EXODUS, DELIVERANCE and DISOBEDIENCE (1446-1407 BC),
As the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan we open the way to our next series:
CONQUEST of the PROMISED LAND (1406-1404 BC)
At this point we'll take you through God's provisions for his people in preparing for the military enterprise ahead as well as civil life.
The CHOSEN PEOPLE
The concept of God choosing the
Hebrews is often misunderstood and takes people down the wrong path in
understanding God’s nature if the concept is not grasped correctly.
By this point we can appreciate how
God uses historical forces, resources and developments to serve His purpose.
With people it is no different. Except to say that God also loves the human
beings He created dearly and wants salvation for all, He will use them as tools
as much as He uses nature, time and geography.
God’s choosing of the Hebrews was
not so much a special preference that he had for them but rather a historical
necessity. These were the people that worshiped one single God (the God of
Abraham) and were also concentrated in a great enough number. He needed a
nation to be in one place where he could develop the relationship with so that
they would be a beacon to the world and to show God to the world through
themselves. Eventually they would birth of the Messiah which will go out to all
the nations. So it is not that God had a special place in his heart for Israel
but rather that he had a task where they fit in and he needed a nation to carry
it out.
DELIVERANCE and REDEMPTION PARALLELS
Egypt: the world; the natural; flesh; death.
Pharaoh: Satan.
Passover: shedding of blood to atone for sins
so that death does not enter.
Crossing the Red Sea: first baptism through the blood of
Jesus.
Mount Sinai: receiving the teaching for our
life.
Canaan: entering into the fullness of what God has for
us in our life; where most Christians get stuck.
Jordan parts: second baptism of the Spirit
empowering us to fight evil and live in the full measure of God’s glory.
The SCHOOL OF DEUTERONOMY
The Book of Deuteronomy describes a much
needed recapitulation Moses gave to the new generation of Jews. He educated
this generation as he had the previous one before they decided to refuse entry
in the Promised Land. Moses would not be joining them in crossing the Jordan
but he made sure they were prepared spiritually and morally just as Joshua made
sure they were prepared physically and militarily.
Moses’ office of teacher and
prophet passed through the following (Deuteronomy
1-26):
1.
A brief history lesson of the
wilderness.
2.
Description of God’s laws and
precepts.
3.
Made reference to Jesus as a
future prophet from the people.
4.
Warned against kings that would
horde wealth while not being from Jewish descent (King Herod).
5.
Warned that the people would
face nations stronger than them: Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites,
Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites and Anakites with strong fortified cities.
6.
Instructed them to have a
single place of worship to be determined.
7.
Passed on God’s command to the
people not to intermarry with those pagans and to destroy their religious
symbols, further warning about being curious about their practices lest they be
ensnared.
9.
Instructed them on the
financial system for handling debt.
10. Legal matters and minor laws.
11.The
festivals and commemorations.
12. Instructions on going to war.
SEPARATING the BLESSING and the CURSE
Curses were a normal component of important covenants
in ancient history. They of course served as the balancing component, a deterrent,
for those considering disobeying the contract’s stipulations. The difference between
the activation of curses in a pagan culture and among God’s people is that the pagans
would call the curses on others while God simply removed His protection and the
curses would naturally follow. This is a cursed world save for the redeemed.
In Deuteronomy 27-30 Moses commissioned
an altar on Mount Ebal and
listed the curses resulting from disobedience including defeat from enemies, famine, exile, slavery
into Egypt again and other calamities.
On Mount Gerizim he listed the blessings
resulting from obedience. God
declared that when the people learn their lessons He restores them again to the
promised land, no mater how far scattered they are.
NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN
The Jewish people always returned home. This happened after the Babylonian exile and after World War II with the creation of the state of Israel.
The Jewish people always returned home. This happened after the Babylonian exile and after World War II with the creation of the state of Israel.
God wanted
the Hebrews to see clearly. God told Moses to have half of them stand on Mount
Gerizim and half on Mount Ebal. After that God outlined, in detail, the effects
of the curse to one group and the effects of the blessing. He didn't want any
confusion, making His wish (again) abundantly clear and asking the people to
renew the covenant.
POINT A CROSSGod needed people to accept His fiery law so that he could express His love. In the present dispensation He needs us to accept his fiery spirit and be submitted to Christ so that he can show His love.
It it the Devil, prince of darkness, who likes murky confusing things so
he can deceive men as he continues to do. 4000 years after God’s clear instructions
the error, depravity, and inverted values of the world are greater than ever.
They shall not stay there. God is just and in His great unfailing mercy, He
gives everyone a chance to choose life or death. Revival will sweep through the
nations in the end times and every knee shall bow.
MOSES' LAST ACTIONS
1.
Appointed Joshua as successor.
2.
Read the Law in public.
3.
Prophesied on Israel’s future
rebellion.
4.
Sang a poetic ode highlighting
God’s heart and destiny for His people.
5. Blessed the tribes.