s love speaks of
His keeping power. He will complete the work He has begun (17-19;
Philippians 1:6). Saved and kept by the power of God, we travel from
Christ’s Cross to our Crown (Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24-25; 5:4).
8:1-9:21 -
The ‘wilderness’ was a place of ‘testing’. God was ‘disciplining’ His
people. He was teaching them to ‘walk in His ways’ (2,5-6). In the
‘wilderness’, we must remember this: ‘man does not live by bread alone…
man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord’
(3). Everything that
proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord – His warnings as well as His
promises! He speaks to us in warnings: ‘Take heed lest you forget the
Lord your God…’ (11). He speaks to us in promises: ‘the Lord your God
is bringing you into a good land’ (7). ‘God forbid that I should
glory…’ (8:17-18; 9:4-6; Galatians 6:14). God gave Israel the land. He
gives us ‘the Kingdom’ (Luke 12:32). As earthly kingdoms rise and
fall, ‘the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom which shall never be
destroyed’ (Daniel 2:44).
9:22-10:22
- ‘We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of
the Word’ (Acts 6:4). Moses was an intercessor (25-29). The ministry
of the Word needs to be grounded in prayer. Prayerfully seeking the
Lord’s help, we are to place His Word at the centre of the life of His
people (5). God shows His mercy by providing His servants to carry His
Word in a ministry of blessing to the people, a ministry which helps the
people to ‘go in and possess the land’ (8,10-11). In gratitude to God,
our Creator-Redeemer, we are to give ourselves to Him in obedience
(12-15). Let your heart and life be changed by the Lord, never
forgetting this: ‘He is your praise; He is your God, who has done for
you… great… things’ (16-21). ‘God… gives the growth’ (22; Corinthians 3:7). Read Psalm 126:6 and pray!
11:1-32
- God is at work among His people, teaching them many lessons.
Through His precious promises and strong warnings, He leads us in the
way of obedience and blessing (31-32). If we are to enjoy the Lord’s
blessing, we need the whole Word of God – the warnings as well as the
promises. Obedience to God – This is the most important thing in the
life of faith. Obedience demonstrates the reality of faith. By our
obedience, we show our ‘love’ for the Lord. We rejoice in ‘all the
great work of the Lord’. By ‘His mighty hand’, He has provided for us a
great salvation. Our enjoyment of His salvation increases as we live
in obedience to Him (8-15). Without obedience, there can be no blessing
(16-17). Teach others to obey God – especially the ‘children’
(18-21). God is good. He loves us (22-25). Obey Him. Choose blessing
(26-28).
12:1-32
- In our hearts, nothing else must compete with the Lord. There is no
room for idolatry. ‘Destroy’ everything that threatens to take the
place of God in your life. (2-3). We are not to ‘do what is right in
our own eyes’. We are to worship as the Lord ‘chooses’ (5,8,13-14).
Remove every distraction. Get rid of those things which keep you from
crowning Christ as Lord of your life. When you are tempted to put other
things before the Lord, ‘be careful not to be ensnared’ in the ways of
the world (29-31). When we are tempted, we must take our stand on God’s
Word. ‘Everything’ He has given to us – This means more than our
favourite passages! Don’t ‘add to it’, making ‘the traditions of men’
more important than the Word of God. Don’t ‘take from it’, ignoring the
parts you don’t like (32; Mark 7:8; Acts 20:27).
13:1-14:21
- Obedience to God involves an uncompromising attitude toward those
who would lead people away from God. Those who say ‘Let us go and serve
other gods’ (13:2,6,13) must not be permitted to exert their evil
influence on God’s people. God says, ‘You must not listen to them
(13:3,8). Temptations to ‘idolatry’ can come under the guise of
‘spirituality’ – ‘a prophet… a dreamer of dreams… a sign or a wonder’
(13:1; 1 John 4:1). ‘Idolatry’ can come from within one’s own family.
The Lord must come first (13:6-11; Luke 14:26). God’s judgment is upon
‘idolaters’ so that others may see their folly, turn from ‘idolatry’ and
receive God’s mercy (13:12-18). Remember God’s purpose of love (John
3:17). In our worship and in the whole of life, we are to be ‘a people
holy to the Lord our God’ (14:2,21).
