March 12: Deuteronomy 3-4

March 12, Deuteronomy 3-4

Deuteronomy 3 begins to recount the second battle against Bashan and Israel’s victory over them. Conquering some sixty cities and plundering everything for their own. It was by God’s own hand that brought them victory. Then Moses recounts how he already let two of the tribes stay back and settle, not in the Promised Land, as long as they go and fight along side their brothers in battle - coming home when all the work is done. God reminds them again and again, to not fear the enemies - only to fear God, because he is the one fighting the battles for them. Then we hear again (and we will again!) that Moses was not able to go into the Promised Land, because of Moses’ disobedience with hitting the rock. We hear though how Moses blames the Israelites for his own inability to enter into the Promise Land. And we understand the Israelites were hard to deal with, but the lesson here, is that no one can push you to sin. How silly it is to blame the people when Moses was the one who disobeyed God? Moses sinned all on his own. You sin all on your own. And God will require your part in committing it. Anyhow… Moses finishes off with a strong message from the Lord, that he stated that God had heard enough from Moses on the matter, and that His word was final. How we need to remember that God can not be convinced, or mocked. Since Moses wouldn’t be entering the Promise Land, we also learn that Joshua would be leading them in. What a great name, Joshua has… haha!

Deuteronomy 4 is a transition into Moses preaching more than before, while reminding the young Israelites of what has been set up. He tells them to not forget what they have seen and experienced and to accept the responsibility to pass onto their kids what God has done for them (so that they may also serve Yahweh too). Remember from the previous day, how these Israelites are the children of those who came out of Egypt. They might not have seen as great of things as their parents, but this generation would be the one to recount the deeds of the Lord, and stay obedient to Him, regardless if they saw the Nile turning red blood.

Moses then warns them very directly to stay away from any forms of idolatry - and Moses goes into detail of what kind of things could be an idolatrous trap for them. Then Moses states that if they go down that road, and worship anything other than God, that they are to be exiled. Moses reminds them that God is merciful and faithful to them, as they are His inheritance. Moses commands them to obey God’s law, so that God may bless them and be with them. Then Moses sets up 3 cities to be cities of Refuge to the fleeing man, who is innocent in a crime to await a trail. As well as summarizes the point of which he is making. 

To sum it all up:

• God is guiding the Israelites, and us. We must continue to pursue Him and desire Him more than anything… How is your pursuit of God?
• Have you been like Moses and blamed someone else for your sin? We see how silly it was of Moses, and know that we must not do the same. Instead, we must take the responsibility of it, accept consequences, and turn towards the Lord not away from Him. 
• We must stay away from Idolatry. If you want a good book on this, Gods at War by Kyle Idleman is a great book on the topic of modern day idolatry. As we need to be aware of what idolatry is and learn to stay away from it.