How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 27
Deuteronomy
Introduction:
The word ‘Deuteronomy’ is taken from the Greek Septuagint word Deuteronomion, which means ‘second law’ or ‘second teaching’. From the Hebrew elleh haddebarim, meaning ‘these are the words.’
A ‘second teaching’ because this book was written and presented to the second generation of Israelites to teach them how to have a relationship with their holy Creator. To do that, the people had to follow the number one principle in the entire Bible, they had to obey their God. What must they obey? His laws.
Therefore, they must learn them. Moses was their teacher, who was Holy Spirit – inspired to write and speak for God. He presented all of Jehovah’s laws in the Torah thus far. Thus, Deuteronomy reads like one grand covenant for the people to keep with their God. Moses wrote it in approximately 1405 B.C., just before the Israelites would cross the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land (Canaan).
It would be up to each successive generation of Israelites to pass the ‘book of the law’ down to their immediate descendants.
Deuteronomy is one of the most quoted books of the Old Testament within the New Testament. Christ Himself cited it repeatedly. It is also the first book of the OT that commands God’s children to love Him.
1.Connecting the dots:
These are the words that Moses spoke to all the people of Israel while they were in the wilderness east of the Jordan River. They were camped in the Jordan Valley… Dt. 1:1 NLT
This introduction to Deuteronomy could not have been written by Moses unless God equipped him with a prophetic vision. Most biblical scholars suggest that it, and the epilogue of Deuteronomy that describes his death, to be authored by Joshua. Why? Because Moses never went to the Promised Land.
The author goes on to tell us that it only takes 11 days to journey from Mt. Sinai to Canaan, but because of the sins of the first generation of the Israelites, they were punished with 40 years of wandering in the desert. After the Israeli defeat of King Sihon and King Og, Moses addressed the people. (See Dt. 1:2 – 5.)
Moses begins with a historical recap of how God told His children to break camp at Mt. Sinai and journey to Canaan – the Promised Land that Jehovah swore to give to His people. (See Dt. 1:6 – 8.)
He continues, by reminding them of how he picked leaders from each tribe, to free him up from all their simpler judicial needs. Moses recalled the bad report from the spies he sent to Canaan to get a feel of the lay of the land; and of the people’s rebellion – necessitating the punishment of the wandering through the wilderness. Moses himself was punished by preventing him from entering the Promised Land. (See Dt. 1:9 – 46.)
Regardless of the punishment, God still saw to the people’s needs:
For the Lord your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched your every step through this great wilderness. During these forty years, the Lord your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.”’ Dt. 2:7 NLT
Moses retells their journey to Moab and of their God-given victories over King Sihon and King Og. (See Dt. 2:9 – 36; Dt. 3:1 – 11.). Moses allotted these conquered kingdoms to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manesseh. (See Dt. 3:12 – 20.)
Bringing his chronicle of the people’s history up to date, he ends with his passing of the baton to Joshua, and with Jehovah’s refusal to let Moses into the Promised Land:
“At that time I gave Joshua this charge: ‘You have seen for yourself everything the Lord your God has done to these two kings. He will do the same to all the kingdoms on the west side of the Jordan. Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.’ Dt. 3:21, 22. NLT
“At that time I pleaded with the Lord and said…’Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains.’
“But the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me. ‘That’s enough!’ he declared. ‘Speak of it no more. But go up to Pisgah Peak, and look over the land in every direction. Take a good look, but you may not cross the Jordan River.’ Dt. 3:23 & 25 – 27. NLT
2.Importance of obedience:
“Now, O Israel, listen and pay attention to the statutes and the judgments (God’s legal decisions) which I am teaching you to do, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I am commanding you.” Dt. 4:1, 2. AMP
“Look, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God has commanded me, so that you may do them in the land which you are entering to possess. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God [is to us] whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation has statutes and judgments so righteous (upright, just) as this whole law which I am placing before you today?” Dt. 4:5 – 8. AMP
So then, our knowledge of, and our obedience to, God’s word imbues us with the divine wisdom of life and brings us closer to Jehovah, through righteous behavior. It makes people take notice of God’s children and sets us up for effective evangelism.
“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. Never forget the day when you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Sinai, where he told me, ‘Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also.’
“You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky. The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. And the Lord spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice. He proclaimed his covenant—the Ten Commandments —which he commanded you to keep, and which he wrote on two stone tablets. It was at that time that the Lord commanded me to teach you his decrees and regulations so you would obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. Dt. 4:9 – 14. NLT
The Israelites had an up close and personal visual experience of Jehovah’s manifestation of His power, and they heard His words. Yet He was formless.
