God and the Land of Promise (Deuteronomy-Judges)

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

  As you read, you found that Balaam was a prophet, yet his heart was not right.  However, during his dealing with Balak and all the bribes offered, Balaam did reveal the word that God revealed to him. Yet it does not indicate he was given or took the bribes. Balaam is still a mystery to me.

   In Chapter 27 several main things happened.  Moses will not go into the promised land and Joshua was chosen as his successor, then told to go to Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him.

   The tribes of Reuben and Gad asked to settle on the East side of the Jordan with the stipulation they help the other tribes take their land.  The Tribe of Levi was the priestly tribe and had no land of inheritance; other tribes were to provide cities and land for them.

   Now, if you will read (or listen to) Numbers 28 & 29 you will really appreciate that Jesus came to atone for our sins.  Read all the offerings that were to be presented to the LORD.  Obviously by reading this, the tribe of Levi was busy all the time gathering what the LORD commanded to provide for the burnt offerings.  However, knowing the past history of the tribe of Israel, all these offerings would serve as a constant reminder that it was the LORD who brought them forth from slavery.  Without a constant reminder, they would stray. Hmmm!  Much as we do today in the modern world and America, AND in our own lives.

   Chapter 30 is one I wish we followed today. Here is Chapter 30, verses 1&2: Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: “This is what the Lord commands: ² When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

   Take a vow or oath and not break his word.  We need this in modern civilization, in our life and the life of our political figures.  The women and vows between a man and wife or father and young daughter still living at home (30:3-16)

   Chapter 31 is about going into battle; 32 Reuben and Gad settling. And if you continue reading there is much to learn about the tribes, cities of refuge, marriage of female heirs, then we come to Deuteronomy which means "second law", a retelling by Moses of the teachings and events of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. Also, Moses' farewell address to a new generation of Israelites as they prepare to take possession of the Promised Land. 

   Moses reminds them (the people) of God's faithfulness and love; but, also reminds them of God's wrath on the previous generation because of their rebellion.  Deuteronomy is a call to love and obey the one true God.  Deuteronomy ends with Joshua selected as Israel's new leader and Moses' death.

 Just a note for study. Deuteronomy is the account of Moses' preparing the people to enter the promised land.  JOSHUA is the account of military conquest.  The primary message is that God led the people and gave them the land of Canaan.

  JUDGES covers the difficult period when the people were trying to consolidate their holdings and establish themselves in the land of Canaan.  Tomorrow we will begin with Moses' 3 addresses to the people and then the final various topics from the last of Deuteronomy (ch. 27-32).

   There is a lot of information on these pages and I am basically just doing a lot of topical study.  I hope and pray you are enjoying this journey through the Old Testament and doing some reading on your own. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny