Tag Archives: Sanctification

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Scripture reading – Joshua 9-10

Joshua 9 – The Enemy, of My Enemy, Is My Friend

The Deception of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:1-13)

The defeat and destruction of both Jericho and Ai moved other kings in Canaan to set aside their rivalries and form confederacies to challenge Israel’s invasion of the land (9:1). And so, “they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord” (9:2).

One city-state, Gibeon, believed all they had heard regarding Israel and “what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai” (9:3). Joshua 10 reveals that Gibeon was “one of the royal cities, because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty” (10:2).

Believing it was inevitable that Israel would attack Gibeon in the manner of Jericho and Ai, the Gibeonites determined to pursue peace with Israel (9:4). Sending ambassadors, by craft and deceit, the men of Gibeon made Joshua and the elders believe they had traveled a great distance, and from a far country (9:5-13).

The Discovery of the Gibeonites’ Dishonesty (Joshua 9:14-18)

Assessing the old shoes and clothes worn by the men of Gibeon and the moldy bread and patched wineskins, the leaders of Israel believed the Gibeonites were from a far country. Joshua and Israel then committed a grave error: They failed to seek the “counsel at the mouth of the LORD” (9:14).

“Joshua made peace with [the Gibeonites], and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware [an oath] unto them” (9:15). Three days passed when Joshua received the news that the Gibeonites had deceived him and the leaders of Israel. They learned the cities of Gibeon were no more than a three-day journey from their encampment (9:16-17). The congregation began murmuring against Joshua and their leaders, knowing they had allied with an enemy (9:18).

The Covenant with Gibeon (Joshua 9:19-27)

Although the Gibeonites had come under pretenses, the leaders of Israel reasoned with the people that they could not break their oath (9:19-20). So, a compromise was pursued, and it was determined that the Gibeonites would assume the lowest positions of servitude and become woodcutters and water carriers (9:21-27).

Joshua 10 – The Day the Sun Stood Still

The Confederacy with Gibeon (Joshua 10:1-7)

Because Gibeon was a great city and one whose men were mighty (10:2), the Gibeonites’ treaty with Israel became a cause of great concern for their neighbors (10:1). Adon-zedek, king of Jerusalem, the city closest to Gibeon, allied with five Amorite kings (10:3), and “encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it” (10:4-5). As a result, the men of Gibeon appealed to Joshua and Israel to fulfill their treaty and come to their defense (10:6-7).

The Battle and Defeat of the Amorites (Joshua 10:8-14)

With the LORD’s assurance that He would be with him, Joshua and his army marched through the night (10:8-9) and attacked the kings encamped against Gibeon. Then the LORD sent confusion among the Amorites, and as they fled, He “cast down great [hail] stones from heaven…[and] they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword” (10:10-11).

Joshua, desiring to utterly destroy the Amorites, called upon the LORD, “and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. ¹³And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed…And hasted not to go down about a whole day” (10:12-13a).

Joshua and Israel’s Victory over the Amorites (Joshua 10:15-43)

What a great day it was, and one Israel forever remembered. Indeed, “there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel” (10:14). God blessed Joshua, and the five Amorite kings were captured, humiliated, and put to death. Their bodies were hung upon five trees until that evening (10:15-27).

Closing thoughts:

We read a summary of Israel’s victorious southern campaign, and it concludes with this testimony:

“All these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel” (10:42).

Questions to consider:

1) How did the Gibeonites deceive Joshua? (Joshua 9:4-13)

2) What did Joshua and the leaders of Israel fail to do? (Joshua 9:14)

3) What had the Gibeonites heard concerning Moses and Israel? (Joshua 9:24)

4) What did the LORD promise Joshua concerning the kings of the Amorites? (Joshua 10:8)

5) What was the miracle in Joshua 10:12-13?

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A Silent Enemy: Sin in the Camp (Joshua 7)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 7

* This is the first of two devotionals for today.

With the fortress of Jericho defeated and destroyed, the men of Israel set their eyes on the next city, Ai. Joshua had reminded the people that the LORD had accursed all that was in Jericho, and the gold, silver, brass, and iron was sanctified and dedicated for the “treasury of the house of the LORD” (6:24, 26). Nevertheless, one man in Israel disregarded Joshua’s oath and foolishly took that which was accursed (7:1).

Joshua 7

A Concealed Sin in the Camp (7:1-2)

Joshua 7:1 reveals both the sin and the sinner, whose transgression was not discovered until thirty-six soldiers of Israel had perished in battle (7:5). We read of that tragic event: “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel” (Joshua 7:1).

Who was Achan? We could assert he was nobody in the realm of two million citizens. However, he was a transgressor who committed a great sin against the LORD. Achan was a son of the tribe of Judah (7:1) and a father with sons and daughters (7:24). He was a man of possessions, for he owned ox, asses, and sheep (7:24). He was, however, a covetous man, and a thief (7:20-21).

