For Some a Time to Regret, for Others a Time to Hope, for All a Time to Remember.

Deuteronomy Chapter 1: The Preamble of the Covenant and the Start of the Review of What God has done for Israel

The Passage and Some Thoughts

The first 5 verses give us the time of this first sermon – it was the 1st day, of the 11^th month, in the 40^th year since leaving Egypt. They also give us the place where the sermon was delivered to the “new generation of the children of Israel” – across the Jordan in the land of Moab. It was there Moses tried to make the law clear and understandable.

In verse 8, he reminds them (while still in Horeb) of the promise God made to give them the land before them, way back in Genesis.

In verses 9-15, he tells them how he had realized that he could not bear the load of leadership alone, especially since God was allowing them to grow in number, and how leaders from each tribe were appointed to help him. Even that growth in their population was the beginning of the fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham (Genesis 155,6) much earlier about them being blessed and multiplying greatly. This was happening even in the wilderness.

In verses 16-19, he talks about the judges that were appointed for each tribe and how they were to judge matters impartially. Verse 17 has some gems in it. For starters there is no ‘small’ and ‘big’ cases – they are all to treated alike. And the latter part of the verse tells them not to fear “men in making their judgment” because the judgment is really God’s. Oh, that we would have judges like that today.

In verse 19, Moses reminds them that they went through that “great and terrible wilderness” on their way to Kadesh-barnea. That’s what the Christian does as well – God often leads us through a “great” and yet sometimes “terrible” period of experiences in a very lonely “wilderness”.  Have you been there? Do you know what I mean? Keep in mind, that there is a promised land still ahead.

In verses 20-25, he reminds them of how they sent spies into the promised land to check it out. He may even have regretted sending the spies in the first place as since God had promised the land, there was no need to find out if they could conquer it – God was able to do it with for them without a reconnaissance expedition.

In verses 26-33, he reminds them how they would not trust God and feared taking the land, even though He had carried them so far, and still went before them on their way to seek out a place for them to camp at night, and to show them the way – via a cloud by day and a fire by night.

In verses 34-36, he tells them how that made the Lord angry and he promised that none of them would enter the promised land except Caleb who did trust the Lord and wanted to take the land before them.

Remember that verses 35-40 (except for 37a) are spoken by God and Moses is just retelling them, remembering God’s words to them. How heavy must Moses’ heart have been knowing what he knew. And yet at the same time, he had to stay focused on the rest of his mission and to be ‘up’ for the sake of those that would enter the promised land.

Verse 37 describes a very sad fact for Moses. He tells them that God was angry with him as well “on their account” and as a result he would not see the promised land. While Moses was forbidden to enter the land because of his own disobedience, that very defiance was on behalf of the anger that the children of Israel had aroused in God and thus in him. While we can sympathize with him, in the end we cannot blame others for the consequences that we bring upon ourselves for disobedience to God. Adam tried to do so in the garden, but he bore his own penalty afterwards, as did Eve. I wonder how ashamed the Israelites felt (on behalf of their parents) when Moses was telling them that his loss was due to their disobedience, or the disobedience and lack of faith of their fathers. The tragedy of disobedience – be it towards a godly father or mother, a just judge, a learned doctor, and especially God Almighty – is a tragedy that has no bounds in life.

Verse 38 tells them that Joshua would lead them to the promised land, as he was the other one that God said would make it. And here Moses tells the sons of Israel that God wants them to “encourage him” as their new leader. New leaders need encouragement.  And they need prayers just as much as the old leaders.

In verse 39, Moses tells the people that God had said their little ones that they had all feared would “become prey” to their enemies, would indeed enter the promised land. That theme of children being precious to God continues all the way through the Bible. Yes, there are events where children suffer – but they are not brought on by God Himself. They are either a consequence of gross disobedience or the work of the Enemy.

And then comes verse 40 – what a verse. Moses reminds them how God had told any of those that were still alive and had come out of Egypt with Moses, that they were to “turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea”.  Are you kidding me, God? No, God wasn’t kidding anyone. God meant what He had said. We note that this instruction of God’s was ignored by the people who felt they could still appease the Lord.

In the last six verses of the chapter, Moses reminds them how the people had repented and wanted to go ahead and fight their enemies. But that God had said, “No, because I won’t be with them.” You would think that would have stopped them, but it didn’t. And many were crushed. The rest wept before God, but He didn’t listen, causing them to stay many days at Kadesh.

Now we see why this book of Deuteronomy is also known as the book of Remembrances.

Wrap-up

If this first chapter of Deuteronomy is any indication of what we’ll find as we go through the rest of the book, our study time will have been well spent.

My main takeaways are as follows:

1.     For those who serve God, there will always be some regret due to our disobedience to God at various times in our lives. There may also be regret on behalf of the disobedience of others – because we know that disobedience to God has its consequences.

2.     Our job is to be faithful with God’s instructions to the very end. Moses was 120 when he was delivering this “Remembrance” sermon as a warning to those entering the promised land.

3.     God is faithful. When He takes us through rough waters or arid rugged wilderness, He will see us through. He will also guide us both day and night and protect us. And in the scheme of our own lives, because of Who God is, He has already been where I will be tomorrow, and He’ll lead the way.

May that be true for all of us.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.