A TIME TO REVIEW. Deuteronomy 1 Covenant mediator: Moses, 1:1-5. “These are the words…” Nearly forty years had passed, and Israel was again near the border of the promised land. A new generation had arisen—new adult faces and a new generation of children looked across at the land God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God had told Moses that the time had come for Israel to possess the land forty years earlier, and out of fear, they hesitated to act in faith and obedience. An eleven-day journey had turned into forty years of wandering as a generation of unbelievers died and were buried in wilderness graves. A younger generation had come of age and was being taught to obey God.
Moses not only called the law given forty years earlier but also explained it in light of their history and applied it to their present situation. In his explanation of why the law was given and why it should be obeyed, he pointed out that it went to the very heart of God, who loved His people so much that He showed them how to live effective, holy lives separated from the sinful nations around them.
People need to be taught to obey God. Clear rules are necessary to train children in obedience. Right and wrong must be clearly identified. Such training prepares individuals, and even a nation like Israel, to serve God wholeheartedly. When we understand what is right and know when to act, do we actually do it? That is a test of our devotion to God.
Rebellion and self-will remain ongoing issues among God's people. It is wise to review our past, teach our children and grandchildren what we have learned from our mistakes. Hopefully, they won't repeat all of our errors, although they will likely make their own due to having similar tendencies. The cycle of doubt and fear can lead to failure, affecting many beyond just myself. Having experienced God’s guidance throughout life, it would be foolish to think He would abandon us.
On this journey of life we travel, even our service for God, struggles, discouragement, and pain are part of the training process that God allows us to go through. The purpose of much of this is to prevent us from making choices based on the same assumptions as those who do not know the Lord. Our understanding of God does not happen instantly, nor does it occur all at once. I believe it will never be fully complete, even though it will continue forever. An Infinite God who is Eternal and All-Powerful has permitted us to call Him "Our Father."
We face certain necessities in life that can only be learned under the pressure of potential failure. We don't know what to avoid if we aren't aware of the danger it poses to our spiritual life. That's why God allows circumstances to cross our paths that He knows, and we know, are not good for us. It is for the learning process, not to tempt us. Our true nature becomes clear under pressure. Through these lessons, God prepares us for the service He wants us to perform, and often, our most genuine devotion and worship come after overcoming temptation and the threat of defeat.
Covenant history: Horeb to Hormah, 1:6-2:1 Moses did not review their life in Egypt nor how they initially came to Egypt. The children of Israel went to Egypt as a family but left as a disorganized band of freed slaves. Moses begins his recount of the past forty years by describing how the Israelites were formed into an orderly nation with organized leadership capable of administering justice and making impartial decisions based on God's perfect laws. The book of Deuteronomy mentions “The Lord your God” and “The Lord our God” nearly three hundred times. They were being reminded of who they were and who God was.
We are not freelancing or free to do whatever our wicked hearts desire. For God's people today, the "commandments of the Lord" empower us, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to do God's will. When we obey them with grace and faith, a holy order functions as God intended. Not everyone does the same thing, but when each person fulfills what God has gifted them to do, the body of believers in an assembly functions properly.
As we understand God's mind and will, and as a covenant formed by Him with us begins to function, we become aware of our responsibility to Him and learn how we can fulfill that responsibility. We must learn how to do His will. "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine..." We are not given a roadmap of the events of our lives ahead, and we do not know the nature of the events, whether good or bad, that we will face. But just as a new generation of Israelites had to learn who God is and what He wanted from them, so we learn daily by following Him in faith.
Those who led God's people then were able to make righteous judgments because they were respectful men with wisdom about what was right and understanding of how to do what was right. Those qualities still apply to those who lead God's people today. Some traits may be natural, but most are learned by being willing to obey God and follow divine guidance. A leader's character is not shaped by wealth or family background. Being popular does not qualify someone as a good leader. The character traits necessary for leadership are developed by being careful about what we allow into our minds through our senses and then using our gifts in reverence and respect for the Lord.
At the beginning of the review, Moses attributed the failure of the nation to possess the land to fear and self-will. The twelve spies had not been sent into Canaan to decide whether they should enter the land God promised but rather where they should enter. Ten men shifted their focus from their mission to the obstacles. Fear and skepticism will control a person’s life if they allow them to. Overcoming obstacles through faith will help us conquer great difficulties because God is with us. Victory over obstacles is achieved by faith.
They had not yet learned to trust God and take the risk of obeying, even though they didn't fully understand the process or how God would fulfill His promises. When we let the pressures of difficulties control our actions, we tend to do nothing. Some people are afraid of making mistakes and as a result, have nothing to show for their lives. Faith in God empowers us to take risks without fear and proves to others that we truly believe in Him. The failure of the spies was probably often retold as they watched Caleb and Joshua grow older, yet continue to move forward with strength among them, while the other children of Israel kept burying their dead.
Two men of faith and courage remained positive witnesses to God's faithfulness to those who trust Him. Things that seem like giants to us are no problem for God. Instead of smoothing the way before us, God guides us through difficulties by going ahead of us. He offers promises about the future and grants us victories that are far more meaningful than the failures we experience when we do things our way.
As we reflect on the past and God's dealings with us, we need to remember that "without faith, it is impossible to please [God]." Our young people and others curious about the value of the Christian life need to hear about God's ways with us. Our history holds more significance than we often realize. Don't dwell too much on reviewing failures, though we must be honest about them. Instead, give a clear account of the victories God has granted us and focus attention on Him. "If God be for us, who can be against us."
An attitude of complaining and criticism about our circumstances can prevent us from seeing God’s hand in the situation. God has promised not to leave us or forsake us. Like Paul, we can learn to be content in any situation. Developing a habit of giving thanks in all things allows us to be content whether we have little or much. When we receive daily from God’s fullness through our lives with genuine thankfulness, we realize we have enough.