Defeat at Ai (7:3-5)

Unlike the battle of Jericho, there is no record that Joshua consulted the LORD before he ordered men to attack Ai (7:2). He had sent out men to spy on Ai, and they returned and advised, “Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few” (7:3). Confident, and presumptuous, Joshua heeded the advice of his spies and sent a mere three thousand soldiers to war against Ai. As a result, Israel was defeated (7:4-5), and the nation was left confused and humiliated by the deaths of thirty-six warriors of Israel.

Joshua’s Remorse (7:6-9)

Distraught by the defeat, Joshua “rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD” (7:6). He was joined by “the elders of Israel,” and “they put dust upon their heads” as a sign of mourning (7:6). In dismay, Joshua cried to the LORD, “what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies?” (7:8) He appealed to the LORD to consider how Israel’s defeat would embolden their enemies. He feared the adversaries of Israel would encircle them and “cut off [their] name from the earth,” and he wondered, “What wilt thou do unto thy great name?” (7:9)

The LORD’S Rebuke and the Cause for Israel’s Defeat (7:10-14)

Sadly, Joshua’s cry to the LORD insinuated that somehow God had failed Israel. However, such was not the case, for He had promised Joshua, “Whithersoever thou goest” I will be with you (1:9).

The LORD then rebuked Joshua and said, “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?” (7:10). He revealed that the cause for Israel’s defeat was not His unfaithfulness but the sin of one man that had troubled the whole nation (7:11-12). Therefore, the LORD warned, He would not bless the nation until the evil was put out of the camp (7:10-13).

The Discovery of Achan’s Sin (7:14-21)

The following day, Joshua made haste to begin searching out the sin in Israel and did as the LORD had commanded (7:14-16). It was revealed that the sin had been committed by a man of the tribe of Judah (7:16). When the tribe of Judah passed before Joshua, the “family of the Zarhites” was implicated (7:17). The Zarhites were examined, and the household of “Zabdi was taken, and [Joshua] brought [Zabdi’s] household man by man and; and Achan…was taken” (7:18).

Perhaps hoping his sin would go undetected, Achan held out until he was discovered. Then, when Joshua confronted and appealed for him to confess his sin (7:19), Achan answered, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done” (7:20).

Achan’s Confession (7:21)

Achan’s confession revealed the pattern of sin that men take when they sin against the LORD. First, he consideredthe opportunity to sin. He had looked “among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight” (7:21a). He then coveted them (7:21b). Achan then carriedthem to his tent (7:21c), and concealed them, hiding them “in the earth in the midst of [his] tent” (7:21).

The Effect of Achan’s Sin Upon His Household (7:22-26)

Joshua’s men searched and discovered all Achan had confessed, but no appeal would satisfy the LORD’S wrath. Because of Achan’s sin, thirty-six men had died in the defeat of Ai (7:4-5), and now the whole congregation passed judgment. Taking him, and all that he owned outside the camp, Israel stoned Achan to death, along with his sons and daughters and livestock (7:24).

All was destroyed, and the people “burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. ²⁶And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger” (7:25-26).

Closing thought:

Like many sinners, Achan only confessed his sin when it was discovered. He had the opportunity to repent, come forward, and confess his sin after Israel was defeated at Ai (thirty-six of his countrymen had perished, 7:5). Instead, his heart was hardened, and his confession was offered only after his sin was exposed. God’s people could not tolerate such evil in their midst, and the LORD bless them. The LORD had warned Joshua, “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you” (7:12).

When God’s people obey His Word, their most powerful enemies fall before them. However, we cannot overcome our weakest enemy when we conceal sin.

* Note – A second devotional will follow and be taken from Joshua 8 (the record of Israel’s victory over Ai following that nation’s judgment against Achan.)

Questions to consider from Joshua 7:

1) Why was the LORD angry with Israel? (7:1)

2) Where did the men of Israel put their confidence? (7:3)

3) How did the defeat at AI affect Israel? (7:5)

4) What were Joshua’s concerns following Israel’s defeat? (7:8-9)

5) What sins did Achan confess that invited God’s judgment? (7:20-21)

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Saving Rahab the Harlot, and God’s Amazing Grace (Joshua 6)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 6

Having crossed the Jordan River, Joshua and Israel faced the challenge of waging war with the Canaanites that inhabited the land God had promised Israel for an inheritance. The first fortified city to be conquered was ancient Jericho, whose high walls made it a strong fortress and a city that had to be destroyed before the people could enter Canaan and take possession of the land.

As a nation, Israel was two million strong by some estimates. The news of how Israel’s God had divided the waters of the Jordan, giving way for the people to cross on dry ground, terrified the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites. We read their hearts “melted, neither was there spirit in them any more” (Joshua 5:1). With an assurance that the LORD would be with him (Joshua 6:13-15), Joshua was ready to face the battles ahead.

Directions and Preparations for the Battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-5)

Fearing an imminent attack upon the city, the king of Jericho shut the gates to the fortress, and none were allowed to go out or come in (Joshua 6:1). Israel’s encampment was visible from the towers on the wall. The campfires of that multitude no doubt dotted the hillsides and the plain of Gilgal as far as the eye could see.

