by J. Riddle (Cheshunt)
Read Chapter 1
Deuteronomy ch.1-3 trace the journey of the children of Israel from Horeb, via Kadesh-barnea, to the plains of Moab. Apart from one delightful comment, 1.11, these chapters simply recite historical facts, but that does not make them unimportant. In subsequent chapters, Moses builds on those facts. We must never forget that Bible teaching is based on fact, and this explains why unregenerate men take every opportunity to either cast doubt on the historical accuracy of the Bible, or deny it completely. After all, doctrine is valueless if it is based on fiction! Just think of the consequences if we try to jettison the opening chapters of Genesis! It would even cast doubt on the veracity of the Lord Jesus. He did not believe in evolution! See Matt.19.4.
Whilst it is tempting to leap over these three chapters without further comment, we should at least prove that they are worthy of further study! Deut.1 commences with a general introduction to the book, v1-5, followed by a review of the journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, v6-19, and events at Kadesh-barnea, v20-46.
i) Where Moses addressed the people. "These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness," v1, see also v5. Moses describes the occupancy of the land while they are still in the wilderness. The blessings of our inheritance, now and in the future, make current privations and current hostility bearable!
ii) When Moses addressed the people. It was after God had demonstrated that He was actively against His people’s sin. "In the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month." Compare Num.14.34. Note, again, the significant information in v2, "There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea." What should have taken eleven days, took thirty-eight years: see 2.14. Unbelief and disobedience will always push us ‘off course.’ It was also after God had demonstrated that He was actively for His people’s blessing. "After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites … and Og the king of Bashan." If we are going to enjoy our present inheritance in Christ, we will have to remember both lessons.
iii) Why Moses addressed the people. It was to convey "all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them." Enjoyment of the inheritance is contingent on obedience to the Word of God. Nothing has changed. See Jn.15.10-11.
A) The purpose of the journey, v6-8
This was to possess the land. "Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites." Compare 2.3. The words "long enough" do not imply criticism, but they do remind us that we should be progressing in our Christian lives. "The mount of the Amorites" evidently refers to the hill country north of Kadesh-barnea, and implies that there was fighting ahead. The children of Israel would not possess their inheritance without difficulty. This is still true: see Eph.6.12. Notice:
i) The provision of the land. "Behold I have set the land before you." God had provided their inheritance, and there was nothing boring about it! Look at its variety in v7. We have every reason to be excited about our inheritance! God doesn’t bestow second rate blessings.
ii) The possession of the land. They were to "go in and possess the land" set before them, v8; see also v2,39. The word "possess" occurs approximately fifty times in Deuteronomy, plus other related words. The words "inherit" and "inheritance" occur almost forty times. This emphasises the great lesson of the book. God still says, "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you," Jos.1.3. We must ‘possess our possessions.’
iii) The promise of the land. It was "the land … which the Lord sware unto your fathers." The children of Israel were about to enter the inheritance promised centuries beforehand. We must not forget that the promises made to the fathers were unconditional, and will be ultimately fulfilled. If God had predetermined Israel’s inheritance, just think of the way in which He has predetermined our blessings!
B) The problem of administration, v9-18
This section evidently refers to Ex.18, rather than Num.11, although the two passages have certain similarities. We should notice:
i) The difficulties of the work. "And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone," v9-10. The increasing problems and difficulties accompanying the population explosion, taxed Moses to the limit: "How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?", v12. Most assembly elders can empathise with Moses here. We must remember that they ‘watch for the souls’ of the saints, and we must therefore take steps to ensure that they can do this "with joy, and not with grief," Heb.13.17.
The statement, "I am not able to bear you myself alone," must be read in conjunction with "Thou hast seen how the Lord thy God bare thee," v31. See also Ex.19.4. His description of Israel recalls Gen.15.5. It is lovely to notice that the difficulties of the work did not turn Moses into a bitter and resentful old man: "The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as He promised you!", v11.
ii) The delegation of responsibility. "Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you," v13. We could call this ‘the appointment of under-shepherds.’ Notice the following:
(a) The job qualifications. "Wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes," v13. See also v15, "Wise men, and known." Amongst other things, they were to be men whose qualities were already acknowledged. That is precisely how an assembly recognises its elders! Sheep always know their shepherds.
(b) The job titles. "Rulers," v13; "heads," v15; "captains," v15; "officers," v15; "judges," v16. Compare 1Thess.5.12.
(c) The job specifications. "Judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s," v16-17. While there is not an exact parallel in New Testament teaching, there are lessons here for assembly overseers. See 1Pet.5.1-3.
C) The passage through the wilderness, v19
"And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of (‘on the way to,’ JND) the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us, see v7; and we came to Kadesh-barnea." This world is certainly a "great and terrible wilderness." It was impossible for Israel to settle in such territory, but many Christians seem quite happy in this environment. We are, properly, "strangers and pilgrims," 1Pet. 2.11, and the world through which we pass should never cease to appal us. This brings us to:
This section can be divided with reference to the expression "go up." See v21-22, 26, 28, 41. There was:
A) Encouragement to go up, v20-24
i) Encouragement, v20-21. "Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged." But they were discouraged, see v28.
ii) Exploration, v22-24. Notice that it was the people themselves who suggested that the land should be reconnoitred. Although God evidently granted their request, Num.13.1-3, it would have been better if they had proceeded in faith! After all, God had promised them possession, and had proved His ability to deliver them from all enemies. Israel said, "we will send men before us," v22, but Moses said, "The Lord your God, which goeth before you, he shall fight for you," v30.
B) Refusal to go up, v25-40
i) Refusal by the people, v25-28. They refused to "go up" in spite of the good report. "Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God," v25-26. Notice that they doubted God’s love: "Ye murmured in your tents (rebellion began in their homes: it often does), and said, Because the Lord hated us, He hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us," v27. Notice that they were discouraged by their brethren: "Whither shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our heart," v28. See 9.1-2. The Lord’s people can still be ‘wet blankets!’ We should be like the brethren in 1Cor.16.17-18, and Tychicus in Col.4.8.
ii) Remonstration by Moses, v29-33. God had proved both His power and His love for them. They had no reason to doubt Him. They had His power in Egypt, v30. They had proved His power in the wilderness, v 31. But it was to no avail: "Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God, Who sent in the way before you," v32-33. Can we say with Paul, "I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me?", Acts 27.25.
iii) Response by God, v34-40. He was angry with the people: "And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers." The exception was Caleb, who had "wholly followed the Lord," v34-36. God was angry with Moses: "Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go thither," v37-38. Notice that Joshua was to be encouraged: more about this in 3.21,28. We learn that unbelief is an insult to God, and that faith brings Him pleasure. Notice too that there is nothing arbitrary about His judgment: "Moreover your little ones … which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea," v39-40.
C) Determination to go up, v41-46
"We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight … And the Lord said unto me, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you." But they "went presumptuously up into the hill." Israel behaved illogically. They would not go up with God, v21, 40, but they were willing to go up without Him! In the first place they were told to "go up," but they refused. In the second place, they were told not to "go up," but they went. It was a recipe for disaster, v44. Their words were impressive: "we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us." But however pious the covering language, sin and rebellion will always bring defeat. Moses was obliged to remind them that they "rebelled against the commandment of the Lord," v43, and "returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you," v45. Alas, we can be just like Samson who said, "I will go out, as at other times before, and shake myself, And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him."
Moses’ review of their journey through the wilderness continues in Chapter 2.
—to be continued (D.V.)