Note that God wants us to fear Him (to deeply revere Him.) He wants us to obey His laws – especially when He knows that His children will be exposed to the paganism of the existing Canaanites. So, Moses segues right into warning the people of the temptation of idolatry. (See Dt. 4:15 – 20 & 23.) And he adds a severe penalty:
The Lord your God is a devouring fire; he is a jealous God. Dt. 4:24 NLT
Moses then prophesies about future events that will come upon Israel when they forsake their Father:
“Today I call on heaven and earth as witnesses against you. If you break my covenant, you will quickly disappear from the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will live there only a short time; then you will be utterly destroyed. For the Lord will scatter you among the nations, where only a few of you will survive. There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.
“In the distant future, when you are suffering all these things, you will finally return to the Lord your God and listen to what he tells you. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors. Dt. 4:26 – 31. NLT
This would indeed come to pass when Israel did submit to idolatry and embraced moral turpitude. In response, God allowed the Assyrians and later the Babylonians to conquer and enslave the Israelites. However, He will mercifully forgive the transgressors if they return to their covenantal relationship with Him.
3.One God:
“Now search all of history, from the time God created people on the earth until now, and search from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything as great as this ever been seen or heard before? Has any nation ever heard the voice of God speaking from fire—as you did—and survived? Has any other god dared to take a nation for himself out of another nation by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, a strong hand, a powerful arm, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the Lord your God did for you in Egypt, right before your eyes. Dt. 4:32 – 34.
“He showed you these things so you would know that the Lord is God and there is no other. He let you hear his voice from heaven so he could instruct you. He let you see his great fire here on earth so he could speak to you from it. Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants, and he personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power. He drove out nations far greater than you, so he could bring you in and give you their land as your special possession, as it is today.
“So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Dt. 4:35 – 40. NLT
Moses gathers the people again and repeats the Ten Commandments for this second generation of Israelites. (See the 18th post in this series for a previous in-depth discussion of the Ten Commandments.)
4.Meshing with God:
“Now this is the command; the statutes and the judgments (precepts) which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you might do (follow, obey) them in the land which you are crossing over [the Jordan] to possess, so that you and your son and your grandson may fear and worship the Lord your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], to keep [and actively do] all His statutes and His commandments which I am commanding you, all the days of your life, so that your days may be prolonged. Therefore listen, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly [in numbers], as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.” Dt. 6:1 – 3. AMP
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one [the only God]! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Dt. 6:4 – 9. AMP
So, you can see that Moses is trying to position the people to be equipped with reminders to always keep Jehovah in the mind and heart. And what is their reward for their diligent pursuit of God? Next time!
Goodnight and God Bless.
Building Better Americans 143
How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 26
Numbers (cont.)
7.Resistance and death:
As we saw, the Israelites are encamped at Kadesh, where they first began their wanderings in the wilderness. They were at the border of a nation called ‘Edom’ whose descendants were rooted in Esau, Jacob’s brother.
Moses wanted to take the people through Edom, as it would greatly reduce their travel time.
He appealed to their king, stating that they would stay on the ‘king’s road’ and not infringe upon their natural resources. The king refused, and even met them with his army to thwart their passage.
Thus, the Israelites were forced to take a longer journey. Their first stop was a Mount Hor, (location unknown). God speaks to Moses and Aaron (See Nu.20:14 – 22.):
“Aaron will be gathered to his people [in death]; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you [both] rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor; and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. So Aaron will be gathered to his fathers, and will die there.” Nu. 20:24 – 26. AMP
And it was so. Aaron died at the age of 123; and the people mourned for 30 days.
8.Victories for the second generation of the Israelites and another fit of grumbling:
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev (the South country) heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim [the route traveled by the spies sent out by Moses], he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. So Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed hand over these people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” The Lord heard the voice of Israel and handed over the Canaanites; then they destroyed them and their cities. Nu. 21:1 – 3. AMP
Immediately after this victory, they set out to journey around the Red Sea, because of Edom’s refusal of passage. The people grumbled once more about the conditions they saw themselves in:
“Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” Nu. 21:5 NLT
Haven’t these people learned their lesson? God sends poisonous snakes that kill many people. The rest of them confess their sin to Moses who prays for their deliverance. Our merciful Creator tells Moses to make a bronze snake and attach it to a pole. Those who looked at it, if bitten, were healed. (See Nu. 21:6 – 9.)
The Israelites pressed on towards Moab. Moses sent ambassadors to King Sihon of the Amorites, asking for safe passage through their land. The king refused. Instead, he roused his army and attacked them, but the Israelites slaughtered that army and occupied all the towns, including the city of Heshbon (located in modern-day Jordan). (See Nu. 21:21 – 32.)
Then the people marched on to Bashan (east of the Sea of Galilee). There, they were attacked by King Og of the same region, but Jehovah encourages Moses:
“Do not fear him, for I have handed him over to you along with his whole army and his land. Do to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.” So they struck him, his sons, and his whole army until no one was left, and they took possession of his land. Nu. 34, 35. CSB
9.Balaam and Balak
The Israelites made camp on the plains of Moab, preparing to do battle, to conquer Canaan. King Balak of Moab, who had been conquered by the Israelites, but was able to re-take it, was still concerned about the presence of God’s children. So, he sent men to hire the prophet Balaam to ‘curse’ Israel.