The LORD came to Joshua and assured him the city and its leaders were already given into his hand (Joshua 6:2). Joshua’s marching orders were unlike any that an army of warriors had ever received. Rather than a prolonged siege of the city or assailing of the walls, Joshua commanded his army to march silently around the walls.

The Silent Procession Before the Walls Fell (Joshua 6:6-21)

The soldiers of Israel went before seven priests, who carried seven “trumpets of rams’ horns,” followed by priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant (Joshua 6:3-4). Once a day, for six days, a silent procession of warriors went before seven priests bearing trumpets, who walked before the priests carrying the Ark.

Joshua had instructed the people as the LORD had commanded. Rising early on the seventh day, the parade of soldiers and priests again encircled the walls of Jericho seven times in silence (Joshua 6:5-12). However, the silence was shattered after the seventh time when the priests blew the trumpets (Joshua 6:16, 20a). Confident the LORD had given Israel the city as He had promised, the people shouted, and “the wall fell down flat,” and the people rushed straight into Jericho (Joshua 6:20b).

Remember, the LORD had accursed all that was in Jericho, save the city’s gold, silver, iron, and brass. These items the Lord claimed (Joshua 6:18-19), and it was they were placed “into the treasury of the house of the LORD” (Joshua 6:24). All the living beings of the city were to be destroyed, “both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword” (Joshua 6:21).

The Salvation and Preservation of Rahab: A Testimony of Grace (Joshua 6:22-25)

Joshua had warned the people that the city was accursed, with one exception: “Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent” (Joshua 6:17).

When the walls fell, the men who had been spies, and found safety in Rahab’s house, were commanded to “Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, [and they] brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel” (Joshua 6:22-23).

Closing thoughts: Rahab and God’s Amazing Grace

The author of Hebrews described the Battle of Jericho from the point of faith: “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31).

Rahab was spared Jericho’s destruction because she had acted in faith and believed in the God of Israel. She had come to believe and confess that the God of Israel was the True God, and Israel was His people (Joshua 6:9-12). She had welcomed the spies into her home, and when the army of Israel surrounded the city, she tied a scarlet rope around her window to symbolize her faith that she and her family would be spared.

God rewarded Rahab’s faith! Not only was she spared the destruction of Jericho, but she became the mother of Boaz and was the great-great-grandmother of King David. If you wonder how amazing God’s grace is, think about this: Rahab was named in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).! What a testimony of saving grace! She was spared death like all who are spared God’s judgment.

Ephesians 2:8–9 – ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Questions to consider:

1) Who was to encircle the city of Jericho? (Joshua 6:3-4)

2) How did the seventh day differ from the previous six days? (Joshua 6:15)

3) Why was Rahab and her family spared destruction? (Joshua 6:17)

4) Where did Rahab and her family live after Jericho was destroyed? (Joshua 6:25)

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Crossing the Jordan: An Obstacle or An Opportunity? (Joshua 4; Joshua 5)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 4-5

With the promises of the LORD and the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant, “the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan” (3:14). When the priests bearing the Ark stepped into the waters, they receded, and “and rose up upon an heap… and the people passed over right against Jericho” (3:16).

Joshua 4

A Lasting Memorial (Joshua 4:1-9)

What a glorious event in Israel’s history, and one that the LORD commanded Joshua to honor in a physical memorial of twelve stones (4:1-8). Joshua commanded twelve men, each representing his tribe, to pass before the Ark and “take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder” (4:5). The weight and size of the stones required the men to carry them upon their shoulder. So they went before the Ark and brought them to Gilgal (4:8, 19-20), where Israel encamped after crossing the dry riverbed into Canaan.

Then, Joshua placed a second memorial of twelve stones, representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel, “in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood” (4:9).

A Miracle: Crossing Jordan (Joshua 4:10-14)

All the people passed over, including forty thousand men of war from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and “half the tribe of Manasseh” (4:13). That day, the LORD fulfilled His promise, for He had “magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life” (4:14).

Closing Waters and a Monument of Stones (Joshua 4:15-24)

The LORD then instructed Joshua, “Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan” (4:16).” Then the priests came “up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before” (4:18).

That evening, the people encamped at the plain of Gilgal, east of Jericho. There, Joshua took the twelve stones the men had removed from the Jordan and built a memorial, a lasting testimony to future generations. So, when their children should ask, “What mean these stones” (4:21), their parents were to instruct them: “Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. ²³For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over” (4:22-23).

Joshua 5 – A New Land and a Renewed Covenant

Demoralized Adversaries (Joshua 5:1)

The nations in Canaan had not assaulted Israel; however, their spies had witnessed the power and presence of the LORD amid His people. “All the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel” (5:1).

Renewing the Covenant of Circumcision (Joshua 5:2-9)

Circumcision had not been observed in Israel during the wilderness wanderings; however, in the new land, the LORD commanded Joshua to circumcise the men of Israel (5:2-3).

Now circumcision served as a physical reminder of Israel’s blood covenant with the LORD (Exodus 19:5-6) and a testimony that the LORD had “rolled away the reproach of Egypt” (5:9). What was “the reproach of Egypt?” I believe it was the reproof of the faithless generation that refused to believe the LORD and had turned back from the land He had promised them for an inheritance (5:6). The name of the place of circumcision would be Gilgal, meaning “rolled away” (5:9).

