02 March

Bible in 365 Days

Deuteronomy 8-10

Deuteronomy 8

Still continuing this discourse, Moses declared that the land when purified of the corrupt people was to be possessed by the people of God as His chosen nation. He showed that the first condition of possession was that they should remember the past with all it had taught them. They must never forget that God had led them and that the way of His leading was purposeful.

All the experiences of the wilderness were in order that they might learn two lessons: first, that they might know their own heart. It is important that we recognize that the meaning of this passage is not that God might know them, but that they might come to know themselves. God knows man perfectly. The important thing is that man should come to know himself.

Out of the humbling that such knowledge must bring to man, a second lesson would be learned, namely, the fact of his need of God and of God's guidance and government.

Therefore, all the chastening and discipline of God resulted from His love. God ever treated man as a man treats his son.

The second principle of possession insisted upon was that the people should live by the Word of God, that is, that they must act on the lessons they had learned and keep the commandments of Him from whom they had received the land as a gift.

Solemnly Moses warned the people against the peril of imagining that their possession of the land was the result of personal effort or thinking that it was by their own strength they had entered therein.

Deuteronomy 9

It is interesting to note that as the final announcement of their approaching entrance to the land was made the difficulties which the people had faced at Kadesh­barnea were recognized as still confronting them, and they were shown that these difficulties were not difficulties to God. Moses also insisted that they were not being taken into the land because of their righteousness but as the instruments of God's government of the world.

The truth so declared was further emphasized by a repetition of the sad story of their failure which had manifested itself from the very beginning of their history, their coming out of Egypt. In Horeb they had provoked the Lord to wrath and were saved only by the intervention of Moses. At Taberah the spirit of discontent brought down on them the fire of God. At Massah they had doubted God and provoked Him. At Kibroth­hattaavah they murmured because of their privations. Finally, at Kadesh­barnea they had refused belief in God. All these facts thus massed demonstrated the truth of the affirmation that they were not being brought into the land because they were righteous.

Deuteronomy 10

In recounting the story of the writing of the Law the second time, Moses distinctly affirmed that these tables too were written by God Himself. This was the culminating word in all he had said to them concerning their unfaithfulness. Side by side with their failure had been the manifestation of the pity and forbearance of God. They were therefore now being called upon to enter the land in spite of their own unrighteousness because of the compassion of God and His set determination to carry forward His larger purposes through them.

In a passage of great beauty, thrilling with earnestness, Moses made a statement summarizing the truth concerning the requirements of God as His people entered the land. The whole revealed the fact that everything depended on their relationship to Him. They were to fear Him, that is reverence; to walk in His ways, that is obedience; to love Him, that is worship; to serve Him, that is co­operation; to keep His commandments, that is fidelity.

In order to encourage them in such attitudes and activities, he made two great declarations concerning God. The first (Deuteronomy 10:14­-16) concerned their relationship to Him. He is a great God, possessing all. He is a God of love, having delighted in their fathers and choosing their seed. In consequence of these facts they were called on to maintain the attitude of separation, in the words, "Circumcise . . . the foreskin of your heart."

The second (Deuteronomy 10:17­-19) declared anew the greatness of God as the Ruler of all things and of His love as it expresses itself in just dealing with the needy and the stranger. These convictions were to create their attitude toward strangers. They were to love them. Finally He made his appeal to them to fear, serve, cleave I to, and swear by Jehovah their God.