Remember the LORD Your God

As Moses spoke his final instructions to the children of Israel, he recited their history from the time God took them out of Egypt. He wanted them to remember that God is the one who brought them out of Egypt and led them in the wilderness. He reminded them that those forty years were to humble and test the children of Israel. It seems odd to us in this “name it and claim it” era of church doctrine that God wouldn’t just do everything the children of Israel asked Him to do. How did God humble and test His People? What was the purpose of God humbling them and testing them? Does God still humble and test His people?

These Words Shall be in Your Heart

During Moses’ last instructions to the Children of Israel during his last week before his death, he told them to put the words that he spoke into their hearts.  These words are God’s instructions. How did God communicate them? What exactly are they and how do you put them in your heart?

Beyond the Jordan

The Book of Deuteronomy opens with Moses’ final words that he will speak to them before his death and before the cross the Jordan to take the Promised Land. Moses and the children of Israel are still at the plain of Moab across from Jericho. It was in this place that Balaam and Balak tried to curse Israel and were unsuccessful. It was in this place where the children of Israel were seduced into worship of Baal Peor and were saved by Phineas’ swift action. What is the spiritual and prophetic significance of this time and place?

 

Bound by Vows and Oaths

Vows and oaths are part of every community of people. In the marriage vow, husband and wife agree to observe specific behaviors. In a courtroom, the witnesses swear an oath that the words they speak are true. God told the children of Israel that they were bound by their vows and oaths. What does this commandment reveal about both God’s character and His people’s characters? What does Yeshua teach about vows and oaths? How important are vows and oaths?

Set a Man Over the Congregation

The children of Israel were camped in the plains of Moab right across the Jordan River from Jericho. They were ready to go into the land, but who would lead them. Miriam and Aaron had already died and God had told Moses that he would die soon. Moses was concerned for the people and who would be their next leader. Moses asked God to set a man over the congregation of Israel. What are the characteristics of this leader? We know this next leader will be Joshua, how did Joshua meet these characteristics? What was his mission? Where do we see Yeshua in Joshua, the man God set over the children of Israel?

 

The Spiritual Battlefield

After forty years of wandering, the children of Israel were finally at the borders of the Promised Land! They had carefully skirted around the land held by Edom, the descendants of Esau. They had fought and won battles against the Amorites. Now, poised on the edge of the territory of Moab, they turned their focus toward the Promised Land. However, danger was not to come from their enemies in the Promised Land, it was to come from an unexpected source behind them. Trouble was coming from the Moabites! It wasn’t a physical threat, though. This threat would turn out to be a spiritual threat. How did the children of Israel deal with this threat? What does this incident tell us about God’s protection from spiritual forces? How do we deal with spiritual threats?

The Water from the Rock

Ever since the second month after the Exodus from Egypt, God provided water for the children of Israel through a rock that followed them throughout their travels. Now, as their forty years in the wilderness is approaching an end, the rock suddenly stops giving water. The children of Israel arrive at the wilderness of Zin, Miriam dies, and there is no water. What happened? Why did God cut off the water supply just as they are getting ready to enter the land? What does this tell us about Yeshua?

You Shall Know that the LORD has Sent Me

After God told the children of Israel to turn away from the Promised Land after their refusal to go into the land, dissension rose up in the camp. Korah, a Levite and cousin of Moses and Aaron, accused Moses and Aaron of taking too much authority. As we shall see as we examine this passage, Korah’s motivation was his desire for power and position. He wanted to be both leader and high priest, the positions that Moses and Aaron held. The congregation was ready to follow Korah; after all wasn’t it time for a new leader? Moses and Aaron hadn’t led them into a land flowing with milk and honey as they had promised! But, God was about to demonstrate to the congregation just who belonged to Him and whom He had sent. Yeshua would face these same challenges; how were the people to know that God sent Him?

 

The Power of God

As the children of Israel approached the Promised Land they stopped and camped at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Paran. From there, they sent out twelve spies or explorers to discover what they could about the land and people living there. But ten of those sent out brought back a negative report of land and a frightful report about the inhabitants. There at the doorway to the Promised Land, they doubt the power of God to take them in. Yeshua sent out twelve disciples into the Promised Land. What does that tell us about their belief in the power of God? What does that tell us about our belief in the power of God? What happens when we doubt? What does it cost God to forgive us when we doubt?

 

Journey at the Command of God

When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they arrived at Mt. Sinai and stayed there for nearly a year before continuing their journey to the Promised Land. The children of Israel began their journey from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land when the cloud of the presence of God lifted off the tabernacle. When this happened, it was the signal to break camp and follow God. As we examine how the children of Israel knew when to camp and when to break camp, as well as where to go, we learn more about God’s guidance in our own lives.