Celebrating the Passover (Joshua 5:10-12)

Remembering His grace, and goodness, Israel reaffirmed the LORD’s presence and observed the Passover (5:10) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (5:11). The next day, the provision of manna ceased, and “they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year” (5:12).

A Heavenly Vision: A Pre-Incarnate Appearance of Christ (Joshua 5:13-15)

When Joshua came near the city of Jericho, he looked up, and “behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand” (5:13). Joshua bravely went to the man and asked, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (5:13)

Then the man introduced himself, saying, “Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come” (5:14; Hebrews 2:10). Joshua, sensing he was in the presence, not of a man, but the LORD Himself, “fell on his face to the earth, and did worship…and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?” (5:14)

The LORD, “captain of the host,” and ready for battle, “said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so” (5:15).

Closing thoughts:

What made the ground holy? It was the presence of the LORD.

When Moses drew aside to see the flaming bush in the wilderness, he removed his shoes, for he understood he was in the presence of the LORD (Exodus 3:5). Now Joshua did the same (5:15). With his shoes removed, Joshua bowed with his face bowed to the earth, and was ready to receive his marching orders for the siege of Jericho (Joshua 6).

Questions to consider:

1) Why did the LORD require Joshua to choose twelve men to take stones from the Jordan? (Joshua 4:2-5)

2) What were the stones to represent? (Joshua 4:6-7)

3) How did Israel crossing Jordan affect their attitude toward Joshua? (Joshua 4:14)

4) How did Israel crossing Jordan affect their adversaries? (Joshua 5:1)

5) What rite did Joshua command Israel’s men to observe after they crossed the Jordan? (Joshua 5:3)

6) Why did the LORD cause the daily manna to cease in Canaan? (Joshua 5:12)

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The End is the Beginning: Getting Ready to Depart (Deuteronomy 31; Deuteronomy 32)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 31-32

Deuteronomy 31

As we near the end of our study of the Book of Deuteronomy, I am reminded of a verse from the song Moses: “So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Keep in mind, as you read Deuteronomy 31-32, the balance of Moses’ life can be numbered in days, if not hours. This great leader, arguably one of the greatest of all time, was coming to the end of his earthly sojourn (31:2).

Moses’ Exhortation to Israel and Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

Mindful of his mortality, Moses reminded the nation he was “an hundred and twenty years old,” and the LORD had said, “Thou shalt not go over this Jordan (31:1-2). With the urgency of a man who knows he will soon be passing, Moses exhorted the people: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (31:6). Then, “in the sight of all Israel,” Moses affirmed Joshua as the leader whom the LORD had chosen to lead the nation into the Promised Land (31:7-8).

Moses’ Challenge to Israel’s Spiritual Leaders (Deuteronomy 31:9-11)

Turning from Joshua, Moses challenged the spiritual leaders of the nation to be the custodians and teachers of the Law and keep the Law and Commandments before the people (31:9). Every seventh year, the priests were to gather the people together, and “read [the] law before all Israel in their hearing” (31:10-11).

God’s Confirmation of Joshua’s Succession (Deuteronomy 31:12-15)

The LORD then commanded Moses, saying, “Thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge” (31:14). The LORD then descended “in a pillar of a cloud…[and] stood over the door of the tabernacle” (31:15).

God’s Revelation of Israel’s Disobedience (Deuteronomy 31:16-18)

With Moses and Joshua standing at the door of the Tabernacle, the LORD revealed that after Israel conquered the Canaanites and took possession of the land, the people would “go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land” (31:16). They would break their covenant with Him (31:16b). and depart from the Law and Commandments. God then warned that He would hide His face and abandon them to the consequences of their idolatry (31:17-18).

A Song of Remembrance and Instruction (Deuteronomy 31:19-21; Deuteronomy 32)

To memorialize His prophecy against Israel, the LORD commanded Moses to write a song, “and teach it, the children of Israel…that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel (31:19). The song was to serve as a testimony of God’s faithfulness, and how He had fulfilled the promises He had made to their forefathers (31:20-21). And so, Moses wrote the song “and taught it [to] the children of Israel” (31:22).

A Public Charge to Joshua and Israel’s Leaders (Deuteronomy 31:22-30)

Deuteronomy 31 concluded with Moses giving a final charge to Joshua in preparing him to assume the leadership of the nation (31:23). Moses then commanded the Levites to take the record of the Law he had written with his hand (31:24) and “put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD” (31:26). He then stated, what the LORD had revealed to him concerning the hearts of the people, saying, “I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death?” (31:27).

Deuteronomy 32 – The Song of Moses and His Imminent Death

Given the length of Deuteronomy 32, a brief oversight of Moses’ song of praise, worship, and forewarning will need to suffice. First, you will notice the preface of Moses’ song in the first two verses and a declaration of its purpose (32:1-2). Moses then wrote, “I will publish the name of the Lord: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God” (32:3). He then declared that Israel’s God was “the Rock [strong and stable], His work is perfect [complete; lacking nothing]: For all His ways are judgment [He is Just]: A God of truth [trustworthy] and without iniquity [sinless], Just [Righteous; Innocent] and right [straight; upright] is He” (32:4).