14:22-15:23
- ‘Tithing’ (Giving the tenth to God) emerges out of holiness: ‘You
are a people holy to the Lord your God… You shall tithe’ (14:21-22). It
is more than giving things to God. It is giving ourselves to Him. It
also involves caring for others (7-11; Isaiah 58:6-7). We have been
‘earmarked’ as servants of the Lord (17). Being ‘earmarked’ for God
involves listening to God (Isaiah 55:2-3). Bring ‘the firstling’ to God
(19). ‘We are here to bring You the best that we can bring. And it is
our love rising from our hearts’ (Mission Praise, 717). ‘Just as I am… to be the best that I can be for truth, and righteousness, and Thee, Lord of my life, I come’ (Church Hymnary, 448). No second bests – Only the best will do for God.
16:1-17:13
- Blessed by God, the people of Israel had much to celebrate. They had
been brought out of the land of bondage. They were about to enter the
land of promise. The keeping of the feasts (16:1-17) was a response to
God’s love, a way of celebrating His love. Why did God bring Israel to
the promised land? It was because He ‘loved them’ (Psalm 44:3). The
Passover was a continuing reminder of God’s mighty work of redemption.
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of what God has done for us in Christ.
In remembering His dying love for us, we remember what we were without
Him and we give thanks for all that He has done for us. As well as ‘joy’
(45), there is to be justice (16:18-17:13; Micah 6:8). Note the effect
of justice: ‘And all the people shall hear, and fear, and not act
presumptuously again’ (17:13).
17:14-18:22 -
Even the king is subject to God’s ‘law’. His supreme responsibility is
this: Pay careful attention to God’s Word (17:18-20). Politically, he
may be in an elevated position – a ‘king over’ others (17:14-15).
Spiritually, he must not allow ‘his heart’ to be ‘lifted up above his
brethren’ (17:20). There must be humble obedience to God’s Word. Priests
speak to God for us. Prophets speak to us for God. We need both –
‘prayer and the ministry of the Word’ (Acts 6:4). In our worship, we
must keep the Lord at the very centre. Anything or anyone who distracts
our attention from the Lord is no help to true worship (9-14). ‘A
prophet like Moses’ (18:15): Jesus is the ultimate prophet – to see and
hear Him is to see and hear God (John 5:19; 12:49; 14:9). He preaches
God’s Word. He is ‘the Word of God’ (John 1:1).
19:1-20:9
- Justice is concerned with (a) the protection of the innocent –
‘innocent blood will not be shed in your land’ (10); (b) the punishment
of the guilty – ‘you must purge the evil from among you’ (19). Through
justice, God is to be glorified among His people. We are to fight for
the Lord without fear, confident of His glorious presence (20:1-4). In
the service of the Lord, we must not be ‘fearful and fainthearted’
(20:8). We are to be ‘good soldiers of Jesus Christ’ (2 Timothy 2:3). We
need to give careful attention to the Word of God: ‘When you draw near
to the battle, the priest will come forward and speak to the people, and
say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel…’ (20:2-3). God’s Word is not concerned
only with ‘Church work’. It sends us ‘back to our house’ – ‘dedicated’
to the Lord (20:5-9).
20:10-21:23
- The offer of ‘peace’ is made (20:10; Romans 5:1). Some refuse to
‘make peace’. They choose to ‘make war’ (20:12). When the enemies of
Christ and the Gospel are raging, we must be resolute in our commitment
to living ‘as the Lord our God has commanded’ (20:16-18). We are to ‘do
what is right in the sight of the Lord’. This will involve ‘going forth
to war against our enemies’. It will involve ‘purging the evil from our
midst’ (21:9-10,21; Ephesians 6:10-13; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Hebrews
12:1-2,11). Our life of holiness is grounded in the death of Christ who,
on the Cross, was ‘accursed by God’ so that we might be saved by God
(21:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24). Through faith
in Him, we have been declared holy (Romans 5:1,3-5,9-10).