Balaam is an interesting character. He had a relationship with God, but he also practiced ‘divination’, which is proscribed by Mosaic Law. When he was approached by Balak’s men, he sought God’s counsel and He replied:
“Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people [of Israel], for they are blessed.” Nu. 22:12 AMP
Balaam sent Balak’s men away. However, Balak sent even more men with a promise of a great reward. Again, Balaam sought Jehovah’s counsel:
“Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you to do.” Nu. 22:20 NLT
Then, God gets angry because Balaam was going, even though He gave him permission to do so. (Some biblical scholars contend that it was because Balaam still thought he could curse Israel and get that great reward.)
Balaam rode a donkey towards Balak but Jehovah intervenes:
Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.
Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.
“You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!” Nu. 22:23 – 29. NLT
Then the angel of the LORD appeared before Balaam and asked him why he beat his donkey. He told Balaam that He had come to block his way because he was resisting Him. Balaam said he would return home, but the angel of the LORD instead told him to go, but to only say what He tells him to say. (See Nu. 22:32 – 35.)
Balaam meets with Balak and says:
“Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.” Nu. 22:38 NLT
Balaam then went to consult Jehovah and returned to King Balak and rendered the LORD’s message:
“Balak summoned me to come from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me! Come and announce Israel’s doom.’
But how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom the Lord has not condemned? I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills.
I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations.Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust? Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people? Let me die like the righteous; let my life end like theirs.” Nu. 23:7 – 10. NLT
Instead of cursing them, Balaam blesses them! Balak is beside himself and takes Balaam to a different viewing point. Balaam again convenes with God, and delivers his second message:
“Rise up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor. God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the Lord their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king. God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’ These people rise up like a lioness, like a majestic lion rousing itself. They refuse to rest until they have feasted on prey, drinking the blood of the slaughtered!” Nu. 23:18 – 24. NLT
King Balak takes Balaam to yet another vantage point, thinking he will be able to curse the Israelites from there. That is not how it goes:
By now Balaam realized that the Lord was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness, where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him, and this is the message he delivered:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel! They spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. Water will flow from their buckets; their offspring have all they need. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted. God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. He devours all the nations that oppose him, breaking their bones in pieces, shooting them with arrows. Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to arouse her? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.” Nu. 24:1 – 9. NLT
Christian biblical scholars see this reference to a ‘king greater than Agag, and a kingdom who will be exalted’ as a messianic prophecy.
King Balak is enraged, screaming at Balaam for blessing Israel three times instead of cursing them. He tells Balaam to get out of his sight, telling him that he will not receive any reward. Balaam responds to the king:
“Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said, ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.’ Nu. 24:12, 13. NLT
“…let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future.”
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth. Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph. A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”
Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: “Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!” Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message: “Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks. But the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you captive.”
Balaam concluded his messages by saying: “Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it? Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber, but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.” Nu. 24:15 – 24. NLT
This prophecy too, is Messianic in nature, of a future star / scepter, that delivers Israel from all its enemies.
10.Falling into sin again:
Israel settled and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the prostitute with the women of Moab [by being unfaithful to God]. For they invited the Israelites to the sacrifices of their gods, and the Israelites ate [food offered to idols] and bowed down to Moab’s gods. So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor [in worship]. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people [who have committed sin with the Moabites], and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” Nu. 25:1 – 4. AMP
God brought a plague upon the people:
…those [Israelites] who died in the plague numbered 24,000. Nu. 25:9 AMP
At this point in time, Moses, Joshua, and Caleb are the only survivors of the first generation of the Israelites. All the rest are dead.
A second census is taken as a measure to organize the military for the invasion of Canaan. It was also used to divide Canaan into lots of land for each tribe. (See Nu. 26:1 – 65.)
Joshua was chosen as the Israelite’s new leader, replacing Moses, who could not enter the Promised Land because he had disobeyed God’s instructions earlier when he struck the rock to make water come out, and for taking the credit for doing so.
God, through Moses, again, this time for the second generation, gives instructions for the daily offerings to Him, about the Passover, the Feasts, and the proper use of vows. (See Nu. 28:1 – 30:16.)
Before they were to cross the Jordan River, they first conquered the Midianite nation in the ‘Transjordan’ region. After that, the tribes of Reuben and Gad asked Moses if they could claim the land for their homes because it was ideal for their large flocks of animals. The other tribes were upset, but they mollified them by agreeing to send their own fighting men to complete the settlement of Canaan. (See Nu. 31:1 – 32:42.)
Jehovah tells Moses the borders of their new nation, and more about dividing it for the tribes. Forty-eight cities are allotted to the Levites, six of which, are designated as ‘cities of refuge’ – places where unintentional murderers could flee to, to stand trial.
Stay tuned for the final book of the Torah: Deuteronomy – Moses’ last stand.
Goodnight and God Bless.