Moses to Children of Isreal: "Open Up Your History Book"

Deuteronomy Chapter 4: Part 5: The Teaching of Moses Goes On

Deuteronomy 4:32-49 -- The Passage and Some Thoughts

This passage is very much a repetition of passages we have already studied so I will take you through it quickly highlighting some key thoughts of Moses.  You may wish to have your favorite version of Scripture there with you.

He has just finished telling them about what will happen in the latter days (see early study) and now wants them to focus again on the “former” days in order for them to get a real understanding of who God is. Chuck Smith says Moses was basically saying, “Hey guys, open up your history books and see what God has done already for you.”  We would do well to open up our own history books of our lives and see what God has done for us, including when we didn’t deserve it. The whole gift of salvation through the sacrifice of His Son falls into the category.

Just thinking about this reminds me of the old southern gospel song of the 1950s written by Stuart Hamblen, It Is No Secret What God Can Do. I guess many of us could also sing it as “It is no secret, what God has done”. But either way, the key message is in line that says, “What He’s for others, He can do for you.”  Or, wherever we are right now, even in the most difficult stage of our lives as some of us may feel we are in, we can sing, “What He’s done for me, He can do again.” Take a listen to the song here, Elvis sings It is No Secret.

He asks them if they know of any other god, since the beginning of creation who has allowed people to hear his voice from the midst of a fire, and still allowed those that heard it to live? And of course, the answer is no. (verse 33)

He asks if any other god has taken a nation for himself from within another nation and done so through trials, signs, wonders, war, a mighty hand, an outstretched arm, and great terrors, as their God did right before their eyes. (verse 34)

And in verse 35 he tells them God did all this so that they may know Him and know that He is God and there is no one beside Him.

In verse 27 Moses tells them that this was done because He loved their Fathers with whom He made the Covenant. He tells them God didn’t do this because of their own greatness or obedience – anything but. Sometimes we get the benefit of the blessings of God because of His love for others – and often it is those who have prayed for us. In my case, I would say much of the blessings I have received are due to God’s love for my mother whom I know spent hours in the Word and hours on her knees before God – pleading on my behalf. Many of you may have had parents like that. God loved them and you’re now be blessed because of that.

In verse 40, he repeats the requirement to keep God’s statutes and commandments that the sons of Israel may live long in the land God was giving them.  And note the last three words of that verse.  God was giving them land “for all time”.

Verses 41-43 describe the three refuge cities that Moses set up on the east side of the Jordan and what tribes were primarily to manage those and use them.

And then verses 44-49 describes again how it was that these lands east of the Jordan were taken by the Israelites and kept, prior to them going across the Jordan to take Canaan, the Promised Land.

Wrap-up

I have always been a big believer in the fact that one’s relationship with God, and as a result, one’s salvation, is really between God and the individual. I still believe that but as I read and studied this passage, I could not help but realize how God is not just involved with me, but with those in my family (and yours) that went before me (and you). Some of us were fortunate to have a believing parent. Some of us were blessed with two believing parents. And today we benefit from that experience.

Others may not have been so fortunate. Perhaps neither of your parents were believers. Or you lost your parents early in your life before they could influence your faith. Or worse still, your parents’ faith, maybe coupled with their actions (perhaps of hypocrisy) turned you right off faith for a long time. Any of those experiences would be hard.

But here’s the good news. No matter what your experience with your parents was (or is), God can use the good experience for your benefit, and, now wait for it – God can use the awful experience for your good. Yes, he can. In fact, if that’s the case you can be the start of a new cycle in your family – you could be that faithful parent for your children and grandchildren.

What is important for us to grasp is that it really is no secret, what God can do.  May you find that to be true in your life.

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