Tag: deuteronomy

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Read: Deuteronomy 2 Listen: (5:06) Read: 1 Corinthians 12 Listen: (4:25)

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 1.1-3

These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan—that is, in the Arabah—opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 2 (It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.) 3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them.

Deuteronomy 2.21-22

21 They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. The Lord destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place. 22 The Lord had done the same for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day.

Reflection: Repeating History

By John Tillman

In his 1905 book, The Life of Reason, Spanish-American philosopher, George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

It is somewhat humorous to me that most of us do not remember Santayana’s version, but remember Winston Churchill’s repetition of the idea in 1948: “Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it.” Perhaps that is because Churchill’s version is catchier. However, it’s arguable that Moses expressed this concept much earlier in Deuteronomy.

Moses didn’t want Israel to repeat history, so he reviewed it with them through a series of speeches or “sermons” to the next generation. This repetition is why Deuteronomy’s name comes from a Greek word meaning “second law.” He reminded them of God’s covenant because he wanted them to be faithful and succeed where the previous generation failed.

A specific failure of the previous generation was failing to trust God to defeat the Canaanites. The large and powerful Anakites seemed undefeatable. The spies reported that they felt like grasshoppers compared to the Anakites’ size and strength. (Numbers 13.33) To encourage the new generation, Moses reviewed their recent military history in which God gave them many victories.

Moses also pointed out that nations related to Israel defeated enemies similar to the Anakites with God’s help. Edom descended from Esau and Moab and Ammon from Lot. God was faithful to them, giving them land and helping them defeat Anakite-sized enemies. Moses used these victories from the past to assure the new generation that God had victories in their future if they would be faithful.

Like Israel, we have failures in our past, both individually and as the global Church—slavery, abuse, nationalism, violence, corruption. At times, we have been more like Anakites than God’s people.

If we forget the mistakes of history, we cannot repent of them and we will repeat them. If we remember the victories of history, we can repeat them, with God’s help. The model of our victory from history is the resurrection of Jesus. Our victory will not be the destruction of human enemies, but of sin, Satan, and death.

Our past isn’t perfect and our future won’t be either, but God will be faithful to his promises. Anakite-sized enemies that seem undefeatable will fall. There is no enemy, problem, weakness, or sin that will not be overthrown by the gospel.

Divine Hours Prayer: Greeting

The Lord lives! Blessed in my Rock! Exalted is the God of my salvation! — Psalm 18.46

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime

 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Faith of a New Generation

Watching the mistakes made by their parents or grandparents, they refined their faith and purified its practice.

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: Deuteronomy 1 Listen: (6:27) Read: 1 Corinthians 11 Listen: (4:20)

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 1:12-13

12 But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? 13 Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.

Reflection: Time to Go

By Erin Newton

A local pastor preached his final sermon recently after a nearly five-decade ministry. His story, however, is littered with covered-up scandals and evidence of abuse.  

Across town, another pastor declared he would be stepping away from his role in ministry. The terms were peaceable, and the reasoning was untarnished by scandal, rumor, or dissent.

In another state, another pastor hands in her resignation letter after feeling the call to continue ministry in a different capacity. A plan is set to have her continue preaching for a few months. She sighs a relief, “This church has never known a peaceful transfer. This is a good thing.”

How is good leadership measured? Does a longer ministry mean more faithful service to God? Or does the refusal to leave indicate a desire to hold tightly to one’s authority?

After a weary and long trek in the wilderness, God calls Moses to leave Horeb. It is time for the next stage of God’s plan for his people. Moses recognizes the need for help. Deuteronomy 1 reads like a flashback of Exodus 18, when Jethro admonished Moses, “You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exod 18.18).

Now Moses sees the value in dividing his role and bestowing authority on others who can help. With this change, he would not bear all the burdens of people alone, and the people would have an available leader to go to with their problems.

With Moses’s education in the royal courts of Egypt, it seems odd that he would not have known how hard it is to lead a large group without help. Perhaps he felt it was his obligation, his calling, alone.

Like many of us, was he tempted to think he was the only one fit for the job? Did he assume that leading God’s people was something that made him irreplaceable?

The text never says. But we do know that he accepted advice, he humbly received the help, and the people were better for it.

As we look at the community of God’s people around us, are we seeing the potential leadership of people who are currently sitting on the sidelines? Are we viewing the younger generations not as strange nuisances, but as future leaders? Are we humble enough to step down when God calls us?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

Praise the Lord, all you nations; laud him, all you peoples.

For his loving-kindness toward us is great, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Hallelujah! — Psalm 117

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime

 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Josiahs Need Zephaniahs

If we long to see youth, like Josiah, rise up to lead revival instead of abandoning faith, we need to be like Zephaniah, unafraid to boldly speak of, condemn, and repent of sin.

Read more: Life-Giving Leadership

Be a life-giving leader. Sprout, bud, blossom, and produce fruit, leading people to Jesus’ presence. Let us be the sign people need to believe the gospel.