365 Days of Pursuit.org

OVERVIEW:

Requirements to be in the congregation; cleanliness; civil statutes; divorce; civil statutes; first fruits offering; charge to hear and obey.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

By the time the children of Israel had heard all of the statutes, commandments, and judgments in Moses’ second address (Deuteronomy 5–26), for what life was to be like in this new land God was preparing them to enter, they must have been thinking, “Man! How are we going to keep all of this stuff straight?!” The truth is, there were a lot of requirements, stipulations, and specifications for the new lifestyle God had in mind for their new life in the new land! But, lest we miss the purpose behind all of these seemingly rigorous and meticulous details, Moses concludes this section in today’s reading by revealing the real intent of God’s heart. (26:16–19) He tells the children of Israel that all of these instructions were given simply because God desired “to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayst be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.” (26:19) How awesome is that?!

As we have constantly sought to remind ourselves through the 365 Days of Pursuit, we must always keep in mind that the children of Israel are a picture of the individual believer in the New Testament. God tells us in 1^st Peter 2:9–10 that His intent and purpose for us is to make you and me “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” Again, I say, how awesome is that?! The real desire of God’s heart for His people has always been the same! That we might be a peculiar people, because of the holy life we live in the midst of this dark world, and as we seek to glorify the holy name of our God!

Recognize, however, that one of the most blessed and marvelous differences between us and the children of Israel is that we have been made free from the EXTERNAL law of Moses, because we have been placed “in Christ”, who Himself, fulfilled all of the stringent requirements of the Old Testament law! (Matthew 5:17) He did that, so we might be free to live by the law of the Spirit who has taken up residence in us INTERNALLY! With that in mind, be blessed today by some of the key truths God has revealed to us as New Testament saints:

Romans 7:6 “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”

Romans 8:1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:18 “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

Oh, let us never be moved, as Paul feared we might, from “the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2^nd Corinthians 11:3) Let us never be moved from “the simplicity” of the greatest commandment: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30–31) No, we are not bound to serve the law of Moses. We are free FROM the law of Moses, so we can be free to FULFILL the law of the Spirit, and to FULFILL the law of love. (Romans 8:2; Galatians 5:13–14) Praise God for “the simplicity” of life “in Christ”!

But note in today’s reading in chapter 23, that certain people were not to be admitted into the citizenship of the children of Israel. They could reside in the area, but due to impurities (mutilation, illegitimacy, ancestry, etc.) they could not join the congregation of Israel. Again, the point is, the Lord desired a pure and holy congregation of peculiar people. The simple reality was, sin had lasting consequences! Moses reveals in chapter 23 that the reason holiness, cleanliness, and purity had such an important place inside the congregation of Israel was because the holy, clean, and pure presence of the Lord was in their midst!  (See 2^nd Corinthians 6:16–18)

The last part of chapter 23 speaks of vows and generosity. Vows were/are sacred to God. Vows made to God were not to be made flippantly, and once they were made, were to be kept! God repeats this same truth in Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 where He lets us know that it is better not to vow a vow, than to vow a vow and not pay it. Verses 24 and 25 of Deuteronomy 23 tell the children of Israel that they are to be a generous people while at the same time, being careful not to take advantage of the generosity of others.

Deuteronomy 24 is a very significant chapter because of its teaching regarding divorce. In Matthew 5 and 19, our Lord deals with the issue of divorce that is addressed here in Deuteronomy 24. Jesus emphatically lets us know that divorce was not God’s plan from the beginning (Matthew 19:8) but it was a concession made by God “because of the hardness of your hearts.” Note in 24:2, the woman in a divorce situation is permitted become another man’s wife, but verse 4 refers to her as being “defiled”. There’s no way around it, sin always has lasting consequences.

Once again, God reveals in chapter 24 the compassion of His heart for the poor, the fatherless, widows, and strangers. God wanted to make sure that the rich and powerful never took advantage of them, and that they were never able to oppress them. God wanted Israel to always remember that they had been slaves in Egypt, and wanted them to treat others in their affliction the way He had treated them. (The New Testament equivalent of this principle for us is found in Ephesians 4:31–32.) This new land and nation God was establishing was to be a nation of abundant generosity and care for others. If the children of God are to be a reflection of their Father, they (we) must be abundantly loving and generous!

Chapter 25 gives instruction for those who would serve as judges in Israel, followed by detailed specifications for the Old Testament teaching regarding the kinsman-redeemer. A living example of this principle in operation is found in the book of Ruth, as Ruth, a Gentile from a cursed race (the Moabites), is redeemed through the relationship she had with Boaz, her Jewish kinsman-redeemer from the city of Bethlehem. The principle of the kinsman-redeemer found here in Deuteronomy 25, as well as the living example found in Ruth 3–4, is a beautifully descriptive picture of our Lord Jesus Christ becoming our “kinsman” by taking on human flesh in Bethlehem, so He might “redeem” us Gentiles who are part of the cursed human race in taking us to be His lawfully wedded wife! The Bible is an amazing Book!

The chapter continues with statutes for honesty in business. In the commerce of that day, merchants would carry their own weights that would be placed on the scales when making transactions. Some determined that they would put a lesser weight on the scale when BUYING a certain commodity, and a heavier weight when SELLING a commodity. Practically speaking, it was a very deceptive and dishonest way of being able to “buy low and sell high”. God lets them know that such practices were an “abomination” to Him. (25:16) Be reminded, our omniscient Lord knows of our honesty with people, and deals with us accordingly.

The offering of the first fruits in Chapter 26 was a special one-time gift that was to be offered to the Lord from the first harvest in the new land. This offering was to be a hallowed worship experience that included a time of remembrance, a time of rejoicing, and a time of confession. Once the Lord brought them into the land that was promised, He wanted them to recognize that they would be living in houses they did not build, eating from crops and gardens they did not plant, and living in abundance from the gracious hand of the Lord!

In 26:16–19, God wanted the children of Israel to make a confirmation of all that had been commanded them. He had commanded that all of His statutes, commandments, and judgments be kept with all of their heart and soul. The people avouch that they will walk in His ways, and keep His commandments. The Lord avouches that they will be His peculiar people, holy to Him. This concludes Moses second address in Deuteronomy.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As THE GENEROUS ONE — Deuteronomy 24:19–21 (2^nd Corinthians 8:9; Romans 8:32)

As THE KINSMAN REDEEMER — Deuteronomy 5:5–6 (Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:13–14)

As THE FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING — Deuteronomy 26:10–11 (1^st Corinthians 15:20, 23)

As THE DELIVERER — Deuteronomy 26:8 (Galatians 1:3–4)

OVERVIEW:

Levites and priests; prophets; cities of refuge; civil statutes; warfare; unknown murders; family statutes; civil statutes; sexual sin.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As Moses continues his second address in chapter 18 of today’s reading, he begins talking about the fact that when they came into the land, there would be no inheritance for those who comprised the Levitical priesthood. That almost sounds inconsiderate, disparaging, offensive and unfair until you find in verse 2, that the Lord had provided an inheritance for the Levites that was a 1000 times more blessed than mere territory on a map! Their inheritance was to be none other than the Lord Himself! Wow! In fact, as we discussed when we were coming through the book of Leviticus, the word “Levite” means “joined to”. The Levites were “joined to” the Lord in a spiritual relationship that was so much more significant and satisfying than any kind of earthly or physical proprietorship.

