Law – Deuteronomy 1-3

The Book of Deuteronomy has a special place in my heart for a few reasons.

Firstly, it is written by Moses, one of my all-time heroes.

Next, it contains his last words to the Israelites, so you can imagine how moving, earnest and significant it is.

Lastly, but most importantly, it describes the God that he believes in wholeheartedly with such simple yet poignant depictions that every time I read it, I rejoice that this God is also the God I worship today.

As we stand on the plains of Moab, awaiting to enter the good land (Deut 3:25), let us hear the words of this faithful servant of God who, though not allowed to enter the land, spent the last period of his life retelling the Law of God; warning, encouraging and blessing his people.

Bible Passage:  Deuteronomy 1-3

Assurance

It must have been an extremely daunting and frightening task the Israelites face at this point in time. After 40 (or 39, depends on how you want to look at it) years of wandering in the wilderness, their leader was about to pass on, leaving them the job of entering and conquering the land before them. How terrified they must have felt!

Yet, Moses reminded them that it was God who had led them all these years.

He tells them not to worry

For the LORD [their] God has blessed [them] in all the work of [their] hand. He knows [their] trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD [their] God has been with [them]; [they] have lacked nothing. (Deut 2:7)

This is because

[...] in the wilderness [...] [they] saw how the LORD [their] God carried [them], as a man carries his son, in all the way that [they] went until [they] came to this place. (Deut 1:31)

In addition, as they were about to enter a long period of battle, Moses recollected how God led them to defeat King Sihon and King Og to emphasise that

The LORD [their] God, who goes before [them], He will fight for [them] [...] (Deut 1:30)

[They] must not fear them, for the LORD [their] God Himself fights for [them].’

Today, as we fight to defeat our enemies and enter the Promised Land, we can take heart in the above verses. Let us replace the ‘them’, ‘they’ and ‘their’ with ‘our’, ‘us’ and ‘we’ for the LORD the God of Moses, who led the Israelites into Canaan also is with us today, leading us on this heavenly path and spiritual battle.

Warnings

Moses did not just assure the people though. In order to prevent them from making the same mistakes and committing the same sins, he reminds them of the sins of their forefathers as well as their own wrongdoings. In fact, he points out that the years of wandering and his not being allowed to enter Canaan were due to sin.

And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers, (Deut 1:34-35)

The LORD was also angry with me for your sakes, saying, ‘Even you shall not go in there. (Deut 1:37)

It is the same for us. While we do not brood over the past, we should keep in mind our mistakes, weakness and sins so as to remember God’s grace as well as prevent ourselves from repeating them.

As we continue listening to Moses reiterate the law, let us bear in mind his words for as mentioned earlier, they are as alive and applicable to us today as they are thousands of years ago.