Sunday School Lesson
September 26, 2004
BECOMING GOD'S PEOPLE
Bible Background—DEUTERONOMY 29:1-29
Focal Verses—DEUTERONOMY 29:2-15
Devotional Reading—DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20
1. We will understand how GOD delivered HIS people from bondage and provided for them during their 40 years of wandering.
2. We will also be able to explain the importance of remembering and rehearing how GOD provided and delivered us from past difficulties
3. We will trust and obey GOD in our daily lives.
“That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy GOD, and into his oath, which the LORD thy GOD maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee today for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a GOD, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Deuteronomy 29:12-13).
After the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, the LORD was ready to confirm HIS covenant with the people. GOD made a covenant with the Israelites and established them as HIS SPECIAL PEOPLE, but they were to keep their part of the covenant by obeying GOD’S WORD.
By way of background, Deuteronomy means, “second law.” The book consists of three farewell sermons delivered by the 123 year-old Moses at the entrance to the Promised Land. In this message, the old patriarch renewed the covenant for the sake of the new generation of Israelites.
Moses knew he would not be allowed to go into the Promised Land, so he wanted to make sure the new generation of Israelites kept GOD’S WORD close to their hearts and obeyed the instructions of the LORD. A characteristic of Deuteronomy is the admonition to “remember,” which appears 13 times in the book. The people are admonished to remember all of GOD’S gracious works on their behalf and to obey all previously revealed truth.
In his first sermon, Moses recaps the history of GOD’S DELIVERANCE OF THE Israelites from Egyptian bondage and HIS daily provision for them throughout their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 1:1—4:43).
In his second message, Moses restates the people’s moral duties, describing how they should conduct themselves as GOD’S PEOPLE. It also emphasizes their ceremonial duties, such as sacrifices, and their civil and social duties related to the law and social justice (4:44—26:19).
In the final sermon (27:1—30:20), Moses outlines the terms under which the Israelites would enter into the Promised Land.
1. REMEMBER GOD’S PROVISION (Deuteronomy 29:1-8)
Moses was GOD appointed leader of the Israelites. Here, he demonstrates the two primary requisites of spiritual leadership. The phrase “the LORD commanded Moses” indicates that Moses spent time in communion with GOD and that he was obedient to all he heard from god. All great spiritual leaders spend a great amount of time communicating with GOD and then following HIS DIRECTION.
The Israelites were camped in Moab anticipating the command to finally enter the Promised Land. GOD had promised this land to their ancestors almost 700 years earlier, and now they were on the verge of claiming their birthright as children of Abraham. However, before they could enter the land, there were additional terms that had to be presented and agreed to. Moses called all the Israelites together to explain these terms (Deuteronomy 1:1; cf. 30:20).
A covenant is a formal agreement between GOD and HIS PEOPLE. Like most ancient agreements, this one includes a recital of GOD’S past dealings with the Israelites. The purpose of the recital is twofold. The first is to encourage the people to trust GOD in all circumstances. Just as GOD delivered them in the past, HE would protect and care for them in the future. The second purpose was to incite the people to obedience. The list of curses would serve as a reminder of the consequences of disobeying GOD’S COMMANDS.
The generation that died off in the wilderness was made up of all those who never were over 20 years old at the time the Israelites left Egypt (see Numbers 14:28-30); so most of the Israelites had actually witnessed GOD’S DELIVERANCE of HIS PEOPLE in Egypt. They had seen miraculous demonstrations of HIS AWESOME POWER through mighty acts on behalf of the suffering Israelites.
Moses begins his recital by reminding the people of how GOD delivered them from slavery in Egypt and had cared and provided for them over the last 40 years. He begins by reminding them that they were eyewitnesses to GOD’S triumph over Pharaoh, his subjects, and his entire country.
The Israelites had personally witnessed “the great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles” (Deuteronomy 29:3). The word “temptations” would be better translated as “trials.” Trials are not actually bad situations; they are internal responses to external adversity. They manifest as fear, anxiety, anger, and depression. Signs are extraordinary occurrences that point to supernatural causes. Miracles are incidents whereby GOD temporarily overrides the laws of nature to accomplish HIS WILL. The 10 curses of Egypt (Exodus 7:14—11:6) were all miracles designed as trials for the Egyptians and signs for the Israelites. GOD’S grace toward the Israelites did not end after their deliverance from slavery. During the 40 years of wilderness wandering, neither their clothes nor their shoes wore out. Instead of eating bread, they were fed with manna from heaven. Instead of drinking wine, they were provided with fresh water through a small tree (15:22-25) and from stones (17:1-6; 20:1-11).