As you consider the blessings of the Levitical priesthood, keep in mind that they are an Old Testament picture of us! We are now of the ones who are “joined to” the Lord; we are now the ones who comprise His “royal priesthood” (1^st Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10); and we are the ones for which God now intends to find our inheritance solely “in Christ”, not in the things of the earth. Colossians 3:1 and 2 tell us, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Verses 15–19 of chapter 18 provide one of the greatest prophecies in the entire Old Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ. God reveals to His people that another “Prophet” like Moses will come! You’ll remember that in the Gospel of John, there were numerous times during Christ’s earthly ministry when He was asked if He was “that Prophet”, or people made reference to the fact that He was, indeed, “that Prophet”. The reality is, they had been anticipating this “Prophet” because of this very prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18. In fact, as Peter was preaching in Acts 3:22–23, he quoted this very passage in reference to Christ. As Stephen was preaching his infamous sermon, presenting Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures regarding Israel’s Messiah, to the ruling counsel in Israel in Acts 7:48, he, too, quoted this very passage. Sadly, nearly every person who was aware of this prophecy from Deuteronomy 18 missed Christ’s fulfillment of it, even though it was staring them right in the face!

In 18:20–22, God lets us know that throughout history we will always be able to clearly identify the prophets through whom He is actually speaking. They always have one key distinguishing feature: they are always 100% accurate 100% of the time!

As we come into chapter 19, God through Moses, continues the conversation once again about designating key cities in the new land as cities of refuge. As has been previously discussed, the cities of refuge are a picture of the refuge we have in Christ. In the same way the innocent manslayer would plead his case to the elders of the city, Psalm 62:8 tells us to pour out our heart to God, who is our Refuge. Hallelujah!

Note in 19:13, God begins the biblical teaching concerning the preciousness of the shedding of what He calls “innocent blood”. This phrase is found at least 20 times in Scripture, and is obviously, dear to the heart of God because of His knowledge of the fact that His only Son would one day be the ultimate when it came to “innocent blood” being shed.

Chapter 19 concludes with several civil statutes. God reveals that moving a landmark is actually stealing land from your neighbor. He instructs that matters of law are to be established with a minimum of two witnesses, and preferably three. This principle is repeated in the New Testament in Matthew 18:16; 2^nd Corinthians 13:1; 1^st Timothy 5:19, and Hebrews 10:28. We would do well to consider this principle! How many times have we established something in our own mind on the word of only one person? As God continues revealing His will regarding these practical civil matters, He details that in cases where the person who is suing another person for a specific amount in a false lawsuit, the false accuser would be required to pay that amount to the defendant. Wouldn’t that limit a great number of lawsuits in our 21^st century world?! Note that the commandment concerning fair and just judgments in the last verse of the chapter (an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth) is directed to the civil government, and not to individuals. Sadly, it was soon twisted (as it often is to this day!) to provide an excuse for personal vengeance, vengeance that is always reserved by and for the Lord. (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19)

As Moses continues his address in chapter 20, God let’s Israel know that the army that would be utilized in the promised land would be different than any military power in the history of the world. This army would be led by priests who would simply address the children of Israel, reminding them that the strength of their army is found in placing their confidence in the fact that the Lord is with them, that He is the One who will fight the enemy, and that they will see Him grant the victory. (20:4) It is the biblical principle of Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” It is also a picture of how the New Testament reveals that we are to do battle! Ephesians 6:10 says, “Finally, my brethren, be STRONG IN THE LORD, and in the POWER of HIS MIGHT.”

It should be noted, however, that even though God intended to grant this army constant victory, God wanted to be certain that they were completely focused and fearless! In 20:5-9, God gives four reasons that young men in Israel could be excused from military duty:

1. If they had recently purchased a new house;
2. If they had recently planted a vineyard;
3. If they had recently taken a wife; and
4. If they were just plain afraid!

God wanted His army free of distractions and deserters! Likewise, in the warfare we face, let us be focused and fearless!

As the children of Israel were approaching a city to overtake it, God tells them in 20:10–20 that they were to first seek to take it peacefully by allowing the inhabitants of the city to surrender, if they would agree to pay taxes to them, and to become their servants. If the city chose not to surrender, God told them to go into it and wipe out every male, sparing the women, children, and animals, and then to go in and take the spoils of the city for themselves. For the six nations listed in 20:17, however, they were to go in to those places and wipe out anything that moved or breathed! It would appear that these peoples and cities were of such a demonic nature and possession that the only solution was extinction.

As we come into chapter 21, God gives further instruction concerning the shedding of “innocent blood”. Note that there was a ceremonial washing (21:6) that was included in the whole process of being released from the guilt of shedding this “innocent blood”. (21:6–9) In light of the principle established here, it becomes quite interesting to recognize that many centuries later, on the day of Pentecost following the nation of Israel’s guilt in shedding Christ’s “innocent blood” on the cross (Acts 2:36), that when they asked Peter what they should do because of their guilt in shedding the “blood” of the only “innocent” man who ever lived (not to mention their very own promised Messiah!), that Peter’s instruction to them utilizes the principle established here in Deuteronomy 21, and includes the “ceremonial washing” of baptism as a part of their repentance for crucifying the Lord of glory. (Acts 2:37–38) Note, that this baptism that Peter referenced in Acts 2:38 is not for acquiring New Testament salvation, but is exclusively the biblical requirement for removing Israel’s guilt for being the ones responsible for shedding the “innocent blood” of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. (21:8-9)

After providing instructions for taking a wife from the captives of the new land (21:10–14), Moses then gives statutes for families. He lets Israel know that inheritances were to be divided by statutes, not emotions. Next, Moses explains that stubbornness and rebelliousness in a son was an offense worthy of death! Notice that there are three times in this passage where God references a stubborn and rebellious son not obeying or hearkening to the voice of his parents. We must recognize that our goal in bringing up our children is that OUR voice will control and instruct their little mind and body. As our children mature, the control and guidance is to constantly be directed and shifting to the LORD and His WORD. The biblical reality is, if they never learn to respond to the authority of OUR voice when they are children, they will not respond to the authority of GOD’s voice when they are adults.

