Listen Here

O. T. #370  "Listen Here"
Sept. 23, 2014
Deuteronomy 1-Part 2
Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.
And ye returned and wept before the LORD: but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you. 
Deuteronomy 1:42,45

LET IT GLOW

There are times that I am sure God wants to tell me, "Stop it, Linda. Listen here, I..."
Why do I not stop long enough to hear what lesson He wants me to learn so I don't have to repeat it? We expect our children to listen to us, don't we? To learn from what they did wrong or might do. Israel would not listen to God's earlier instructions.

It is easier for us to read, looking back at the events in the lives of the Israelites. However, they were living through all of this, so it must have been difficult to keep their faith in God at times. Certainly, most of the first generation failed at this. Moses had believed that the second generation would not fail to follow God into their Promised Land.
We can see God's graciousness toward His chosen children, the Israelites.
Moses reviewed God's gracious acts:

• Promises to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (These three are mentioned 7 times in this book.) Their seed would occupy that chosen land to live as a nation who fully followed God, as an example to the heathen nations.;
• Promised Land fertile for crops and livestock (Forty years earlier spies brought back luscious fruit from the land.);
• Provisions for the 40 years in the wilderness, including manna, quail, and water, and present daily food;
• Population growth between 1-2 million, so many Hebrews that Pharoah in Egypt was afraid of being overthrown (as many as the sand and stars);
• Protection from enemies, with victory over the Ammorites, Moabites, and Midianites already;
• Purpose divine-to worship only God, Jehovah, with laws, rules, and covenants.

Can we thank our gracious God for His promises written in His book for us to read and apply to our lives? How blessed we are in America with abundance of food and knowledge to grow and preserve. Are we sharing our blessings with our neighbors? Do we tell of God's grace and mercy, as well as salvation? Are you a chosen child of God who praises and worships Him?

LET IT GROW

In verses 9-18 we read of Moses' failure. Then in verses 19-46, we read of the nation Israel's failure.
First of all, Jethro, Moses' father in law, is speaking and advising Moses. Due to such a large number of people, Moses was spending his day trying to settle arguments and judge those who broke the law. Taking Jethro's suggestion seriously, he appoints judges to hear and settle disputes and matters of lesser importance in Israel. This freed Moses to judge the more difficult cases (Ex. 18:26).

Moses gives a partial summary of the reports of the spies sent out from the first generation, some 38 years earlier. (They focused on the strong giants living in walled cities of the land instead of how powerful their God would have defeated them.)
Israel's rebellion began with murmuring in the tents (Num. 14:2), and expanded to an outward rebellion, wanting to return to Egypt (Num. 14:4).

Moses challenged this new nation:

• Dread not neither be afraid of the giant enemies. (verse 29)
• The Lord who goes before you, will fight for you; remember what you saw in Egypt and the desert. (verse 31)
• God carried you as a father carries his son, all the way here. (verse 31)
• The Lord judged their unbelief and would not allow the first generation of Israelites to enter the Promised Land, except for Caleb and Joshua. God would give the land to this second generation. (verse 39)
• The Israelites would not listen when God told them, after repenting too late, to not go up against the Amorites. It resulted in them being chased like a swarm of bees after them, beaten  down, and Israel wept before the Lord. He paid no attention to their weeping. He would not hear nor give ear to it. (verses 40-46)

Brother Falwell give us some insight:

• Trust in God does not hide the difficulties; it demonstrates faith in God who will help in overcoming impossible situations.
• Unbelief was not a permanent condition.
• Learn from the past history, but be holy now.

LET IT GO

Recall what all God has done for me and share it with others for encouragement.

Trust and obey our God.