 |
|
| |
|
OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for December 2022
January 1, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:1 – These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side of Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over again the Red Sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
Thought: Moses recorded five books of the Old Testament. The words which he spoke to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy are unique from at least two perspectives. First, these are the last words of Moses. Israel has reached the Promised Land after forty years of wilderness wanderings. Moses will not go in with them. In Deuteronomy, Moses records his last three sermons to the people. Last words are always important. Second, the word “Deuteronomy” means “the second law.” In the book, Moses will set forth “the Law” once more.
Exodus 3:8
January 2, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:2 – (There are eleven days journey from Horeb by the way of mount Sier unto Kadesh-barnea.)
Thought: The Bible sometimes presents the reader with very simple facts. Here, we learn that it takes eleven days to journey from Horeb by way of mount Sier unto Kadesh-barnea. These simple facts are easy to verify. They lend to the truthfulness of the narrative that is being presented. In the Bible, these minute points are always accurate. This is not always the case with other volumes that are said to be inspired of God. Dear readers, if the Holy Spirit is revealing, guiding, and overseeing the writing, it will always be true and accurate.
Acts 1:12
January 3, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:3 – 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 to all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them.
Thought: “And it came to pass in the fortieth year.” These words reveal to us the faithfulness of God to His promises. When the ten spies searched out the land of Canaan, they came back with an evil report. Their report struck fear into the hearts of the Israelites and caused Israel to refused to conquer Caanan. It was then that God punished Israel. Every day that spies had been in the land would bring one year of wilderness wandering upon Israel. They spies were in the land forty days. Israel wandered forty years. Now, that time came to an end.
Numbers 14:32-34
January 4, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:4 – After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei.
Thought: God chose the Jews to be a holy nation unto him. We must keep in mind that they were a physical kingdom as well as a spiritual kingdom. This means that they had to deal with all of the struggles, including warfare, with which other nations must deal. When God told His nation to go on the offensive against another nation, it was not solely for the purpose of conquest. The nations defeated by God’s people were immoral and violent. Too, they were idol worshipers. This was true of both Sihon and Og. God punished their wickedness.
Daniel 8:23
January 5, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:5 – On this side of Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying.
Thought: After forty years of wandering, Israel arrived “on this side of Jordan, in the land of Moab.” The Jordan River was not very wide, was not very deep, and was not a fast moving river. However, two times a year it would overflow its banks. Then it was a raging river. Before crossing the river, Moses wanted to speak to Israel. These would be his final words to them before his death. Moses’ subject was “this law.” This was the second declaration of the Law. This accounts for the name of the book, Deuteronomy, “second law.”
Exodus 24:12-13
January 6, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:6, 7 – The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount. Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
Thought: After being freed from the bondage of Egypt, the children of Israel made their way to Sinai. They stayed there over a year. God made a covenant with them. This covenant separated them out as His nation. Having given them the Law of Moses, it was then time go the Promised Land. Note: God did not initially intend for Israel to wander forty years in the wilderness. After two years, He wanted to give them the land of Canaan. It was a piece of land that extended from the mount of the Amorites to the great river Euphrates.
Numbers 10:11-12
January 7, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:8 – 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 them and to their seed after them.
Thought: The children of Israel are now encamped a stone’s cast away from the Land of Promise. Moses had brought them up as the Lord commanded him. Too, the Israelites were there in fulfillment of the land promises given to three great patriarchs of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Several hundred years had passed since those promises were made. The patriarchs did not get to see them fulfilled, but they sincerely believed they would be. Now, God is about to bring His promises to fruition. Dear readers, God is always true to His Word.
Genesis 13:14-15
January 8, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:9 – And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone.
Thought: In Egypt, the children of Israel grew into a great nation. The task of leading this nation was a great burden put on Moses. There were times when he found himself overwhelm with his duties. He knew that he was not able to bear them alone. Twice Moses was provided assistance with his duties. One time he was counselled by his father-in-law to appoint judges over the small matters. One another occasion, the Lord told Moses to appoint seventy elders who could be officers over the people. Sometime our labors demand assistance.
Number 11:11-16
January 9, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:10 – The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
Thought: The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would be like unto the stars in heaven and the sand upon the seashore. Moses affirms that God’s promise was fulfilled. “…behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for a multitude.” When Jacob and his family went into Egypt, they numbered less than one hundred people. While in Goshen, their numbers grew to such an extend that Pharaoh worried about their aligning themselves with his enemies. God was growing a nation. When Moses spoke to them, they were a theocracy.
Genesis 12:2
January 10, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:11 – (The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)
Thought: Moses expressed a deep desire that he had for Israel. He wanted them to grow in number and to become a great nation. He wanted the Lord to increase them by a thousand times. This should be the desire of every Christian for the church. Christians should never rejoice in the demise of the body of Christ. We should long for it to multiply. We, too, should want it a thousand times larger than it presently is. Thirty would be thirty thousand. One hundred would be a hundred thousand. And, so on! Lord, make us increase.
Psalm 115:12-14
January 11, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:12 – How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?