Chapter 22 gives statutes on many civil and family matters. It covers the whole gamut from taking care of your brother’s belongings, to clothing, construction, plowing, divorce, adultery, rape, and incest. Over, and over again, the statutes and commandments are written to purify and sanctify a land in which the holy God of the universe would dwell with His people. Recognize that this had been a land of transvestites and homosexuals, a land of incest and adultery, and a land of selfishness and self-gratification. The Lord desired a pure and holy nation in a completely undefiled land. It is the Old Testament picture of the New Testament instruction given to us in 2^nd Corinthians 6:17–18: “…come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As PROPHET – Deuteronomy 18:15 (John 5:46; Acts 3:22–23)

As SIN BEARER – Deuteronomy 21:22–23 (Galatians 3:13; 1^st Peter 2:24)

OVERVIEW:

Warnings against following other gods; clean and unclean animals; seven-year release; bond servants; three feasts; civil judgments; kings.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

If you’ve ever wondered just how JEALOUS our Lord is for the undivided ATTENTION of the MINDS of His people and the undivided AFFECTION of the HEARTS of His people, look no further than Deuteronomy 13! If you’ve ever wondered just how ZEALOUS Satan is to divert the minds and hearts of God’s people away from Him, again, we need not look further than Deuteronomy 13! This chapter lets us know that Satan will go to great lengths to counterfeit and falsify the word of God through his own false prophets in an attempt to move the hearts of God’s people from solely loving, worshipping, and obeying Him. Notice that God warns the children of Israel that this deception can arise from three main sources. (Note, also, that it is precisely these three deceptive sources for which God’s people are vulnerable and need to be warned in the 21^st century!)

Recognize that this isn’t just an Old Testament phenomenon. In the middle of the 1^st century, the Apostle Paul was concerned that the people of the church in Colossae would be deceived by the enticing words and/or empty philosophies of men (Colossians 2:4–8), and that the people of the church in Corinth might likewise be beguiled by the subtlety of Satan through “his ministers”. (2^nd Corinthians 11:3, 15a) Notice, also, that this wasn’t just a 1^st century phenomenon either! Be it known that Satan’s “ministers of righteousness” (2^nd Corinthians 11:15b) are also alive and well in the 21^st century!

Just who might these “false prophets” be in our world today? Just who are these “ministers of Satan” who appear to be speaking for God, but in the process of their “ministry”, are actually turning people to follow and serve other gods? One good place to begin looking are with those who “in the name of God”, are turning people away from Him to serve the god of “money” (1^st Timothy 6:10), the god of “self” (2^nd Timothy 3:2), the god of “pleasure” (2^nd Timothy 3:4), and/or the god of “this present evil world” (2^nd Timothy 4:10; Galatians 1:4)! There’s a bunch of ’em, y’all!

Deuteronomy 13 also lets us know how un-permissive, incompliant, and vengeful God is toward any person Satan is able to use for such purposes, and/or any person who falls prey to their deception! Moses tells them that when they come into the promised land, if there is ever any person who is seeking to turn people away from loving and following the one true God, they are to be immediately killed, regardless of whether it be a family member, or a friend with whom they were joined in the soul! Wow! I’d say God is pretty serious about how He feels about the divided allegiance and affection of His people!

God goes on to explain that once they came into the land, if there ever was a city that had hearkened unto one or more of these Satanic prophets and had begun serving other gods, the children of Israel were to come into that city and completely annihilate every person and every animal, and then gather together all of the contents and goods of the city into a big heap, burn them to the ground along with everything else in the city, and allow the ruins to forever be a reminder that there is one Lord in Israel, and Him only shalt thou serve! (Deuteronomy 5:9) “Behold the…severity of God!” (Romans 11:22)

As we move into chapter 14, Moses reminds the children of Israel that as God’s people, He intends for them to stand out from the other nations of the world because of their relentless surrender to personal holiness. (14:2) He gives clear instruction that they are not to worship like the rest of the world worships (14:1), and that even their dietary practices were to be different (peculiar) from the rest of the world. (14:3–21) The list of clean and unclean animals would separate the children of Israel from the other inhabitants of the land. Because the blood could not be removed from an animal that died of itself, the children of Israel were not to eat an animal that had already died. Notice that others could eat these animals, but not the chosen, separate people of Israel. Once again, remember that they are a picture of the individual believer! We, too, are a chosen people who have been called to be separate and holy (Titus 2:14; 1^st Peter 2:9). There may be practices that are socially and culturally accepted, that have no place in the life of God’s people.

The tithe in 14:22 is the second tithe that is commanded of the people. (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26) This tithe is a tenth of the yearly increase of their fields. It was to be brought to the place of offering that the Lord had chosen. A portion was to be eaten with rejoicing to be a reminder that everything comes from the blessing of the Lord. Notice, also, that at the end of this chapter, God also established a tithe that was to be collected once every three years to create what might be called a “welfare system” to support the fatherless, the widows, and the “strangers” (foreigners) who had no land upon which to grow food or derive an income.

Chapter 15 provides added instruction to the requirements regarding the infamous “seventh year” described in Exodus 23 and Leviticus 25. Not only was the land to rest in the seventh year, but debts were to be forgiven as well! God wanted to make sure that in this new theocratic nation (a nation whose Supreme Ruler is God), the poor and the needy were never taken advantage of, or brought under the yoke of bondage to others. The Lord reminds the children of Israel of how they were in bondage in Egypt; and how He had released and redeemed them. When Israel came into the land of promise, God wanted to be sure that His treatment of Israel was to become the standard by which they treated others who were being oppressed. In 15:7–15, Moses lays out God’s instruction concerning generosity to the poor. Oh, may we never forget our Lord Jesus Christ’s generosity toward us when we were spiritually poor!

Chapter 15 ends with instruction concerning the consecration of the firstborn males of the herd or flock. Moses tells them that they were to be sanctified, or “set apart”, for the Lord. Note, that if the animal was to be offered as a sacrifice to the Lord, it necessitated that it be completely “without blemish” because it is an obvious picture of our Lord Jesus Christ who was “a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1^st Peter 1:19)

In chapter 16, God reminds the children of Israel to be sure they continued the observance of the passover even after they came in to the land. The passover served as a reminder to Israel that their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt was through the blood of the passover lamb. It is the Old Testament equivalent of the memorial feast our Lord instituted in the upper room with His disciples the night before His death. That memorial feast, that we now refer to as the Lord’s Supper, serves as a reminder to us that our deliverance from the bondage of Egypt (sin and the world) was through the blood of the true Passover lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ! (1^st Corinthians 5:7)

Note that there are actually three feasts that are described in chapter 16. The first is the passover, followed by seven days of the feast of unleavened bread. The second is the feast of weeks (sometimes referred to as the feast of harvest—Exodus 23), later to be known as pentecost. A freewill offering is to be given “according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.” (16:10) The third feast is the feast of tabernacles (sometimes referred to as the feast of ingathering, or feast of booths in Exodus 23; Leviticus 23; Numbers 29). This, again, is a time of giving and rejoicing. (16:15)

In 16:18–20, Moses provides instruction concerning the selection of judges and officers. Like God, judges were not to be a “respecter of persons”, nor were they to receive gifts from people. God wanted those holding these positions in Israel to be completely free to “judge righteous judgment”. (John 7:24) The chapter concludes (16:21–22) with a further admonition concerning idolatrous worship, and specifically, taking up the pagan practices of idol worship in groves of trees. God didn’t want any worldly or idolatrous practices anywhere near His altar of sacrifice and worship!

Chapter 17 gives statutes concerning the discovery and investigation of idol worship. (17:2–7) Those who were found guilty of worshipping and/or serving other gods were to be put to death. Implementing the death sentence, however, required the witness of two or more witnesses, and those witnesses must be the first ones to administer the punishment. At the end of 17:7, God explains that the reason for such harsh punishment was to rid Israel of evil.

In 17:14–20, God gives instructions for the selection of and duties of a king. At this time, God alone was Israel’s King, but He knew that in time to come, they would want a physical, tangible king like the other nations of the world. (This prophecy would come to pass some 400 years after being in the land!) God said He would concede to their wishes for a king, but said He wanted to reserve the right to be the One to choose him. God further instructed that a king in Israel must be chosen from among the children of Israel (no foreigners!) He also commanded that kings refuse to multiply to themselves: horses, wives, silver, and gold. To ensure that each king in Israel completely understood what God had written in His law, he was required to write his own copy of the law, and read it every day of his life, so that he would fear the Lord, keep His words, and do them, so that his heart wouldn’t be lifted up, and so his days could be prolonged. Oh, if only Israel’s kings would have heeded these admonitions! As those who have been made “kings” by the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:6; 5:10), we would do well to carefully consider the spirit of these instructions!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As THE UNBLEMISHED SACRIFICE – Deuteronomy 15:21 (1^st Peter 1:19; 2^nd Corinthians 5:21)

As THE PASSOVER LAMB – Deuteronomy 16:1 (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:12) As THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE – Deuteronomy 16:18; 17:8 (Revelation 19:11; Romans 14:10)

OVERVIEW:

God’s promises to the fathers; God’s grace to the undeserving; second tables of commandments; love and obedience; blessing and cursing; ordinances.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we move into Deuteronomy 9 in today’s reading, the big day has finally arrived! It has been 14,400 days since the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land, when God delivered them from their bondage in Egypt. According to Deuteronomy 1:2, the journey into the promised land has taken them 14,378 more days than it needed to! A simple 11-day journey has actually turned into 14,400 days! But in Deuteronomy 9:1, God told them, “Thou art to pass over Jordan this day.” (Note: Their actual crossing of the Jordan and into the promised land won’t be recorded until Joshua chapter 3.)

Sadly, in those 14,378 “unnecessary” days in the wilderness, an entire generation has died because of their failure to take God at His word. Recognize that every single one of them died having never experienced the purpose God intended when He graciously delivered them from Egypt. Because, according to what we saw in yesterday’s reading in Deuteronomy 6:23, the children of Israel’s exodus out of Egypt was never intended by God to be an end in itself; it was simply a means to another end. Moses told them, “And he (God) brought us OUT from thence (Egypt), that he might bring us IN, to give us the land (Canaan) which he swear unto our fathers.” Let us, likewise, never forget that our deliverance out of the bondage of our sin (as glorious as that was and is) is not an end in itself! Just as with Israel, God brought us OUT, that He might bring us IN! We were delivered OUT of our sin so we could be brought IN to the life of fullness, abundance, and fruit-bearing found in Christ, by taking Him at His word by faith. As Paul recounts the story of Israel’s victory, in the exodus and their failure in the wilderness in 1^st Corinthians 10, he pleads with us, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to make sure that what happened to THEM after their PHYSICAL exodus, doesn’t happen to US after our SPIRITUAL exodus! Paul said in 1^st Corinthians 10:6, “Now these things were our examples,” and repeats it five verses later, “Now all these things happen unto THEM for ensamples: and they are written for OUR admonition.” (10:11) Oh, let us have ears to hear and heed that warning!

Yet, in Deuteronomy 9, before God brings the children of Israel into the land, there’s still another danger of which He needs to warn them. God knew that because of how “stiffnecked” this people was, that after settling into this new land, they might have the tendency to think they had entered this land because of who they were, or something they had done. On three separate occasions in this chapter Moses tells them to make sure that after coming into the land of Canaan, they didn’t get to thinking they had gotten there because they were just so good or “righteous”. In 9:4 he says, “Speak not thou in thine heart…For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me IN to possess their land.” In 9:5 he says, “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land.” In 9:6 he reiterates it yet again, “Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.” Oh, my brothers and sisters, let us glean from the book of Deuteronomy, that most Christians will die in the wilderness of life having never experienced God’s purpose in their exodus. For those who actually do enter the land, we must be on high alert that pride doesn’t somehow creep in and cause us to think that we are experiencing the abundant life because of who we are or something we’ve done. Be it known, if we will experience the abundant life (Canaan), it will be because of the righteousness of Christ, and because of His matchless grace! Paul asks a beautifully pertinent question in Romans 3:27: “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

Just a few other things to have up on your radar in today’s reading…

9:2–6 In our quest to live in the reality of the abundant life found in Christ, there are many Anakims (or giants!) who will seek to intimidate us and/or defeat us. Our God, however, is a “consuming fire” and “he shall destroy them.” (9:3) God tells us that this is a principle we must “understand”! The battle is the Lord’s and we simply stand in the victory He has wrought.

9:5–27 Like the children of Israel, we must remember that God says, when He found us and delivered us out of our bondage, we were “unrighteous” (9:5), “stiffnecked” (9:6, 13), “rebellious” (9:7, 24), “corrupt” (9:12), “sinful” (9:16), “wicked” (9:18, 27) and “stubborn”. (9:27) Wow! We were a mess!

10:12 and 11:13 In these two verses, notice that once again, God reiterates and re-emphasizes the “Great Commandment”. God wants us to LOVE Him!

10:18–19 In these verses, the Lord introduces us to the biblical reality that He has great concern and interest in His heart for the fatherless (orphans), widows, and strangers (aliens), and that we should as well! (James 1:27)

11:18–21 The Lord reiterates the responsibility we have as parents to make certain that we bring our children up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), and that we bring up “faithful children”. (Titus 1:6) He tells us here that we are to teach them at all times, and through every possible means (11:19–20). But, once again, the Lord emphasizes that this instruction cannot simply come from our minds or our mouths; it must rise forth out of our hearts and our very souls, and be a part of the very fabric of who we are! (11:18)

11:13–17; 11:22–25 Note that the promise of blessing in the new land was dependent upon their LOVE of God and their OBEDIENCE to Him.

11:26–28 Notice that whether we live in the midst of the Lord’s BLESSING (represented in Mount Gerizim—9:29) or the Lord’s CURSING (represented in Mount Ebal—9:29), the choice is ours. Obedience brings blessings. Disobedience brings cursing (or conflict).

