YOUTH STS LESSON 123 MOSES REHEARSES ISRAEL’S WILDERNESS EXPERIENCES
TEXT: Deuteronomy 1:1-46; 2:1-37; 3:1-29; 4:1-49
MEMORY VERSE: “And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them” (Deuteronomy 1:3).
The book of Deuteronomy is the last of the first five books of the Bible called the PENTATEUCH. In this book, Moses recalled the experiences of the children of Israel from the time they left Egypt till they camped beside Jordan (chapters 1-11), the repetition of sundry laws (chapters 12-26), the promises of God for the obedient and punishment for the disobedient (chapters 27-30) and Moses’ last prophetic blessings on all the tribes of Israel (chapters 31-34). In chapter one of our text, Moses spoke the word of God to all Israel and stressed the need for them to do “according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them” (verse 3). He further encouraged them to believe God’s promises to give them the land He promised their fathers (verse 8). Chapter two contains the account of Israel’s journey through the wilderness and God’s instruction to them not to possess Seir and Ar because He has given them to the descendants of Esau and Lot respectively. Chapter three is a continuation of the words of Moses to the children of Israel beside Jordan. In chapter four, he admonished the children of Israel to obey God, which has attendant blessings.
Question 1: Why did God command Moses to recount to the children of Israel their past experiences?
Human beings are prone to forgetfulness. The Lord wanted them to remember His:
(1) power and preservation,
(2) provisions and presence:
(3) punishments on those that sinned; and
(4) precepts and promises. Moreover, the Lord wanted this present generation of the children of Israel to remember what befell the Past generation (Deuteronomy 32:44-47).
1.MOSES RECALLS ISRAEL’S HISTORY AND JOURNEY FROM EGYPT .
Deuteronomy 1:1-46; 2:1-37; Exodus 19:7-9; Deuteronomy 4:9,11; 31:28-30; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12
The opening verse in our text introduces us to the importance of the word of God. Moses, the prophet of God, had the responsibility of speaking or preaching His word to all the children of Israel. He did this effectively and efficiently as commanded by God. “And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them (Deuteronomy 1:3). Today, God speaks through His Son Jesus Christ, the greatest Prophet (Hebrews 1:1,2).
Question 2: What is the expectation of God from every Christian youth concerning His commandments?
“Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (Deuteronomy 13:4). The expectation of God from every Christian youth is to walk in His ways, fear Him, keep and obey His word and serve Him in righteousness. There are numerous blessings for obeying the word of God. These include:
(a) answers to prayers (Matthew 7:7,8);
(b) fulfilment of God’s promises (2 Samuel 7:25);
(c) anointing for God’s service (Acts 5:32);
(d) assurance of promotion and prosperity (Daniel 3:30; 6:28);
(e) assurance of God’s protection (Daniel 6:22,23);
(f) special preservation from evil (2 Timothy 4:17,18);
(g) supply of heavenly provision (Philippians 4:19);
(h) purposeful partnership;
(i) wisdom and understanding (Daniel 1:17-20; 2 Timothy 2:7); and
(j) paradise with the Lord (John 14:1-3; Revelation 22:3,4).
Question 3: Mention specific areas God expects youths to make definite progress.
“Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them” (Deuteronomy 1:8). Our progress should cover spiritual, academic and physical aspects of our lives. This is the pattern of life as seen in our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:40,52). As God commanded the children of Israel to move ahead in readiness to battle the inhabitants of the land, He cautioned them concerning Esau’s descendants. They were told, “Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession” (Deuteronomy 2:5). By implication, though we are separated from sinners spiritually and morally, yet, we need to interact with them in the course of necessary daily dealings with carefulness with the aim of bringing them to Christ.
2. MOSES RECOUNTS ISRAEL’S EXPERIENCES
Deuteronomy 3:1-29; Numbers 21:33-35; Deuteronomy 29:7-9; Ephesians 6:10-12
Moses reminded the children of Israel of the conflict or war initiated by Og the king of Bashan. “Then we turned and went up the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei” (Deuteronomy 3:1). This world is a place of war and conflict. Satan and his agents initiate conflicts against the people of God. Whether we are prepared or not, the battle line is drawn and set in array, especially, when are enlisted in the army of the Lord. The children of Israel had no choice but to go ahead in combat with Og, the enemy. “And the LORD said unto me, Fear not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand: and thou shall do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon King of the Amorites which dwelt at Heshbon” (Deuteronomy 3:2). God wanted His people to face the enemy courageously, by Assuring them of victory.
Question 4: What form does the battles for New Testament believers take?
What was physical in the Old Testament dispensation is spiritually implied in the New Testament era. Today, we do not engage in physical conflict or battle with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12); neither do we employ physical weapons like swords, spears and shields in fighting (2 Corinthians 10:3,4). The believer’s warfare is a spiritual one. Our conflict is against Satan and sin. We fight Satan whose goal is to beguile a believer and take his heart away from God (2 Corinthians 11:3). Moses had given the children of Gad, Reuben and half of the tribe of Manasseh the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites and Og, the king of Bashan. He, however, commanded them to commit themselves to fighting the Lord’s battles along with their brethren. “And I commanded you at that time saying, the LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war” (Deuteronomy 3:18). Today, each member of the living Church should be committed to the Lord’s cause and programme. We are to assist our brethren in possessing their eternal inheritance.
Question 5: How can Christian youths be committed to the Lord’s battle?
Christian youths can take part in the battle to rescue sinners from the kingdom of Satan through the following:
(1) By prayer of intercession and preaching to sinning youths.
(2) Assisting weak Christians through encouragement, exhortation, admonition, counselling and intercession.
(3) Helping to restore backsliders. “And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you (Deuteronomy 3:21,22). Here, Moses reminded the people of Joshua’s appointment and commission. It was clear to all the people that Joshua was to succeed him. Yet, Moses encouraged him not to fear. “But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see” verse 28). He used past victories as testimony to encourage Moses had actually pleaded with the Lord to allow him into the land of promise. “And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon” (Deuteronomy 3:23,25). The Lord had to discipline Moses because he struck the rock twice contrary to His instruction to speak to the rock (Numbers 20:8). At this point, God was not happy with him (verse 26). He was commanded by God to get to the top of Pisgah to view the land but he would not go over Jordan. Christian youths should be careful and cautious in their walk with the Lord. We can only be allowed to enter heaven on the basis of living a holy and righteous life to the end.
3. MOSES’ EXHORTATION TO COMPLETE OBEDIENCE.
Deuteronomy 4:1-24; 28:1-14; 5:29; Exodus 19:5; Jeremiah 7:23; Proverbs 30:5,6; Revelation 22:8,9
Moses was clear about God’s requirement of complete obedience. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2). Any alteration to the word of God renders it less than His word. Furthermore, Moses was commanded to teach the people all the counsel of God so they might do it (verse 14). Preachers and teachers of the word of God do a lot of harm to their congregations when they do not teach the whole truth.
Question 6: What specific areas are we expected to demonstrate obedience?
The specific areas God expects obedience from us are:
one, obedience to our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).
Two, obedience to church leaders (Hebrews 7:7).
Three, obedience to constituted authorities (Romans 13:1-7).
Four, obedience to elders (1Peter 5:5).
Question 7: What are the consequences of disobedience?
“When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger” (Deuteronomy 4:25). Moses told them that their disobedience would incur God’s wrath upon them and that would lead to many calamities. In particular, he mentioned premature death, destruction, devastation, depopulation and bondage to strange gods. God has made provision for our rescue, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we should not face the consequences of our past sins. This takes effect the moment a sinner comes to Christ through repentance, faith in Him and consistent Christian living. “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9,10).