Thought: The tasks of leaders are not easy. Overseeing a few people can be a difficult task. Leaders can sometimes feel like Moses felt as he labored for Israel in the wilderness. They, too, might ask: “How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance?” The answer to that question is simple. They cannot do it alone. They need to recognize this, or they will eventually wear themselves out. They will no longer enjoy their job. They will cease being productive. Some might seek another field of work. Some quit entirely. They must seek help.
I Kings 3:7-8
January 12, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:13 – Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
Thought: There are three thoughts that we will make about his verse. First, Moses was wise to take the advice of his father-in-law, Jethro, and delegate some of the responsibility of judging Israel to others. This relieved him of a huge burden. Second, the men who were selected were qualified men. To judge between others takes wisdom and equity. Good judges are a blessing to any nation. Third, these men came from among the people. This was both a blessing and a curse. They knew the people, but, as leaders, they had to rise above their fellows.
Acts 6:3-5
January 13, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:14 – And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.
Thought: Moses had revealed a problem that he was having as the leader of Israel. He not only revealed the problem but also a solution. There are times when solutions to difficulties are not very well received by others. On this occasion, this was not the case. The people told Moses: “The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.” When solutions are agreed upon, organizations continue in peace. The solution is implemented and adjustments are made as needed. Moses probably rejoiced to hear their words and to have his burden removed.
Hebrews 13:17
January 14, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:15 – So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.
Thought: Good ideas often seem so simple and logical once they are put in place. Moses tried to bear the burdens of the people all by himself. This was an impossibility. Thus, they delegated the responsibility to “wise men.” Some were over thousands. Others were over hundreds. Still others dealt with small groups of fifty and tens. This delegated authority seems simple and logical. However, sometimes people have trouble giving up control. Once it is done, some will respond: “We should have done this long ago.”
Matthew 10:1-4
January 15, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:16 – And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
Thought: Those who are in the position of a judge have a “charge” to keep. Moses set forth part of this charge in this verse. Judges are to “judge righteously” between all men, including “the stranger.” Judges are not to look upon race, gender, creed, or socio-economic status. All men are to be treated equally under the law. When they make their decisions, they are to judge righteously. The word “righteously” has as it root, the word “right.” They are to judge rightly. They are to judge strictly according to the law. There is one law for all.
2 Chronicles 19:6-7
January 16, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:17 – Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
Thought: Moses continues to note the instructions he gave the judges of Israel. He set forth three guidelines. First, they were not to have respect of persons. As an illustration, he writes: “Ye shall hear the small as well as the great.” Financial status and position in life should not concern the judge. Second, the judge was not to be afraid of any man. The judge was a minister of God. He was judging on behalf of the Judge of all the earth. Lastly, the judge needed to realize where his wisdom stopped. Difficult cases were to be brought to Moses.
Leviticus 19:15
January 17, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:18 – And I commanded you at that time all things which ye should do.
Thought: God has expectations for His people. These are revealed to us through His commandments. There are other names for His commandments: His Word, His precepts, His judgments, His law, etc. Yes, God has not concealed His will for man. He has manifested it in the book we call the Bible today. Notice how this verse ends: “…all things which ye should do.” God’s will is what man should do. We are not forced to obey God, but it is what we should do. God’s will brings unity, salvation, joy, peace, and long life. God wants the best for us.
Matthew 28:20
January 18, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:19 – And when we were departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
Thought: It took Israel about three months to reach Mount Sinai. They encamped there about one year. Once they left Mount Sinai, they made their way through the wilderness to Kadesh-barnea. Approximately two years had passed since they left the bondage of Egypt. The Israelites had experienced many things: victory over Pharoah, the divine care of their heavenly Father, the giving of the Law of Moses, the wrath of God against sin, and “the great and terrible wilderness.” By this time, they should have eagerly longed for the Promised Land.
Numbers 10:11-12
January 19, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:20 – And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord our God doth give unto us.
Thought: The land of Canaan was God’s gift to the nation of Israel. Oh yes, they had to put forth some effort to drive the evil, sinful nations out, but it was theirs for the taking. Too, God had brought them to the borders of this land within two years of exiting Egypt. Thus, it was not God’s desire for Israel to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Does God have blessings for our lives that He wants us to enjoy right now? Does He require something of us in order to obtain His promises? The answer is: “Yes.” The choice is ours to make.
Exodus 3:16-17
January 20, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:21 – Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
Thought: When Israel reached the Promised Land, God commanded them, saying: “Go up and possess it.” It was a simple command, but it would require both heart and action on the part of the twelve tribes. God knew the importance of the heart in their battle. Thus, He also exhorted not to fear, “neither be discouraged.” The people of the land were strong. The cities were walled and great. The battle would take some time to complete. Under difficult conditions, fear and discouragement can defeat an army. Thus, God prohibited both reactions.
Psalm 27:1-3
January 21, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:22 – And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.