12:1–32 Notice in these verses that there is an important principle/phrase that begins to be repeated about there being “a place” in the promised land where “the Lord had chosen” as the place “for His name to dwell”. (12:5, 11, 14, 18, 26). Note also that Moses continues talking about this “place” in Deuteronomy 14:23–25; 15:20; and 16:2, 6–7, 15–16. The word “dwell” is defined for us in 1^st Kings 8:13 as a “settled place.” Perhaps we could say it this way: God was looking for some place on this sinful planet where who He is in all of His glory was able to be “established” and “at home”. What just absolutely transcends human comprehension, however, is that for those of us who comprise the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the “place” in which the Lord our God has now “chosen” as the place He intends for “His name to dwell”; that place where who He is in all of His glory is able to be “settled” and “at home”, is “IN” us! Paul said in 2^nd Corinthians 6:16, “…ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Hallelujah!

CHRIST IS REVEALED: As THE BURNT OFFERING — Deuteronomy 12:16 (Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews 10:10, 12)

OVERVIEW:

A recounting of the ten commandments; the greatest commandment; instructions for new homes; instructions for the new land; admonitions to remember the Lord.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As Moses begins his second address to the people in chapter 5, in preparation for their entrance into the land of Canaan, he reminds them of their responsibility to HEAR the word of God: to LEARN it, to KEEP it, and to DO it! As we are pursuing God on a SPIRITUAL journey into the land of abundance and fruitfulness that He designed for us “in Christ”, let us heed these admonitions with the same fervor and passion we would expect the children of Israel to have had in anticipation of God leading them in their PHYSICAL journey into the land of promise. Let us likewise be passionate to HEAR, LEARN, KEEP, and DO the word of God!

Moses then reminds the children of Israel of the importance of them taking PERSONALLY the covenant God had made with them. He says in 5:3, “The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.” Let Moses’ words, to the children of Israel, serve as a great reminder that the covenant of grace, and to which those of us who comprise His church have entered, are spiritual realities God intends for each of us to take very PERSONALLY, making certain we have made PERSONAL APPLICATION of all His commands and promises. The promises of the new covenant that God made are not just intended for our forefathers, they are for US!

Moses then begins to recount to the people the infamous ten commandments that he had previously received. Deuteronomy 5:29 gives us a beautiful glimpse into the heart of God and the desire He has for His people: “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Our Lord Jesus Christ expressed this same heart and sentiment in Matthew 23:37, saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Let us always be certain that our HEARTS are set upon the Lord; to fear Him, and to ALWAYS keep ALL His commandments.

In chapter 6:4–5, Moses gives what Jesus referred to as the “great commandment”. It is simply this: based off our firm belief that the God of the Bible is the one and only God and Lord, we are to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our might.

Moses then instructs the people to make sure that they took responsibility for taking the words God was using him to speak to them that day and teaching them to their children. Obviously, this screams to us the responsibility we have of teaching our children the word of God. (Ephesians 6:4) We must recognize, however, that the responsibility of teaching our children the word of God does not simply mean taking them to church for someone else to teach them. It can certainly be a wonderful blessing to have others come alongside of us in this task, but we must understand that the responsibility to teach our children the word of God was given solely to us as their parents! Notice in verse 7 of chapter 6, we must not only “teach them” the word of God, but “teach them DILIGENTLY”! We must not take this responsibility flippantly or approach it haphazardly! He continues in verse 7 to explain what it looks like in real life for us to “DILIGENTLY” teach our children. He tells us that it should include the times when we are simply sitting with them in our house; when we are with them on our way somewhere (walking or driving); when we are putting them to bed at night; and in the morning when they wake up. Perhaps it should not surprise us that it is these very times that the clamor of this world and the distractions of the devil have sought to take from us. Oh, let us seek to reclaim these special times for the Lord and our children!

But, also, recognize that this passage lets us know that it’s not simply enough to “TELL” our children all the right stuff about God, and simply to “TELL” our children how to have a relationship with Him. This passage tells us that these things must be MODELED for them! Perhaps the most IMPORTANT instruction God gives to parents in this passage about how to instruct their children is also the most OVERLOOKED instruction in this passage! God says to parents in verse 6, “And these words, which I command thee (parents) this day, SHALL BE IN THINE HEART”! The fact is, many parents teach their children, and even “DILIGENTLY” teach their children, and yet, it ultimately “does not work”, for the simple fact that the things they were teaching their children were not, first and foremost, “IN THEIR HEART”! The right words were coming out of their LIPS, but the right words were not being modeled through their LIFE! We must recognize the instruction God intends for our children to receive from us must not only be TAUGHT to them it must also be CAUGHT by them! Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, God’s word must be in our HEARTS!

Notice also that God warns the children of Israel (and us!) of the tendency we have as humans to FORGET GOD. God warns that there is a danger that after struggling in our journey to get to the place God intends for us to be, that we will become COMFORTABLE and COMPLACENT, and forget God, and all HE did to bring us into the place where His promises are being fulfilled in our lives.

As Moses then points them toward the future, he also warns of the danger of making COMPROMISES with the enemy, and tells us that we must likewise instill this disdain for the enemy into our children. Oh parents, let us both TEACH verbally and MODEL practically for our children, God’s instruction in 2^nd Corinthians 6:17–18: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As THE EVERLASTING COVENANT – Deuteronomy 5:2 (Hebrews 13:20, 21; John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47)

As MEDIATOR – Deuteronomy 5:5 (1^st Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6)

As WELL-PLEASING – Deuteronomy 6:18 (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Luke 3:22)

As CALLED OUT OF EGYPT – Deuteronomy 6:21 (Matthew 2:13–15)

As ONE WHO WILL SMITE THE NATIONS – Deuteronomy 7:2 (Revelation 19:15)

As REDEEMER – Deuteronomy 7:8 (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12) As ONE WHO WILL REPAY FACE TO FACE – Deuteronomy 7:10 (Revelation 1:7)

OVERVIEW:

Moses’ history lesson from the Ten Commandments to the Spies; the wilderness; the nations avoided; the nations conquered; Joshua charged to be the next leader; the people compelled to heed God’s word.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

We have now made our way to the fifth book of the Bible, the book of Deuteronomy. “Deuteronomy” simply means “second law”. But understand, that it’s not actually “another law” that is being given in this book, it’s simply a “second giving of the law” that is being given for a generation that had not heard the “first giving of the law” at Sinai. Notice, however, that there is a marked difference between this second giving of the law and the first.