GOD protected them from the might of kings bent on their destruction. The Israelites defeated Sihon, the King of Heshbon (Numbers 21:21-35). The land of the two kings on the East Side of the Jordan River was divided between the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh after Israel defeated them.
In spite of all that the Israelites had seen, they did not understand the significance of what GOD had done on their behalf. “Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day” (Deuteronomy 29:4). They knew the facts but they did not understand the truth. They had witnessed the miracles but they did not understand the signs.
Spiritual discernment comes only from the HOLY SPIRIT. That is why Scripture tells us, “The man without the SPIRIT does not accept the things that come from the SPIRIT OF GOD, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14, NIV). People without the HOLY SPIRIT’S illumination are unable to receive or properly understand GOD’S message (cf. John 6:44; Romans 8:5-8). This explains why the Gospel appears foolish to unbelievers…they are spiritually blinded, unable to comprehend the truths that belong to the spiritual realm.
2. RESPECT GOD’S COVENANT (vv.9-15)
After rehearsing GOD’S wondrous works on their behalf, Moses issues a two-part command: “Keep, therefore the word of this covenant” (Deuteronomy 29:9). The word “therefore” looks back to the past history that Moses had gone over with them. On the positive side, if GOD were able to deliver HIS PEOPLE from bondage and meet their every need during the 40 years in the desert, wouldn’t HE also meet the need of HIS COVENANT PEOPLE who obeyed HIS WILL? Negatively, if GOD brought curses on Egypt because of their disobedience, HE would not allow the disobedience of the Israelites to go unpunished.
Obedience is the key. “To keep,” means to observe or to be constantly aware of the laws of GOD. The second part, “do them,” is the reason for the awareness. We acquire knowledge of GOD’S WORD so that we may obey HIM. Knowledge without obedience is the height of foolishness.
Moses emphasizes the solemnity of the occasion by reminding the people that they were standing in the very presence of GOD (Deuteronomy 29:10). All the people—regardless of rank, gender, or social standing—were bound by the precepts of the covenant. This new generation was entering into the covenant even as Abraham (Genesis 17) and the generation that perished in the wilderness had done before them.
The elements of the covenant were the same as those of the covenant GOD had made with their parents and forefathers. The purpose of this gathering was to renew their agreement to the covenant’s terms and conditions. Because GOD originally cut this covenant with Abraham (15:9-21) and confirmed it with the first generation (Exodus 24:3-8), there was no need for any new animal sacrifice. Instead, GOD sealed the covenant with an oath. This oath bound GOD to carry out all HIS PROMISES to the people. According to the writer of Hebrews, the oath also served as a reminder to future generations of the unchanging nature of GOD’S PROMISES (Hebrews 6:16-17).
All GOD’S PROMISES can be summarized into two fundamental promises. In this oath, GOD promises two things: “To confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your GOD as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Deuteronomy 29:13, NIV). Being GOD’S PEOPLE meant that the Israelites could depend on GOD for their protection, peace, and prosperity. Having the ONE TRUE GOD as their GOD was an everlasting guarantee of GOD’S close and personal presence among them and HIS unconditional love for them. These two promises are also foundational to the new covenant (see Jeremiah 31:33); Hebrews 8:10). This covenantal relationship was not just for those who had assembled to ratify it; it included the future generations of believers (see Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:28).
The highest privilege in life is to enter into a covenant relationship with GOD. The NEW COVENANT, which was sealed with the BLOOD OF JESUS, is the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants. Our LORD, WHO is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), makes the same foundational promises to us that HE made to the patriarchs and the Israelites. WE WILL BE HIS PEOPLE AND HE WILL BE OUR GOD! What more can anyone ask?
Like the Israelites, we need to remember our legacy and how GOD is still emancipating and bringing us into the Promised Land. In times of trouble, we can rehearse how GOD provided when there was no other way. We can determine to daily love, trust, and obey HIM because HE IS A GOD WORTHY TO BR PRAISED! HE IS ALSO FAITHFUL TO HIS CHILDREN!
THINK ABOUT IT!!!!
Spiritually Yours,
Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD