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Home » Deuteronomy

Posts that reference the book of Deuteronomy

Into the Wilderness: Wandering

By Paula

Into the wilderness wandering title graphic

And the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone. Numbers 32:13

The dictionary defines a wilderness as uncultivated, uninhabited or undisturbed by human activity. A wilderness is also pathless. Metaphorically it is a bewildering situation.

No doubt many of us have had our own wilderness experiences- or have that to look forward to. As it turns out, Scripture has a lot to say about the wilderness and what happens there. We are most familiar with wandering, and we’ll look at that shortly.

But the wilderness is also a place of transition, restoration, instruction, temptation and communion. Over the next few weeks we’ll take a closer look at what happens when we go into the wilderness.

We know the story of Israel’s rebellion in the desert. God brought to the very edge of the Promised Land but they refused to cross over and take it. Because of that fateful decision, God turned them back to the desert of Sinai for forty years until the entire generation died off.

It is easy to focus on the tragedy of Israel’s disobedience and loss. Yes, it was a time of judgment. Yes, God’s anger was roused against His people. But God was doing so much more.

He sustained them – Nehemiah explains, “Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, They lacked nothing; Their clothes did not wear out And their feet did not swell.” Nehemiah 9:21 The judgment did not fall without a provision for how God was going to take care of His people through it. This was an important reminder for the generation returning from Babylonian captivity, a seventy-year judgment. God sustained His people in the wilderness and He sustained them in Babylon.

We can also take heart. When our rebellion and sin pushes us out of God’s will, He does not abandon us. No, even then He sustains us.

He did miracles – In Deuteronomy 8, Moses recounts how God provided water from a rock and manna. Their crowd of former slaves defeated sizable armies. When the fiery serpents came in another judgment, God granted miraculous relief. There was the cloud and the fire. The Jordan River parted, and on and on. God never ceased working on behalf of His people.

Even when we feel distant from God, He continues to work in mercy and grace all around us.

He proved them – “And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not” (Deuteronomy 8:2). This is not to say that God didn’t already know, but after their time in the wilderness, Israel knew that the big promises they made back in Exodus 19:8 (“All that the LORD has spoken we will do.”) couldn’t be half-hearted lip service. We see this in the New Testament as followers of Jesus walked away when the reality of discipleship became clear.

During our days in the wilderness we learn if we are following God or our version of Him, and what our motivation is.

He restored them – The promises of a land flowing with milk and honey were not forfeited because of Israel’s failures. The realization of those promises was delayed. Israel remained God’s chosen people and He restored them to Himself once His anger had been satisfied.

No matter what, a wilderness experience is never permanent. God is always ready and willing to restore us.

Several of the psalms celebrate God’s care for Israel while they were in the wilderness. It is a testimony to His patience and His grace toward His people. However, we must never presume upon that grace and choose to transgress against Him. Paul breaks down that argument in Romans 6.

Not every wilderness experience is a result of our rebellion. Next week we’ll see how time away is sometimes necessary for a transition to the next thing God has for us.


Want to read more about the Wilderness?
The Wilderness
Hearing the Voice in the Wilderness

Filed Under: Thursday Theology Tagged With: Deuteronomy, Exodus, God's provision, Into the Wilderness series, Nehemiah, Psalms, Romans

Fear

By Paula

fear title graphic

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ Job 28:28

Fear.
The Hebrew is yirah.
But it’s not like I’m afraid of spiders.
It’s like fear of the Lord.
Reverence. Respect. Recognition of His worthiness.

It is the mark of His people. (Deuteronomy 6:24)
It is something we learn, and must teach others. (Deuteronomy 31:12)
It is the fountain of life. (Proverbs 14:27)

It changes how we treat others.
It results in respect for the aged. (Leviticus 19:32)
It means the disabled are shown dignity. (Leviticus 19:14)

But God Himself takes pleasure in those who fear Him. (Psalm 147:11)
He calls it His treasure. (Isaiah 33:6)
And He writes it down and remembers it. (Malachi 3:16)

It is the reasonable response to God. May we offer the fear He is due.


When Fear Meets Reality

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Deuteronomy, fear, Hebrew Words series, Isaiah, Job, Leviticus, Malachi, Proverbs, Psalms

Serve

By Paula

serve title graphic

You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4

The Hebrew is abad.
You shall serve Him.

Think about servants.
They are humble.
They are submissive.
They are obedient.

Culture looks down on servants.
We value rulers and power brokers.

But Christ came as a servant.

Abad is also translated worship.
We cannot separate the two.

If we are not willing to serve,
If we are not humble
Submissive
Obedient,
Are we actually worshiping?


Here are some other Hebrew words: Meditate and Salvation

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Deuteronomy, Hebrew Words series

Hear

By Paula

Hear title graphic

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear. The Hebrew is shema.
Not just hear, though.
Because we hear a song but don’t remember the lyrics.
We hear the news but can’t recall the details.
We hear the directions but still get lost on the trip.

This “hear” is different.
Absorb. Internalize. Act accordingly.
In verse 3, Moses says, hear the Law so you can obey it.
In verse 5, Moses explains how to respond once you have heard verse 4.

Love the Lord your God
With all your heart
With all your soul and
With all your strength.

Maybe when we have trouble with Love
We should go back to Hear.

Hear what the Lord says about Himself.
About us.
Hear His instructions.
Hear His promises.
Absorb. Internalize. Act accordingly.

Maybe in this new year, we can commit
To hear. To shema.
The Lord our God, the Lord is one.


What happens when you don’t hear – Misunderheard

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Deuteronomy, Hebrew Words series

This Great Wilderness

By Paula

This Great Wilderness title graphic

He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. Deuteronomy 2:7

He knows it’s been hard.

Every long day.
Every dark night.
Every single step.

The wilderness is not just a place of wandering, though.

It can be a place of instruction and refinement.
It can be a place of transition, a chance to leave the past, and to start over.
It can be a place of restoration, of communion, even of worship.

Suddenly … you’re not trudging anymore.


Read the Into the Wilderness series

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Deuteronomy

In Spite of Us

By Paula

In Spite of us title graphic

Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. Deuteronomy 9:6

We can learn a lot from Israel.
In fact, Paul said all those things about them are recorded to instruct us. (Romans 15:4)

Here’s today’s lesson.
God’s provision for us is not because we are good.
It’s because He is good.

The good land,
The inheritance,
His presence,
Victory over the enemies,
His Word.

All gifts of His grace.
Not because of them
In spite of them.

The gifts we have
Are gifts of His grace.
Not because of us,
In spite of us.

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Deuteronomy, God's provision, Romans

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