When God gave the law the first time, in the book of Exodus, it was pretty much: “OBEY ME because I’m God and because I SAID!” It was a RESPONSIBILITY and that responsibility was connected to DUTY. But in the book of Deuteronomy, when God gave the law the second time, it is beautifully associated with a different word. This time it’s connected to LOVE! For the first time, God talks about His LOVE for His PEOPLE and the desire in His heart for His people to LOVE HIM! God lets His people know in this book, that yes, He wants us to OBEY Him, but He wants us to do it, NOT because we feel that it is our RESPONSIBILITY, NOT out of a sense of OBLIGATION or DUTY, NOT out of FEAR, or because of the CONSEQUENCES if we don’t, but because of LOVE! Sure, it is a RESPONSIBILITY, but it is to fulfill the LAW of LOVE!

It should be noted that the Jews referred to the first five books of the Bible as the Torah, meaning “teaching, doctrine, or instruction”. Christians commonly refer to these same books as “the Pentateuch”, which comes from a compound Greek word that means “five books”. Jesus referred to these first five books of the Old Testament in at least three ways:

It is also interesting to note that the New Testament writers quote the book of Deuteronomy more than any Old Testament book – at least 80 times! In our Lord’s temptation in the wilderness, with each one, He quoted a verse relevant to the temptation, and, interestingly enough, each of the three verses He quoted were from the book of Deuteronomy! (Matthew 4:4/Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:7/Deuteronomy 6:16; Matthew 4:10/Deuteronomy 6:13)

By comparing the LAST verse of the book of Numbers with the FIRST verse of the book of Deuteronomy, it helps us to contextualize and summarize God’s intention through both books. In short, the book of Numbers is God’s “commands and judgments” given through Moses while the children of Israel were in the plains of Moab; and the book of Deuteronomy is a series of addresses Moses gave to the children of Israel as they prepared to enter the land of promise, Canaan.

The urgency and passion behind Moses’ words in these addresses is more than apparent. He “preaches” as a man fully aware that his death is imminent. Oh, may we likewise preach as a dying man to dying men!

It is believed that the date of the writing of this book was sometime shortly AFTER delivering the addresses, and sometime shortly BEFORE his death (34:5) in approximately 1405 B.C. Obviously, the record of Moses’ death and of what took place after it in Deuteronomy 34 is a divinely inspired appendix to the book that was written by another author, most likely, his successor and longtime partner in ministry, Joshua.

Keep in mind that the children of Israel in the Old Testament are a picture of the individual believer in the New Testament. Just as has been pictured through the children of Israel in the books of Exodus to Deuteronomy, AFTER being delivered out of the bondage of “Egypt” (our deliverance from our bondage to sin, Satan, and self: i.e. the world), BEFORE we can actually enter into the promised land of “Canaan” (the victorious Christian life: the life of fullness, fruit-bearing, and abundance in Christ!), there is a WILDERNESS to go through! It is the part of our journey where we, like the children of Israel, must learn to submit our stubborn wills to the will of our Lord as it is revealed through His word. None of us will enter into the life of abundance God intended our salvation to bring (John 10:10) without experiencing this absolute surrender of ourselves and our wills. It has been said that it took God approximately 40 HOURS to bring the children of Israel out of EGYPT, but it took approximately 40 YEARS to bring EGYPT out of the children of Israel! (Remember, it was only an 11-day journey through the wilderness — Deuteronomy 1:2!)

Note, in chapter 3 and verse 24, that Moses refers to God’s wondrous works in Israel’s exodus as only what He had “begun” to do to show Moses and the children of Israel His “greatness” and His “mighty hand”. So, it is with our exodus! Paul said in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath BEGUN a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Yes, God did a mighty work in delivering us out of Egypt (the world/sin), but He has great and mighty works He still intends to perform in our lives in bringing us into the “Promised Land” (the life of abundance and fullness in Christ).

Take special note that Moses’ words to the children of Israel, in Deuteronomy 4:29, are the words chosen as the theme verse to inspire us and direct us through the 365 Days of Pursuit. Obviously, this is a promise given specifically to the children of Israel, and yet, the general principle revealed in this verse is one that has application for people in every generation and in every dispensation. God has always desired that His people see Him through the revelation of His holy word, and when our pursuit of Him is so passionate that it involves all our heart and all our soul, the reality is, we will find Him! Let that continue to be our passionate pursuit in the remaining 43 weeks of our 365 Days of Pursuit!

Deuteronomy 4:30 is a very significant verse for our times. Many (most?) Christians from an “evangelical” persuasion (meaning, fundamentally sound regarding the need for and means of salvation) are now teaching that God is finished with the Jew, and that the church has replaced Israel. The ramifications and dangers of this teaching are huge. One of the strongest indictments in the entire New Testament is related to this very teaching! In dictating to John, the letter to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2, our Lord Jesus Christ said that those who say they are Jews when they are not (and as Gentile, church age believers, we most definitely are not!), make themselves of “the synagogue of Satan!” In other words, this is a satanically-inspired teaching! The most popular violator is, no doubt, the Roman Catholic Church who believes that their first, so-called “Pope”, Peter, the Apostle to the Jews, was the one given the keys to the kingdom of heaven which is the literal, physical, governmental kingdom promised to the Jews (the nation of Israel — Acts 1:7). But the teaching that the church has replaced Israel in God’s program has now also made its way into most, quote-unquote, “evangelical” churches and institutions of higher learning. What usually accompanies this teaching is that there will be no Rapture, and, subsequently, no Tribulation Period and Millennium. Way back in Deuteronomy 4:30–31, however, the Bible very clearly spells out something completely different! Verses 30 and 31 say, “When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.” In other words, once the church has been removed at the Rapture, which then ushers in the Tribulation Period, God will fulfill His promises to the nation of Israel! Please note that maintaining this distinction is vital to properly understand the Bible and to remain steadfast in sound doctrine.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE – Deuteronomy 1:17 (2^nd Timothy 4:8)

As DELIVERER – Deuteronomy 1:30; 2:33; 3:3 (Romans 8:21; Galatians 1:4)

As THE FAITHFUL ONE – Deuteronomy 2:9, 12, 19 (1^st Corinthians 10:13; 2^nd Thessalonians 3:3; 1^st John 1:9) As TEACHER – Deuteronomy 4:14 (John 8:28)

OVERVIEW:

A summary of Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness; the dividing of the land of Canaan; the inheritance of the Levites; the cities of refuge; the laws concerning female inheritance within the patriarchal tribe.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In chapter 33, God provides us with a summary of Israel’s journeys from Egypt to the Jordan. Note God’s stern warning in 33:55: “But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.” In the New Testament equivalent, God is picturing here the fact that living in the fullness of victory, as He has designed in Christ (i.e., Canaan), is dependent upon us overcoming “every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” (Hebrews 12:1) We must be sure we understand that any area of our flesh that we refuse to deal with will become pricks in our eyes, and thorns in our sides, and shall vex us in our walk with Christ!

