Deuteronomy 1 – 2

Posted on Mar 10, 2016 in Reading the Bible in 2016 |

(Thursday)

We have come to a pivotal point in the life of the Israelites. Forty years of wandering is now behind them and Moses is going to share with the people some words of wisdom.

He begins by recalling all that God has done for them, first at Mt Sinai where God made His covenant agreement with them and continuing by sharing the importance of good leaders. Moses said he couldn’t do it alone and God gave him permission to seek out wise and respected men from each tribe to help with settling disputes. We also are told that Edom, which was occupied by the descendants of Esau. You remember Esau’s was the brother of Jacob, father of the 12 tribes of Israel. Moses then related the sending out of the 12 spies (one from each tribe) to check out the land they would be given.

Unfortunately, even when the spies came back with incredible samples of the fruit growing there, they were too overcome by the size of the people living there and their fear showed; their lack of faith, which was the basis of their relationship with God.

And now, the generation that was disobedient and too faint of heart to possess the land God had given them, has now died out. This retelling of the story helps to emphasis how God has been with His people every step of the way. How even though their reactions are not always obedient or based on their faith in God, how time and again, they failed Him, God never abandoned them.

This helps me to know that even when I failed him, when I was disobedient, when my faith was not strong, that God has always been with me, every step of my life. I hope that as you have read this you too, will be able to experience the Presence of God throughout your life.

Blessings

Pastor Kathy

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