22:1-30 -
Care for ‘your brother’ (1-4). Our caring is not to be selective – ‘If
the brother does not live near you or if you do not know who he is’
(2). When Jesus says, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Luke 10:27), He
means much more than loving the people who live near us, the people
that we know. The ‘Samaritan’ didn’t know ‘the man who fell into the
hands of robbers’ (Luke 10:30,33). ‘Jews did not associate with
Samaritans’ (John 4:9). Jesus says, ‘Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44).
Love your enemies with the love of the Lord – ‘when we were God’s
enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son’ (Romans
5:8,10). Don’t love the ways of those who ‘live as enemies of the Cross
of Christ’ (Philippians 3:18). ‘Purge the evil from the midst of you’
(21-22,24).
23:1-25
- God sees us as we really are. He ‘looks on the heart’ as well as
‘the outward appearance’. We must live to please Him, praying, ‘Search
me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if
there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’ (14;
1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 139: 23-24). God calls us to be holy: ‘you shall
keep yourself from every evil thing’ (9). This ‘holiness’ is not to be a
proud, arrogant thing. It is to be filled with compassionate caring.
Don’t write anyone off, saying, ‘They’re not our kind of people’ (7).
Don’t be out for all you can get for yourself without any thought of how
your actions affect other people (24-25). Let your holiness be real.
Don’t say one thing and do another. Don’t pretend to be more ‘holy’ than
you really are. Choose to be holy – every day (21-23).
24:1-25:29
- Justice for the vulnerable is grounded in God’s redemption
(24:17-18). This is an important principle for us. God loves us. He has
done great things for us. He cares. We are to care. Let His love be the
guiding light in every part of your life. Scripture speaks of both
salvation and judgment. Israel was given ‘the land’ as ‘an inheritance
to possess’. The Amalekites were blotted out (25:19). The Christian life
is a spiritual warfare. When we are ‘faint and weary’, we will be
‘attacked on the way’. If we ‘lag behind’ in our walk with God, those
who ‘do not fear God’ will try to ‘cut us off’ from the Lord and His
people. This is the work of Satan. We must not be ‘ignorant of his
devices’. God is with us in the battle. He is leading us on to our
eternal ‘inheritance’ (25:17-19; 2 Corinthians 2:11).
26:1-27:10
- The people of Israel had a testimony. They had been redeemed by the
God of love. Thankful for His love and salvation, they brought their
offerings to the Lord (26:5-9). The call to obedience is grounded in the
gift of salvation. Redeemed by the Lord, we are called to be ‘a people
holy to the Lord our God’ (26:16-19). There is no privilege without
responsibility. Israel was privileged: God was giving them ‘a land
flowing with milk and honey’. Israel was responsible: God was saying to
them, ‘Keep all the commandments which I command you this day’ (27:1-3).
God blesses us. We obey Him. We enjoy more of His blessing. This leads
us to obey Him more. Break the ‘vicious circle’. Get on to God’s
‘victorious circle’: He shows us His love. We love Him. He shows us more
of His love. We love Him more… (John 14:21).
27:11-28:24
- Through His strongly worded warnings, God calls us back from the way
of disobedience (27:15-26;28:15-24). Through His promises of blessing,
He calls us to the way of obedience, the only way to true happiness
(28:1-14). God’s blessing cannot be taken for granted. Where there is
disobedience, there is no blessing. Our ‘enemies’ will triumph over us
(28:25). We need not be defeated. God has shown us His way of blessing.
It is the way of obedience (1-2). We are not blessed because we deserve
to be blessed. We can never earn the Lord’s blessing. The blessing comes
from Him (8). He blesses us because He loves us – not because we are
worthy of His blessing. You can be in ‘the promised land’ without
enjoying the promised blessing. Don’t ‘suffer loss’ – ‘saved, but only
as through fire’ (1 Corinthians 3:15).
28:25-68
- There is nothing inevitable about the chain of events described in
these verses. These are the consequences of disobedience. God is warning
His people: ‘If you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God…’
(28:15). Why does God warn His people of the consequences of
disobedience? He wants them to draw back from the way of disobedience
and follow the pathway of obedience and blessing. These ‘curses’ were
avoidable. They would only happen if Israel persisted in rebelling
against the Lord. We can bring ‘curses’ upon ourselves. Don’t imagine
that God doesn’t care how you live. He does. That is why He calls us
back from the pathway of disobedience. That is why He exhorts us to
choose holiness. Read Hebrews 10:26-31; 12:25-29. Pray for God’s mercy
(Luke 18:13). Ask Him to make you more holy (Hebrews 12:14).
