This Bible Study is all about God’s faithfulness even in our rebellion.
In these first four chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses takes time to remind the Israelites of God’s faithfulness despite their rebellion. Moses hits on key moments that caused the Israelites to wander in the wilderness before encouraging them with their present successes on the East side of the Jordan – just across from the promised land. These chapters then end with an introduction to the law, because following the law is the only way the Israelites will survive as God’s people.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Read all about God’s Faithfulness amidst Israel’s rebellion, before reflecting on it below.
Deuteronomy 1-4
To Expound on the Law
The Israelites are standing on the plains of Moab, able to see across the Jordan and into the promised land. This is the first time the Israelites can see the promise, as the first generation has all died off in the wilderness. Before the Israelites can enter the promised land, however, Moses begins to expound on the law. He needs to remind the Israelites of what it means to be set apart for God, and how to live holy lives once in the promised land. During the book of Deuteronomy, Moses will make plain the Law of God, fully explaining it so that everyone will understand.
As Christians, we are also called to teach the law of God and the good news of the gospel. Are you able to teach the law of God, making it plain for all to understand while explaining it fully (Joshua 1:8)?
How to appoint leaders
In his recounting of Numbers 11, Moses recalls the qualities of a good leader while reminding the Israelites of their need to be led. The elders chosen must be wise, understanding, and respected in their tribes. They must be able to help teach the law of God and to judge in cases where men messed up following the law.
Related Post: From Contentment to Complaining – The Beginning of the Wilderness Wanderings
Do you take time to learn wisdom? Are you understanding in your relationships with others or quick to judge their actions? Are you respected in your communities (Proverbs 9:10)?
Listening to men instead of God
When the Israelites had reached the threshold of the Promised Land for the first time, God told them that He was giving it over to them – a land flowing with milk and honey. However, the Israelites did not believe God’s faithfulness and in rebellion, wanted to send spies to assess the land. When they approached Moses with the idea, he agreed that it was good and chose 12 spies to send. This was a decision that would result in 38 years of wandering the wilderness.
Instead of listening to the Israelites, Moses should have consulted God. How often do you listen to man rather than God (Acts 5:29)?
God loves you
Part of the reason for Israel’s unbelief was their questioning if God really loved them. Even after the miracles they witnessed when God led them out of Egypt, after seeing how God had sustained them thus far with mana from heaven, they chose to rebel against the command of God. The Israelites grumbled and stated “the Lord hates us” instead of focusing on his fulfilled promises and deliverance of the past.
The same is true of many Christians today. Instead of trusting in God’s love, they question it, wondering if God’s love is real. Are you convinced of God’s love for you (Romans 5:8)?
Wanderings in the wilderness
Because of their unfaithfulness, the Israelites were sent to wander the wilderness for 38 years. Some of this time is told of in the Book of Numbers. Yet, in Deuteronomy, Moses chooses to skip over these years, instead focusing on their turning back towards the promised land and the battles they fought leading up to standing in the Moab plains. Moses could have pointed out their unfaithfulness again and again, but he chose to point to God’s faithfulness.
Do you look to your past, beating yourself up over mistakes made? Or do you remember the faithfulness of God to bring you through, praising Him for His kindness (Isaiah 43:18-19)?
Confidence in battle
During their march back toward the promised land, there were some Nations that the Israelites were not allowed to provoke to war. They were not allowed to fight anyone they wished and take their land – even though these nations could have been easily conquered by the Israelites. Instead, they were to trust God, listening to His direction for the land that He would give while reigning in their selfish ambitions. When the time came for the Israelites to fight Sihon king of Heshbon and all his army, they were able to completely destroy the nation. They responded in faith and stated that not one town was too strong for them.
After 38 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites were finally ready to put their faith in God. They listened and trusted God in a battle that they refused to enter years earlier. Has your faith and trust in God grown over the years you have known Him (Psalm 9:10)?
Everything belongs to God
In Numbers 32, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh received the land on the Eastern side of the Jordan that they had asked for. Now, Moses retells this story, giving special emphasis to the fact that God gave them this land. Three times, the phrase “I gave” is repeated. The land belongs to God and is distributed as God sees fit.
Related Post: The Cost Of Complacency
Do you know that everything you have belongs to God (Psalm 24:1)?
Living in Obedience to God’s law
Deuteronomy 4 opens up with the command to listen and obey the law so that they would live. For the Israelites, their physical lives depended on listening to God since they were about to enter into many wars. But their spiritual lives also depended on listening to God’s law so that they did not fall captive to sin when they entered the land. Although their past was marked by rebellion, Moses reminded them that their future could be marked by present obedience and faithfulness to God and His law. If they lived obedient lives, all nations would see that they were God’s chosen people.
Does your life show a stark difference to those living around you because you live by God’s law (Matthew 7:15-20)?
The only response to God’s faithfulness (and it’s not rebellion)
Moses reminds the Israelites of who God is and what He has done for them – rescuing them out of slavery and setting them apart as His chosen nation. The Israelites were shown these many miracles so that they would know that the Lord is God. And the only logical conclusion to knowing God is to keep His decrees and commands.
Moses showed his faithfulness to do as the Lord commanded when he set up three cities of refuge on the East side of the Jordan. We know that God commanded him to set up a total of six cities, but since they had not yet crossed into the promised land, Moses was unable to fulfill the whole command. Yet he did not let himself be idle, but did as much as he could with the resources he had.
Are you doing everything you can to complete what God has called you to? Or are you sitting idle waiting for all of the pieces to fall into place first (Hebrews 6:12)?
Introduction to the law
Deuteronomy 4 ends with an introduction to the second and largest portion of Deuteronomy – a second telling of the law. Moses began the book by reminding them of God’s faithfulness amidst their past rebellion. Now he urges them to be trained in the law so that they do not fall into sin again. Moses knows that if the Israelites are going to conquer and live in the promised land, they will need to have a strong and personal understanding of the law.
Do you know the Law of God? Are you able to follow God’s commands with confidence, or do you sway through life making decisions as you see best (1 Peter 1:14-16)?
Reflect on God’s faithfulness amidst your rebellion
How has God remained faithful in your life, even when you chose a path of rebellion?