In chapter 34, God caused the children of Israel to look ahead to the time when they would possess Canaan, as He assigned to each tribe the portion of their inheritance in the land. The Levites were also assigned their special cities, and perhaps most importantly, the cities of refuge are defined in chapter 35. We will talk further about the cities of refuge as we move into the book of Joshua, but do note some beautiful pictures of Christ, to Whom we “have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:18)

The cities of refuge were:

1) APPOINTED BY GOD, NOT MOSES. 

Moses did not choose these cities, picturing the fact that the law (Moses) cannot save anyone. Just as these cities were appointed by God to be a shelter or refuge from judgment as an act of His grace, so Christ, as an act of God’s grace (John 3:16), was appointed by God to be our shelter of refuge from the judgment of sin. (John 1:29)

2) ANNOUNCED BY GOD IN HIS WORD. 

The six cities are specifically named in Joshua 20:7–8, and could never be changed. There were other cities that were larger and more prominent, but none of them could shelter the sinner. God has also specifically named Christ as the one and only shelter from sin, though many of the world’s religions are larger or more prominent. Based on the authority of God’s word, God’s “Refuge”, Christ, will never change! (John 4:6; Acts 4:12)

3) ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MEN. 

The six cities were arranged by God so that no tribe was very far away from the place of safety. They were all very accessible. We are told by the rabbis that there were signposts that pointed the way to the cities of refuge, and that the gates of these cities were never shut. God has made Christ accessible to all men, even children! (Matthew 18:3) The Holy Spirit is given to point men to Christ (John 16:13-14), and all who come will find His gates open wide! (John 6:37)

4) THE GUILTY HAD TO APPROPRIATE GOD’S PROVISION TO ESCAPE PUNISHMENT.

It wasn’t enough to know that the cities of refuge existed, or even to believe that they could provide refuge from judgment. The guilty had to actually enter into the city. So, it is not enough that a sinner believe that Christ, as God, existed, or even that they believe that He is God’s Refuge from the judgment of sin: the sinner must be “IN CHRIST”!  (2^nd Corinthians 5:17)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the PROMISED LAND — Numbers 33:50–54 (Note that the land was filled with abundance and protection for those who took God at His word. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”)

In the CITIES OF REFUGE — Numbers 35 (Hebrews 6:18–20 – Christ is our Refuge from the judgment of God and the curse of the law.) In the INHERITANCE of the children of Israel — Numbers 36:7 (Ephesians 1:10–11)

OVERVIEW:

The daily and weekly offerings; the sabbath and monthly offerings, and the offerings to be given at the appointed feasts; God’s instruction concerning vows; God’s judgment upon the Midianites; the division of the booty obtained from the Midianites; the officers and captains bring an offering to the Lord; Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh settle east of the Jordan.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapters 28 and 29 deal with the subject of the Lord’s offerings, and are actually an amplification of the instructions already given in Leviticus 23. Keep in mind that all of the offerings speak of Christ and find their fulfillment in Him. (Matthew 5:17) Understanding that makes Numbers 28:2 beautifully significant as God speaks of these offerings as “my bread”. Christ is the One in whom the Father has found His delight and perfect satisfaction. (Matthew 3:17)  

In chapter 30, God talks about the seriousness of making vows to Him. He wants to make certain that His people did not take ENTERING into a vow with Him lightly, or take the BREAKING of a vow lightly. Though we are not instructed to make vows, as such, as New Testament believers, wasn’t our very salvation a sacred “vow” of sorts, as we recognized that our lives were not our own because of the price Christ paid to redeem us, and so we exchanged our life for His? (1^st Corinthians 6:19–20; Matthew 16:24)

The purpose of God’s command to go to war against Midian in chapter 31 was two-fold:

1. To “avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites” (31:2)
2. To “avenge the Lord of Midian.” (31:3)

It served that two-fold purpose because the Midianites had devastated Israel, not as “ENEMIES” in a PHYSICAL war, but as “FRIENDS” in a SPIRITUAL war. The idol-worshipping Midianites seduced the children of Israel into committing “SPIRITUAL ADULTERY” against the Lord, and became involved in “PHYSICAL ADULTERY” with their women. It had resulted in the death of 24,000 Israelites! (Numbers 25:9)

In this war that God designed to provide HUMAN RETALIATION and DIVINE RETRIBUTION, three significant things stand out:

1. The easiness of the victory.
2. The enormity of the spoil.
3. The absence of the loss of life. (Not one of the Israelites was killed!)

Keep in mind that like Israel, we, too, have been called to war against our PHYSICAL enemy, the flesh (Galatians 5:17), and to war against our SPIRITUAL enemy, the devil and his principalities and powers. (Ephesians 6:10-17) When we walk in obedience to the word of God, and appropriate the victory that Christ has already won, we can expect the same result as the children of Israel in Numbers 31!

In chapter 32, the tribes of Reuben and Gad approach Moses for permission to settle in a piece of property recently acquired on the east of Jordan. They had set their affection on what they could see with their “physical eyes” (note in 32:1 – “and when they saw”), rather than what God had in store for them, in the land that was promised, that required the “eyes of faith”. From a human and financial standpoint, their request was very reasonable and made all the sense in the world, but spiritually, it was an act of selfishness, compromise, and lack of faith. Israel’s place was INSIDE Canaan, not OUTSIDE! That was the whole purpose for the exodus: to bring them into a new land. (Deuteronomy 6:23) God wanted the entire nation to enter the land as one, and for all of Israel to desire to be near the tabernacle, and thus, constantly living in His presence. We see the result of their choice in 1^st Chronicles 5:18–26 and 2^nd Kings 15:29. It wasn’t long before they bowed themselves to the gods of the people around them, and they were the first to go into captivity.

Obviously, these tribes are a graphic picture of self-indulgent, worldly Christians who foolishly set their affection on things on earth rather than on the things above (Colossians 3:1–2), allowing physical or financial advantages to be their first consideration, and the key factor in making the decisions of life. Like Israel, our place is in CANAAN, not in this WORLD! We are to be living in this world, but all the while, our affection driving us to seek the things which are above, lest we, like Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, be overtaken by the world, the flesh, and the devil.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the OFFERINGS of the FEAST of TABERNACLES – Numbers 29:12–39 (Compare Numbers 29:12 with Leviticus 23:24) – John 1:14 (“The Word was made flesh and DWELT among us…” Note that the word “dwelt” is the word “tabernacle”, meaning “to temporarily live in a tent”.)

In MOSES, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE of the wicked – Numbers 31:1–17 (Revelation 16:5; 19:11; 2^nd Thessalonians 1:7–9; Jude 14–15)

OVERVIEW:

Israel’s sin of fornication; God’s judgment in the plague of death; the plague halted because of the zeal of Phinehas; the second numbering (census) of Israel; the law of inheritance; Moses views the Promised Land; Moses installs Joshua as Israel’s leader.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we saw in yesterday’s reading, Balak was bound and determined to get Balaam to curse Israel. Because Balaam wanted the money and honor that Balak promised him for doing so, he repeatedly tried to curse them, but God would only allow him to speak blessing.