After confessing the sinful character of the people, Moses memorialized the LORD’s compassionate care as a testimony of His grace, love, and mercies (32:7-18). He also recorded the tragic prophecy of the nation’s wickedness and God’s punishment that would follow (32:19-33). Yet, though the LORD would use other nations to judge His people, He promised He would not altogether forsake Israel (32:34-43).

After rehearsing the song he had written “in the ears of the people” (32:44), Moses challenged them: “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law” (32:46).

Closing thoughts:

When Moses finished speaking, the LORD commanded him, “⁴⁹Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo…and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: ⁵⁰And die in the mount whither thou goest up” (32:49-50a). Moses evidenced no protest at the LORD’s command and was reminded he would not enter the land (32:51).

From Mount Nebo, Moses looked out on the vastness of the land the LORD had promised Israel (32:52). His sin prevented him from leading the people into the land; however, the LORD had chosen Joshua, and the mantle of leadership now rested on him.

Questions to consider:

1) What assurance did the LORD give Israel that they should be “strong and of a good courage?” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

2) What tribe was responsible for carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the new land? (Deuteronomy 31:9)

3) What solemn event was Israel to observe every seventh year? (Deuteronomy 31:10-11)

4) What did Moses command the Levites to do with the book of the law he had written? (Deuteronomy 31:24-26)

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A Covenant and a Choice of Two Paths (Deuteronomy 29; Deuteronomy 30)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 29-30

Deuteronomy 29 – Renewing the Covenant

Moses declared and recorded God’s Covenant with Israel in Deuteronomy 5 through Deuteronomy 28. He then challenged the people to reaffirm the covenant they had entered into at Mt Horeb forty years prior (Exodus 24). In doing so, the nation would acknowledge its obligation to obey the LORD’s Laws and Commandments (Deuteronomy 29-30).

The Past (Deuteronomy 29:1-9)

Moses then rehearsed with the people all the LORD had done for them in Egypt. He acknowledged how they had been blind to the ways of the LORD (29:4) and reminded them how God had lovingly sustained and preserved them for forty years in the wilderness (29:5-6). Then, in the place they were that day, the LORD had given them victory over their adversaries and their land on the east side of the Jordan as an inheritance for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and “the half tribe of Manasseh” (29:7-8).

A Summons to Obey (Deuteronomy 29:10-15)

Reminding the people they were standing “before the LORD,” Moses challenged every member of the nation (its captains, elders, officers, women, children, and servants) to “enter into the covenant with the LORD” (29:10-12). Moses promised the LORD would exalt Israel as a nation and be their God as He was with their forefathers (29:13). The promises of the LORD would not only apply to their generation but to their children and children’s children (29:14-15).

An Admonition (Deuteronomy 29:16-29)

Nevertheless, should a “man, or woman, or family, or tribe” turn from the LORD and worship idols, they would bear the sorrow and bitterness of God’s judgment (29:18). Such might be deluded and believe they might find peace walking after their imaginations. Still, Moses warned, “The Lord will not spare him…and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven” (29:20).

If Israel tolerated wickedness in its midst, Moses warned that the judgment of the LORD would leave the land like the “overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah” (29:23). He prophesied the nations would look upon the desolation of Israel and ask, “Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?” (29:24). Then, men would answer, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt” (29:25).

Deuteronomy 30 – A Promise of Grace and Mercy

An Opportunity of Restoration (Deuteronomy 30:1-10)

Though Israel would reject the LORD and disobey His Law and Commandments, Moses promised He would remember His people and not forget His covenant promises (30:1). While the LORD promised to punish Israel for her disobedience, He also promised to be gracious, merciful, and forgiving if the people would repent of their sins and turn back to Him (30:1-7). Furthermore, should the people repent, God promised to renew His covenant with them and “make [them] plenteous in every work of thine hand…for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers” (30:9).

Ignorance was Not an Excuse (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

The will and commandments of the LORD were not mysterious or hidden from Israel (30:11-13). Instead, God’s purpose was established, and His will was revealed by His “Word” (30:14).

Two Paths to Choose: Death or Life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

Deuteronomy 30 concluded with a strong challenge to Israel to know the Word of the LORD was sure. While the path of obedience leads to “life and good,” the way of disobedience leads to “death and evil” (30:15). Choose to keep the LORD’s covenant, and He will bless you. However, disobey God’s Law and Commandments, and you invite His judgment (30:17-18).

So then, summoning heaven and earth to be his witness, Moses warned: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (30:19).

Closing thoughts:

I am reminded that every soul faces the spiritual dilemma of choosing between two paths in life. Faith and obedience are the paths of blessing and eternal life. The way of sin inevitably ends in death and hell. As the shepherd of Israel, Moses longed for the people to love and obey the LORD. After all, that path promised the quality and quantity of life that God alone could provide (Deuteronomy 30:20).