Thought: God has told the children of Israel that He had given them that land. However, before they began to occupy the land, they wanted to search it out. It seems they were attempting to develop a strategy which could be used to take the land. This does not seem like an illogical or unreasonable request. This was going to be a major attack on seven heathen nations. Even with the best made plans, the overthrow was going to take a lot of time. Understanding the terrain, the cities, and the enemy forces would certainly make victory somewhat easier.
Numbers 13:1-3
January 22, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:23 – And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe.
Thought: As the leader of this nation, Moses approved of the people’s desire. He had never seen the land. Joshua, the commander of the forces, had not seen Canaan either. This seemed like a wise decision. Moses, therefore, selected twelve men to spy out the land. One man was selected from each tribe. Moses used wisdom in his selection. He made sure that every tribe was represented in the effort. When the men returned, no tribe would be able to say that it was left out. Moses wanted all of the nation, not just a part, committed to this effort.
Numbers 13:4-16
January 23, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:24 – And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.
Thought: When a job needs to be done, it is good to know that some individuals will actually do what has been assigned. Twelve individuals had been given the task of spying out the land of Canaan. This verse tells us that they “searched it out.” It was probably a long, tiring, and frightening trip into that unknown land. Yet, they “searched it out.” We need more individuals who will actually carry out their responsibilities. Far too often, people rely on someone else to get the job done, but isn’t the best way to get something done to do it yourself?
Numbers 13:21-23
January 24, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:25 – And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us.
Thought: The spies who search out the land of Canaan brought back some of the fruit of the land. God had told the people that it was a land flowing with milk and honey. The produce the spies brought with them was proof of God’s promise. When Israel was told to conquer the land, they were going to acquire a land that was already built. There were houses, cities, walls, wells, pastures, and gardens that had already been built. It was also a productive land. Too, God would fight for them. Israel had every reason to immediately overcome the land.
Numbers 13:23-24
January 25, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:26 – Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God.
Thought: Even though God’s promises about Canaan were true, the people rebelled against the command to take it. Even though God promised to fight for them, they rebelled against the commandment to overthrow the evil nations. Even though God had redeemed them from Egypt and made them His holy nation, they rebelled against the commandment of the Lord. Their actions surprise us. We marvel that they would refuse to do God’s will. But, don’t we do the same thing at times? We, like Israel, fail to obey God’s commands.
Psalm 106:24-25
January 26, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:27 – And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the Lord hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
Thought: When the twelve spies returned from their mission, they told Israel that the people of the land were too powerful and the walls of the cities were too well fortified to be overcome. When the Israelites heard, they murmured. Murmuring involves grumbling and whispering words of discontent. Israel did not murmur against the spies. They murmured against God. They falsely charged God with hating them and wanting to destroy them. Why do God’s children meet difficulty with blame placed upon God? Difficulties require faith!
Numbers 14:1-4
January 27, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:28 – Wither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.
Thought: When the twelve spies returned from investigating the promised land, the children of Israel were presented with two realities. First, the report of the spies was true. The people were large and powerful and the cities were great and walled. Second, they were discouraged from going into the land by the majority of the men who spied out the land. Now, they had a choice to make. God had told them He had given them the land. Would they trust God who is Almighty and faithful? Or, would they put their trust in cowardly men?
Psalm 118:8
January 28, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:29 – Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
Thought: Moses immediately confronted the negative emotions of the people, dread and fear. He knew negative emotions can keep individuals from doing the will of God. Moses was a man of faith in God. Too, he understood that it was his responsibility to set the course to be followed. Thus, he encouraged the children of Israel to obey God. We need more men in leadership positions today who focus on the reward instead of looking at the obstacles. We need leaders who tell their followers: “We can!” rather than: “We can’t.”
Numbers 14:6-8
January 29, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:30, 31 – The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord God bare thee, as a man doth bare his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.
Thought: How is it that men can witness the power of God and still refuse to have faith in that power? How is it that men can watch God fight on their behalf and be victorious and still refuse to trust that He can win future victories? This is exactly what Israel did when they came to the border of the Promised Land. God had delivered them from Egyptians bondage with a powerful hand. God had provided for them abundantly in the wilderness. Yet, when it came time to enter Canaan, their faith failed? Again, how does this happen to man?
Exodus 14:13-14
January 30, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:32 – Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God.
Thought: Israel did not believe that God could overcome the powerful enemy forces found Canaan. In yesterday’s devotional, we asked: “How could this happen?” Israel had seen God’s power and His provisions in the past. Why would they now doubt? Here are a few answers. First, men have a tendency to forget the past. Second, men often desire the path of least resistance. Third, far too many men are followers and not leaders. Fourth, men trust in their feelings instead of God’s word. These things paralyze men and cause disobedience.
Hebrews 3:16-19
January 31, 2023
Deuteronomy 1:33 – Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in a fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.
Thought: After God defeated Pharaoh, His presence did not depart from Israel. He manifested Himself before the children of Israel every day in a pillar of a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night. By these, God guided Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land. By His guidance, they had been brought to the land He had promised. When they saw it, it was exactly what God said it would be. Israel had every reason to trust God. He would fight for them. They would overcome the enemy. But, they rebelled. Are we any different?
Exodus 13:21-22
Read devotionals for February 2023