29:1-29
- God has done great things for His people – ‘in the land of Egypt… in
the wilderness’ (2,5). Acknowledging Him to be the Lord their God, they
were to live in obedience to Him (6,9). The way of obedience is the way
of blessing. Moses warns the people that they must not depart from the
way of blessing. Moses warns the people that they must not depart from
the way of obedience (16-28). Turning away from the Lord leads to
judgment – ‘anger and fury and great wrath’ (24-28). There are ‘secret
things’. There are ‘things that are revealed’. Some ‘things’ we will
never understand. These ‘things belong to the Lord our God’. There are
many ‘things’ we have learned and have firmly believed. ‘The things that
are revealed’ are found in ‘the Holy Scriptures’. Through God’s written
Word, we are brought to ‘salvation’ and we are ‘thoroughly equipped’
for Christian living (29; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).
30:1-31:13
- For Israel, a real turning to the Lord with ‘all the heart and soul’
involved obedience to ‘His commandments… written in this book of the
law’ (30:10). We are not left wondering what God wants us to do – ‘…the
Word is very near you…’(11-14). Through His Word, God ‘sets before’ us a
choice. He calls us to ‘choose life’ (15-20). Joshua was to succeed
Moses (31:1-2,7-8). Conflict lay ahead. God’s people needed His Word of
encouragement: ‘Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in
dread of them’. Beyond the conflict, there would be triumph. God gave
His Word of promise: ‘It is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will
not fail you or forsake you’ (31:6). Turning from the people to Joshua,
Moses spoke the same words (31:7-8). Hear; Learn to fear the Lord; Be
careful to obey His Word (31:12-13).
31:14-32:18
- ‘Write this song, and teach it to the people of Israel’ (19,22).
Moses did not delay his obedience to God. ‘Write… Teach…’: God is
speaking to us about the renewal of our worship. Don’t say, ‘It’s never
been done that way before’ – ‘the seven last words of the church’!
Moses’ song was ‘a witness for God against the people of Israel’ (19).
It can still help us, in this generation, to confess our sin – We ‘have
dealt corruptly with Him’ (5) – and glorify our God – ‘I will proclaim
the Name of the Lord’ (3). Modern music can help us to hear afresh the
ancient message: ‘Ascribe greatness to our God…’ (3-4; Mission Praise, 40). Let us praise God ‘in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs’ (Ephesians 5:18-20).
32:19-33:17
- Here, we have both the warning of judgment and the promise of
salvation. Rebuking ‘a perverse generation’ – ‘They are devious people,
children who can’t be trusted’ – God says, ‘I will hide My face from
them’ (20). When, in our need, we look to Him for mercy, we have His
promise: ‘The Lord will… have compassion on His servants, when He sees
their power is gone’ (36). ‘This is the blessing…’ (1). For each tribe –
Reuben (6), Judah (7), Levi (8-11), Benjamin (12), Joseph (13-17) – ,
there is a different Word from the Lord. Each of us is different. Our
circumstances are different. God knows what we need to hear. He speaks
the Word which is just right for each one. He ‘loves’ every one of us.
We are ‘in His hands’. Let us ‘follow in His steps, receiving direction
from Him’ (3).
33:18-34:12
- ‘The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting
arms’ (27): This is no guarantee of peaceful tranquillity. For Israel,
there was conflict. ‘Saved by the Lord’, Israel had found true
happiness. Still, there were ‘enemies’ to be ‘thrust out’ and ‘trampled
down’ (27,29). Knowing the blessing of God’s salvation is no guarantee
that life will be easy. When the enemies of the Gospel see a believer
intent on glorifying the Lord, they do all they can to create problems.
We have ‘enemies’ in ‘high places’ (29; Ephesians 6:12). Their argument
is not with us. It is with God. If God’s work is to do well, there needs
to be spiritual leadership. Moses had led God’s people in his day.
Joshua was to take his place (9). Moses was important. Joshua was
important. The Lord is more important – ‘If God is for us, who can be
against us?’ (Romans
8:31).
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