Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 1
Helpful thoughts:
- Deuteronomy was written before Israel crossed the Jordan. Prior to Israel entering the Promised Land (and prior to his death), Moses gave Israel this proclamation of the law (Chapters 1-30) one more time.
- The name of Deuteronomy refers to the second giving of the law. This book isn’t so much Moses writing more law or just writing the law again. This is the record of Moses’ preaching of the law to Israel.
- The first chapter contains the command to go and take the land (Verse 8), but also a recounting of events that will continue through chapter 3.
- Verse 10 recounts the promise of God to Abraham in Genesis 15:5.
- Moses reminds Israel how God has been faithful to His promises…and how they have doubted Him. Moses desired for Israel to hear, believe, obey, and therein enjoy their God.
Questions to consider:
- Why would it be important and helpful for Moses to give these reminders to Israel before they enter the land? How long ago had these events occurred? How many of the people who had disbelieved at Kadesh-barnea were still alive by this time?
- Even though everyone from forty years prior but Moses, Caleb and Joshua had perished in the wilderness, who does Moses continually say had committed these acts of unbelief (Look at verse 26 and following for help with the answer)? Why would Moses say it that way? How do we tend to view our actions and the actions of others in our family, church, nation, etc.? How did they view it?
- What must have been (and still is) true of God if Israel had rebelled and yet, forty years later they were about to enter the land He had promised them? What is true of our God? How have you seen God shown this/these attributes (s) in your life?