In Deuteronomy Moses transitioned from being the leader of Israel, to being the elder statesman, commissioning Joshua to lead. Moses was a prophet, teacher, and judge in Israel. Joshua was a warrior, military strategist and general who revered God. Israel was moving from a nomadic to a settled status.

Joshua established himself as a military leader when he led Israel into war against the two Amorite kings (Deuteronomy 2:26 – 3:11). They won the war and Moses said,

“At that time I commanded Joshua: ‘You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.’” Deuteronomy 3:21-22

Israel was in good hands and Moses now had time to reflect upon his life.

Moses Intercedes For Himself

After more than eighty years of walking closely with God, Moses felt he was only beginning to see how great God was.

“Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?” Deuteronomy 3:24

Moses had been deeply satisfied in his relationship with God countless times. He heard God’s voice, received his wisdom, and saw his glory. But there was one thing the Lord had not shown him and Moses wanted that with all his heart.

“Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan – that fine hill country and Lebanon.” Deuteronomy 3:25

The Discipline of the Lord

Back in Meribah, Moses had lost his temper with Israel and failed to carry out God’s instructions. God said to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock, twice. God gave water from the rock, but he disciplined Moses for his disobedience and denied him entrance to the Promised Land.

Many time Moses interceded for Israel when God disciplined them, and God relented, but God was unmoved this time.

“That is enough,” the Lord said, “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan.” Deuteronomy 3:26-27

The matter was settled. God told Moses what to do next.

“But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” Deuteronomy 3:28

What a view into the relationship between God and Moses, and how humble Moses was to talk about it so openly. He felt this discipline from the Lord deeply, yet he carried on.

Sacred Ground

We are on sacred ground when we read Deuteronomy We sit at the feet of a man who met with God face to face and every word he says is worth reading carefully.

Think about how these words sounded to Israel the first time they heard them.

Israel’s Unique Relationship with God

“Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you.” Deuteronomy 4:1

Moses taught Israel through the Law once more so that they would be able to remember and obey it when they entered Canaan. It was a matter of life and death for them.

“Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord the God of your ancestors is giving you.” Deuteronomy 4:1

He reminded Israel about their unique relationship with God. Try reading these words aloud and let them sink into your heart.

“What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” Deuteronomy 4:7

“But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.” Deuteronomy 4:20

“Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?” Deuteronomy 4:32

God’s Purpose for Israel

God wanted Israel to show the world he was the only God, there was no other. His people were his witnesses. The nations of the world would know God was Israel’s king and protector if they followed his laws and worshipped only him.

 “You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other.” Deuteronomy 4:35

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” Deuteronomy 4:39

Don’t Lose Sight of God

Moses warned that Israel’s biggest mistake would be to worship any other god . . . ever . . . but he knew that it might happen.

“There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:28-29

He reminded Israel that though they had heard God’s voice and seen his glory on the mountain and in the pillar of cloud, he had never revealed himself in bodily form.

“You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape . . .” Deuteronomy 4:15-16

Israel was also never to worship the sun, moon or stars.

“Do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord you God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.” Deuteronomy 4:19

Pagan religion was defined by worshiping created things. Moses told Israel to worship the Creator and Giver of all of these things, not the things themselves.

The Ten Commandments

Moses reminded israel that God spoke with a loud voice, fire, cloud and deep darkness when he gave them the Ten Commandments at Mt. Horeb. He inscribed them on two stone tablets that still lay inside the Ark of the Covenant in the tabernacle.

“The Lord our God made this covenant with us at Horeb . . . with all of us who are alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain . . . These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more.” Deuteronomy 5:2-4, 22

Some of the people standing before Moses had been children at Mt. Horeb and they remembered how hearing God’s voice affected their elders. Moses hoped young Israel would adopt the same response.

“When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders came to me. And you said, ‘The Lord our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them . . . Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey. ” Deuteronomy 5:24, 27

God loved that response from Israel.

“ . . . and the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!’” Deuteronomy 5:28-29

May It Also Go Well with Us 

We are reading the very words Israel heard from and God and his servant Moses. We have the same opportunity to say, “we will listen and obey.”

Take some time to look at Deuteronomy 4-5 again and choose a verse or passage that stands out to you. Then answer one of these questions:

• Is there a sin for me to confess?
• Is there a command for me to obey?
• Is there a promise for me to claim?

Talk to the Lord about your answer. He will be pleased when you listen and obey.