It’s TIME to take a ‘TURN’ in your JOURNEY!
February 21
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy Chapters 1-3
It’s TIME to take a ‘TURN’ in your JOURNEY!
On this side of the Jordan in the land of
Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying, "The Lord our God spoke to
us in Horeb, saying: 'You have dwelt
long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey, and go to the
mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the
mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of
the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates.
See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord
swore to your fathers--to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob--to give to them and their
descendants after them.’" (Deut 1:5-8)
Moses and
the people of Israel were now camped in the plains of Moab, on the eastern side
of the Jordan River opposite Jericho (Num. 36:13; Deut. 1:1). Besides Moses,
only two men, Joshua and Caleb, were still alive who had stood at Mount Sinai
as adults when God originally had made a covenant with the Israelites. The rest
of the grown men and women from that time 40 years before had died in the wilderness
because of their rebellion at Kadesh Barnea (Num. 14:26–35). Now a new
generation was taking over, and was about to enter the Promised Land, and like
their parents before them, they needed to agree to the terms of the covenant.
The word
Deuteronomy means “second law.” This
name is believed to be related to a phrase in Deuteronomy 17:18, which
instructs future kings to write for themselves “a copy of this law.” Deuteronomy is the exposition and application
of the law of God revealed at Mount Sinai. Moses began his account of Israel’s
recent history by stating the Lord’s command for them to leave Sinai (mentioned
as ‘Horeb’ throughout Deuteronomy)
and to head for the land of the promise, the place God had sworn to give to
their patriarchal ancestors (1:6–9).
This passage
sets the stage for the first sermon by Moses as he would expound the Law to
this generation, and remind them of their problems and victories during their
time of wandering in the wilderness. His emphasis is on the past deliverances
of God, but he also reminds the people that God will continue to fight for them
in the future. God will guide them specifically according to His divine purpose
and according to His promise to Abraham (Gen 15:18; 17:8), and He has been working
out the events of the promise until now (1:6–3:29).
It is time
now for the Israelites to take a turn in their journey as they headed for the
Promised Land. They have stayed back in
the mountain now long enough without claiming their promises! They have to trust God and move forward now!
As you look
into your own life, you need to make sure that you have entered into your ‘land of promises fulfilled’ and in the
place where God wants you to be in your faith journey. God has a purpose for
your life, which He determined even before you were born. It time to stop going
around in circles, but look up to the
God who is leading you, and walk behind Him by faith!
