The Book of Deuteronomy is without a doubt the Bible book of the story of the hearts of mankind. The heart conditions of God’s chosen people who were promised with a covenant given to the Prophet Abraham that they would see the Promised Land; the territory of Canaan that God promised to give to Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites.
Spanning the region in the modern-day Middle East, it serves as the ultimate destination for the Israelites fleeing slavery after 400 years in Egypt. The Promised Land symbolizes God’s enduring covenant with His friend Abraham, a Hebrew.
Moses was 120 years old, strong and able bodied when he stood on a mountain overlooking the Promised Land. Finally, after governing the Israelites out of Egypt, through the miracle of the parting of the waters of the Red Sea. The Israelites walking through the desert toward the Promised Land. It took them 40 years. Why did it take 40 years? It should have only taken 11 days. It was an eleven day walk from Egypt to the Promised land.
The Book of Deuteronomy was the one Bible book used more than any other book in the Bible. People usually describe the book as just Moses repeating the law. Then why did Jesus refer to it during the 40 days He was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan?
“How long will these people despise me? How long will they not believe in me in spite of all the signs I have shown them? How long will they not believe me? How long will they not believe in who “I am who I say I am” and do what I say to do?” God pleaded.
The real issue was unbelief. The root cause was lack of trust in God; God’s Promises and Commands. It wasn’t their disobedience which was vast. It wasn’t their breaking the laws given to Moses; the focus of their behaviors or legalism. It was never a legal problem. It was a faith problem. It was their doubting God; their lack of love for their Creator, Almighty God; their total lack of FAITH.
Now after all the miracles…The generation of Israelites that left Egypt will not enter Canaan, the Promised Land. Now it was an 11-day trip that will take 40 years. They will wander in the desert for 40 years; one year for every day the 12 Israelite spies were in the Promised Land and only two men, Caleb and Joshua came back to Moses with the confidence, the faith knowing they were able to conquer the land, the giants and take the Promised Land.
God in His disdain judged the entire nation of Israel and everyone over the age of 20 who chose fear over faith was to die in the desert; an entire generation of unfaithful Israelites. They could have been celebrating in the rolling hills of Canaan. This generation who saw the Red Sea split for them to walk out of Egypt; their children will now only see the Promised Land. Why? Unfaithful doubters.
In the wilderness with Moses having heard 10,000 disputes; tens of thousands of complaints and Aaron, his brother are standing by a rock. The Israelites are thirsty. God has never once not provided for them through their entire lives. God has kept their fires going. God has provided bread for them to eat and water for them to drink and now, Moses is discouraged and in utter despair for a people who forgot his name the moment something went wrong. Moses is on bended knees, then stands up and screams at the Israelites as he stands in front of a rock having lost all patience after 40 years and is furious Moses does not speak to the rock, he hits it twice and says, “Hear now you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” Moses said WE, not God’s Power; as if the miracle belonged to them, Moses and Aaron. As if they were the ones with the power. As if the 40 years of provisions were of human achievement. The water comes anyways. The camels and the people drink. Then God says to Moses, “Because you did not Believe in Me, to uphold Me as Holy in the eyes of Israel, therefore, you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them. It was one moment and one sentence spoken in anger in front of 2 million witnesses and the Promise Land closes. Our proximity to God does not exempt anyone from consequences. An entire generation of Israelites were stuck in the wilderness for 40 years until the generation died off.
Then Moses overlooking the Promised Land at 120 years in perfect health spoke to the new generation and repeatedly said the word “REMEMBER” as he pleaded with the new generation who had not witnessed the times in Egypt and who were provided for all the days of their lives; Moses said ‘REMEMBER.” Remember what our Creator God has done for us, His chosen people. Moses was not allowed into the Promised Land by God because of the Water from the Rock. Moses passed away and God’s own hands buried Moses in a valley in the land of Moab opposite Peor. (Deuteronomy 34:5-6) No one knows to this day where the grave of Moses is, God’s most beloved Prophet, but God.
REMEMBER how God, brought each of us, His chosen ones He knew even the embryo of out of the world, taught each of us throughout our lifetime and made us rich with Holy Spirit not wanting for anything? REMEMBER.
Always Christian at Anne Fisher Foundation. Women Protecting Women and Children. Amen! Amen!