What path have you taken? Are you on the path of obedience and life or disobedience and death?

Questions to consider:

1) Why did Israel need to remember “all that the LORD did” in Egypt and the wilderness? (Deuteronomy 29:2-6)

2) What was the key to Israel’s prosperity in the new land? (Deuteronomy 29:9)

3) What was the condition for Israel to be blessed and fruitful? (Deuteronomy 30:8-10)

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Choices Always Have Consequences (Deuteronomy 26; Deuteronomy 27)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 26-27

Deuteronomy 26

A Confession of Indebtedness and a Prayer of Thanksgiving (Deuteronomy 26:1-11)

Moses continued his charge to Israel with laws and spiritual principles to guide the people as they became a nation in their land (26:1). Remembering that the blessing of the harvest comes from the LORD (26:1-11), the first-fruits offering was to be taken to the place of worship (Tabernacle). There it was given to the LORD, thus supporting the priests, the Levites, and their households.

Tithes and Offerings for the Poor (Deuteronomy 26:12-15)

A special tithe was given in the third year, coinciding with the tither’s confession that he had honored and obeyed the LORD’s commandments. Rather than taking the tithe of the third year to the Tabernacle, it was used locally to meet the immediate needs of one’s community and to support “the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled” (26:12-15).

The Benefits of Obeying the LORD and Keeping His Commandments (Deuteronomy 26:16-19)

Beginning with Deuteronomy 26:16 and continuing to Deuteronomy 31:13, Moses expounded on the benefits of obeying the LORD and keeping His commandments. He reminded the people that they were to do all that God had commanded with all their hearts and soul (26:16). Israel had been chosen by the LORD “to be His peculiar people,” and He promised “to make [Israel] high above all nations” (26:16-19).

Deuteronomy 27

Renewing the Covenant (Deuteronomy 27:1-10)

Continuing his challenge, Moses was joined by the “elders of Israel,” and he “commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day” (Deuteronomy 27:1).

Lest the people forget all the LORD had done for them, the elders of Israel were commanded to build a pillar of uncut stones on the west side of the Jordan River (Deuteronomy 27:2-8). The stones were to be plastered, and engraved upon them were the Commandments of the Lord, serving as a lasting memorial of the LORD’s promises and commandments. Also, an altar was to be built to sanctify the place (Deuteronomy 27:5-8).

A Rehearsal of the Blessings and Curses Sanctioned by the Law (Deuteronomy 27:11-26)

Continuing his speech to Israel and with the elders beside him, Moses reminded the nation that “Choices have Consequences.” He charged the people that by obeying the Law, they would invite the LORD’s blessings (27:11-12); however, disobedience would arouse His judgments (27:14-26). Should the nation disobey the LORD and reject His Law and Commandments, Moses warned that twelve curses would befall the nation (27:15-26). To each pronouncement, the people assented and answered, “Amen.”

The first through fifth curses (Deuteronomy 27:15-19)

The following violations of the Law and commandments invited God’s judgment and would be cursed: 1) Idolatry, a violation of the first and second commandments, was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:15). 2) Dishonoring one’s parents was cursed (27:16), for it is a violation of the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12). 3) Stealing the property and possessions of another by deceit, a violation of the sixth commandment, was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:17; Exodus 20:15). 4) Taking advantage of one infirmed or disabled was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:18). 5) The fifth curse was upon one who would treat “the stranger, fatherless, and widow” unjustly (Deuteronomy 27:19;Exodus 22:21-24).

Sexual impurity, a violation of the seventh commandment, was addressed by the sixth through ninth curses (Deuteronomy 27:20-23; Ex. 20:14). Specifically addressed and cursed were: 6) Incest with one’s stepmother (Deuteronomy 27:20; Leviticus 18:8-9, 17; Leviticus 20:11); 7) Bestiality (Deuteronomy 27:21; Leviticus 18:23); 8) Incest between siblings and parents (Deuteronomy 27:22); and 9) Incest with one’s mother (Deuteronomy 27:23).

The fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13), was the subject of the tenth and eleventh curses (Deuteronomy 27:24-25): 10) Intentional murder of one’s neighbor (Deuteronomy 27:24), and 11) hiring an assassin to kill another was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:25).

The twelfth and final curse (Deuteronomy 27:26), a sum of the twelve curses, was addressed to any child of Israel who failed to confirm God’s Law and Commandments.

And so the people affirmed all Moses commanded, and all the people gave their assent and said, “Amen” (Deuteronomy 27:26).

Questions to consider:

1) What was Israel to present to the LORD after they took possession of the land? (Deuteronomy 26:1-2)

2) What was Israel instructed to do with the tithes and offerings in the third year? (Deuteronomy 26:12)

3) What did the LORD promise Israel if they kept His law and commandments? (Deuteronomy 26:17-19)

4) What was the first thing Israel was to set up after they crossed the Jordan River? (Deuteronomy 27:2-3)

5) With what word did the people acknowledge and affirm the curses pronounced by the Levites? (Deuteronomy 27:15-26).