Since Balaam couldn’t curse them, he suggests a way to put the children of Israel in a situation where God Himself would curse them. God outlines Balaam’s simple plan in His commentary on Numbers 25:1–8 found in Revelation 2:14 that He calls, “the doctrine of Balaam.”

1. He taught Balak how to cause the children of Israel “to eat things sacrificed to idols”.

2. He taught Balak how to cause the children of Israel “to commit fornication”.

Though Balaam wasn’t successful in getting GOD to turn away from ISRAEL, he was successful in getting ISRAEL to turn away from GOD. He wickedly suggests to Balak, king of Moab, that the Moabite women make friends with the men of Israel. (Keep James 4:4 in mind: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”) The “friendliness” of the Moabite women quickly led the Israelite men “as an ox goeth to the slaughter” (Proverbs 7:22), right into sexual immorality and idol worship. Israel’s disobedience resulted in a plague of death that swept through the camp of Israel. When it was all said and done, 24,000 people had been killed! (25:9)

The hero of this whole tragedy was Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron. One Israelite was so bold in his sin and lust, he actually brought one of the Midianite women into Israel’s camp to have a sexual relationship with her right in Moses’ face, as it were. Phinehas came into the tent and thrust both of them through with a javelin while in the very act. God honors the zeal of Phinehas by turning away the plague of death before any others were killed, and by giving him a “covenant of peace” and an “everlasting priesthood”. Phinehas gives new meaning to “Blessed are the peacemakers”!

In chapter 26, God calls for the second “numbering”, or census, of the children of Israel in the book of Numbers. At this point, all of the 603,550 men included in the first census were dead, with the exception of Joshua, Caleb, and Moses, and at this point, Moses wasn’t long for this world either! The total of the second census was 601,730…1820 fewer than the first census taken some 38 years previous. Catch the pitifulness of Numbers 26:63–65: “These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”

Another significant event was to take place before Israel was to enter Canaan. God wanted Moses to do two things:

1. To go up to Mount Abarim so that he could view the land he had been forbidden to enter. (27:12–14) Just imagine what must have been going through Moses’ heart at that moment!
2. To install Joshua as the new leader. (26:15–23)

Chapter 27 ends with Moses blessing Joshua, and laying his hands upon him, symbolically transferring the leadership that God had entrusted to him.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In JOSHUA, who would lead people likened to sheep which have no shepherd – Numbers 27:17 (Mark 6:34; 1^st Peter 2:25)

OVERVIEW:

Miriam’s death; Moses strikes the rock twice; Edom refuses to allow Israel passage on their land; Aaron’s death; the judgment of the fiery serpents; the serpent of brass; Israel defeats King Arad, the Amorites, and the Moabites; Balaam is hired to curse the Israelites; the prophecies of Balaam.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapter 20 marks the end of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness. The death of Aaron, which takes place in this chapter, happened in the fortieth year after the children of Israel came up out of Egypt (see Numbers 3:38), and from this point, Israel either marched or halted, but did not wander.

It is significant that this chapter groups together three significant events:

1. Miriam’s death; 
2. Moses sin (striking the rock twice);
3. Aaron’s death. 

These three events point to the fact that Aaron, representative of the priesthood, could not successfully lead Israel into the land of promise and rest; nor could Miriam, representative of the prophets; nor could Moses, representative of the law. The way into the “Promised Land” was to be led by Joshua, whom, we will see as we study the book that bears his name, is an incredible type of the Lord Jesus Christ! (Note: “Joshua” is the Hebrew rendering of the name “Jesus” and is translated “Jesus” in Acts 7:45!)

The reason God was so stern with Moses about disobeying His command to speak to the rock is revealed in 1^st Corinthians 10:4. That wasn’t just any rock; that Rock was Christ! The Rock had already been smitten once (Exodus 17:5), and God didn’t want it smitten again. Striking it again would imply that Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross wasn’t sufficient to pay for man’s sin. Because of Moses’ defilement of the type, he was not permitted to enter Canaan. Husbands, take note, God does not take kindly when someone spoils the picture of His Son! You, too, are a picture of Christ in your relationship to your wife! (Ephesians 5:22–32) Unless your relationship with your wife is right, it will be just as impossible for you to enter Canaan (the fullness of life in Christ) as it was for Moses!

Chapter 21 presents another incredible picture of Christ. The people had been bitten with the fiery serpents because of two sins:

1. They spoke against God; and
2. They spoke against Moses.

Because of their sin, they were dying. (Numbers 21:5–6) In like fashion, we are sinners because we have sinned against God, and because we have sinned against our fellow man. (Mark 12:30–31) Because of our sin, we have been bitten by the fiery serpent of sin, and are destined to die. (Romans 6:23a, “the wages of sin is death”.)

God’s remedy in Israel was a serpent of brass that was to be lifted up on a pole among the people, and all who looked to it were delivered from death to life. In John 3:14, Jesus said, “And AS Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him (i.e. looks to Him in faith) should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Note several things comparing the physical salvation provided through the serpent of brass lifted up on the pole, to the spiritual salvation provided through the Lord Jesus Christ, lifted up on the cross:

1. Their salvation was BY FAITH. It wasn’t by anything they did, the command was simply to “LOOK and LIVE!”
2. It was BY FAITH ALONE. Israel was not saved by looking at the serpent AND keeping the Law…or bringing a sacrifice…or by promising reform. They were saved by faith alone. Likewise, our salvation is not Christ PLUS anything! If anything needs to be ADDED to Christ, it is to say that Christ is not sufficient in Himself to provide our salvation. God forbid!
3. There was only ONE REMEDY. We have all heard countless times that, “There are many roads to heaven.” There was only ONE REMEDY in the camp of Israel, and there is only ONE REMEDY today! Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am THE WAY (not “a” way)…no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Unless a person looks to Christ by faith, the sting of death (1^st Corinthians 15:56) is inevitable and eternal.
4. Their salvation was IMMEDIATE. Just as there was an immediate miracle when the bitten victim in Israel looked to the serpent of brass, so every sinner bitten by the fiery serpent of sin receives the immediate miracle of eternal life when He looks to Christ by faith.

Chapters 22–24 record the strange story of Balaam and Balak. Balak tried to hire Balaam to curse the children of Israel, but every time he opened his mouth to do so, much to Balaam’s surprise, and Balak’s anger, out came blessing!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the ROCK which Moses struck – Numbers 20:8–11; Exodus 17:6 (Christ, the Rock was struck once through His death on the cross and does not need to be struck again – 1^st Corinthians 10:4; Romans 6:10 – “For in that he died, he died unto sin once.”)

In the SERPENT OF BRASS – Numbers 21:8–9 (John 3:14)

In the prophesied STAR and SCEPTER – Numbers 24:17 (Hebrews 1:8 – scepter; Revelation 22:16 – star)