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The Law and Commandments of the LORD are Gracious (Deuteronomy 15)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 15

Some in our churches suggest the Laws and Commandments of the Old Testament were cold, oppressive, and lacking in grace. They are wrong! In their historical context and with an understanding of their application, you will find that the Law and Commandments of the LORD are fair and judicious. For example, consider the guidelines for the borrower and lender recorded in Deuteronomy 15.

Debtors, Lenders, and the Sabbatical Year (15:1-6)

The Sabbath Year occurred every seven years on the Hebrew calendar, and it was the year the LORD commanded the land to rest. Fields were not worked, seeds were not planted, and any vegetation that volunteered and gave fruit was committed to the poor and grazing animals.

Consider how a man would pay his debt if he could not plant crops during the Sabbath Year. If unable to plant seeds and harvest crops, what became of a man who acquired debt? Because there was no harvest in the seventh year, the law did not permit lenders to press the poor for payment. Instead, in the Sabbath Year, the lender suspended the debt payment for the year (although a non-Hebrew was not released of his obligation to pay his debt in the seventh year, 15:3). Furthermore, God promised that if lenders showed their debtors grace, He would bless the nation (15:4). Indeed, Israel would become a lender, not a borrower, to other countries (15:5-6).

Lending to the Poor (15:7-11)

Concerning the poor, we read, “The poor shall never cease out of the land” (15:11). Regardless of the wealth and prosperity of a nation, the poor are a perpetual presence in the world (15:11). Once again, as a testimony of God’s grace and mercy, the LORD required His people to be charitable, especially to those who were “one of the brethren” (meaning a Hebrew, 15:7). God’s people were commanded to open their hand and heart when they looked upon another in need (15:7). Not only was a lender commanded to not be miserly in charitable giving, he was to “lend him [the poor] sufficient for his need” (15:8).

Because some might seek to take advantage of the immediacy of a Sabbath Year (knowing the repayment of a debt was suspended that year), it was reasonable to suspect lenders might refuse to give to those in need. Such reasoning was a sin in the eyes of the LORD (15:9b). Therefore, lenders were exhorted to give and trust “the Lordthy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto” (15:10).

Slavery, and the Release of Slaves (15:12-18)

Slavery was a cultural reality in the ancient world, and poverty was often the catalyst for enslavement. For example, should a Hebrew (man or woman) be unable to pay their debt, he or she would become a slave to the lender (15:12). Now, the practice of the heathen was to afflict debtors with perpetual enslavement. The LORD, however, provided that His people would not become an endless enslaved people (15:12). Therefore, an indebted Hebrew might serve a master for six years; however, in the seventh year, they were released of their debt and set free (15:12b).

As another evidence of the grace and mercy expressed in God’s Law, a master was to ensure a freedman would not “go away empty” (15:13). Therefore, a master was required to honor the one set free and give “him liberally out of [his] flock, and out of [his] floor, and out of [his] winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed [him] thou shalt give unto him [the freeman]” (15:14). Yet, there were masters who were so kind and gracious, that a slave might elect to continue as an enslaved person for life. Such a one would have a hole pierced through his ear, thus marking him as a servant forever (15:17).

Dedication and Consecration of the Firstborn (15:19-23)

The concluding verses of Deuteronomy 15 served as a reminder that the firstborn of Hebrew households was dedicated to the LORD. The precedence for this requirement was set when the tenth plague struck down the firstborn of Egyptian families (Exodus 13:2, 15). Because the Hebrews had applied the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their households, the LORD had spared the firstborn of Israel. That deliverance was forever memorialized by the Hebrews dedicating every firstborn male to the LORD (Exodus 13:2, 15).

Thus, the firstborn of cattle and sheep were to be unblemished and offered as a sacrificial meal (15:19-20). Also, firstborn oxen were not to be worked in the fields, nor were firstborn sheep to be sheared, for they were the LORD’s. Should a firstborn be blemished, it was not a worthy sacrifice to the LORD and would therefore be eaten like ordinary meat (15:21-23; 12:15).

Closing thoughts:

In closing, I invite you to consider how the Law and Commandments of the LORD were gracious. We have seen that the LORD protected the poor from harsh lenders and slaves from cruel taskmasters, and He extended seasons and reasons for hope and relief.

Finally, remember that all offerings were a picture (i.e., type) of God’s final and perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Mary’s firstborn was the perfect, sinless, unblemished sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19).

Is He your Savior?

Questions to consider:

1) How often were the Israelites required to cancel the debts of their brethren? (15:1-2)

2) What were the conditions for Israel to avoid being a debtor to other nations? (15:5-6)

3) What people are a perpetual presence in the world? (15:11)

4) What were the Israelites forbidden to eat? (15:23)

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“In the Sovereignty of God, Dreams Do Come True” (Genesis 41-43)

Dear Heart of A Shepherd Readers,

I invite you to watch or listen to a message I preached at Hillsdale Baptist Church, Tampa, FL, on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Much of the sermon is narrative in style, but the content and applications are powerful.

Joseph’s brothers’ hatred brought him to Egypt, but God’s providence guided him from slavery and prison to serve as the ruler of Egypt and second only to Pharaoh. Two decades passed, and like many, Joseph’s brothers lived a lie and never confessed to their father that they had sold Joseph into slavery (left him believing a wild beast had killed his son). Yet, in the sovereignty of the LORD, Jacob’s sons would come face to face with their brother. (Genesis 42)

Text – Genesis 41-43
Topic – God’s Sovereignty and Providential Care
Series – “Logos: A Journey of Faith, Hope, and Love”

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor

Blessings or Curses: It’s Your Choice (Deuteronomy 11; Deuteronomy 12)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 11-12

Moses’ second challenge to Israel began in Deuteronomy 5 and continued in today’s Scripture reading. Moses repeated the LORD’s covenant demand for Israel to “love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway” (11:1). The detailed explanation of God’s covenant with Israel will continue to Deuteronomy 26:19.

Deuteronomy 11 – A Covenant that Promised Blessings and Cursing

The Great Works of the LORD (Deuteronomy 11:2-6)

Why should Israel love and obey the LORD? Because He had demonstrated “His greatness, His mighty hand, and His stretched out arm” (11:2) when He brought the plagues upon Egypt and Pharaoh (11:3). When He parted the Red Sea, He allowed Israel to pass through on dry ground. Then He sent the waters upon the Egyptians, drowning them, their horses, and chariots (11:4).

When “Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab,” rebelled (Numbers 16), the LORD judged them and their followers. “The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel” (11:6).

The Conditions of God’s Blessing and Curses (Deuteronomy 11:7-15)

Moses reasoned that they were compelled to keep His commandments because the people had seen “all the great acts of the Lord which he did” (11:7). They were reminded that their strength, prosperity, and longevity as a nation was directly related to their obedience (11:8). Obey the LORD, keep His commandments, and Israel would inherit “a land that floweth with milk and honey” (11:9).

Nevertheless, the promise of God’s blessing was conditional (11:10-17). Should the people turn from the LORD and worship idols (11:16), His wrath would be kindled against them. He would then “shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit” (11:17).

A Solemn Charge (Deuteronomy 11:18-32)

The people were again reminded that their covenant responsibility was to obey the commandments and teach them to their children (11:18-19). The LORD’s covenant with Israel was a conditional promise of both “a blessing and a curse” (11:26). Obey the LORD’S commandments, and He promised to bless them (11:27). Disobey the LORD, and He would curse them (11:28).

Deuteronomy 12

It might be argued that Deuteronomy 5-11 was the preface to the “statutes and judgments” recorded in Deuteronomy 12. Having presented to the people the choices and consequences for obeying or disobeying the LORD, Moses revealed the prohibitions and required the Tabernacle would be the central place of worship.

Destroy all Idols and Places of Idol Worship (Deuteronomy 12:1-3)

Israel was commanded to destroy all idols and every place of idol worship and sacrifice (12:1-3). There were no exceptions! Whereas the heathen sacrificed and served “their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree” (12:2), Israel was warned not to follow their ways.

The Tabernacle: Israel’s Central Place of Worship (Deuteronomy 12:5-14)

The people were commanded that only in “the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation [the Tabernacle] shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come” (12:5). The Tabernacle was the place God chose.

There was one place of sacrifice, and that was the altar in the Tabernacle court (12:6). There was one place the tithes and offerings (above that which was the portion of the Levites) might be eaten, and that was before the Tabernacle (12:7-14).

The Slaughter of Beasts for Meat (Deuteronomy 12:15-25)

Offerings and sacrifices were to be given only at the Tabernacle. Yet, because of the geographical distance of the tribes from the Tabernacle (12:21), animals slaughtered for their meat would no longer be brought to the Tabernacle (12:10-15; Leviticus 17:3-6). Nevertheless, all sacrifices were to be offered at the Tabernacle, which was “the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen” (12:21).

There was also the prohibition on the matter of blood. Unlike the heathen and their sacrifices, Israel was commanded, “Ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water” (12:17, 23-25; Leviticus 17:10).

Closing thoughts:

Moses warned the people not to adopt the heathen’s ways of worship nor enquire, “How did these nations serve their gods?” (Deuteronomy 12:30b) The forms of worship followed by the wicked were an abomination to God, for in their depravity, they sacrificed “their sons and their daughters…to their gods” (Deuteronomy 12:31). Moses warned that the LORD would accept nothing less than obedience. The people were “not [to] add thereto, nor diminish from” His commandments (Deuteronomy 12:32).

Some today would suggest that the law and commandments of the LORD are unimportant. Yet, the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New, and He continues to command that His people should be holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 – “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; ¹⁶Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Questions to consider:

1) What did the LORD promise Israel if the people would love and obey Him? (Deuteronomy 11:13-15)

2) When and where were parents to teach their children the words of the LORD? (Deuteronomy 11:19)

3) What was Israel commanded to do to the idols and worship places of the heathen? (Deuteronomy 12:2-3)

4) What was the only place Israel could offer sacrifices to the LORD? (Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 11)

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