Deuteronomy 1:1-8

https://www.biblestudytools.com/deuteronomy/passage/?q=deuteronomy+1:1-8

The Command to Leave Horeb

1 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. 4 This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 5 East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying: 6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. 8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”

Study Notes:

1:1, 2 The Israelites spent 40 years on a journey that should have lasted 11 days. It wasn't the distance that stood between them and the promised land. It was the condition of their hearts. God's purpose went deeper than simply transporting a huge group of people to a new land. He was preparing them to live in obedience to him once they arrived. What good was the promised land if the Israelites were just as wicked as the nations already living there? The journey was a painful but necessary part of their preparation. Through it God taught the Israelites who he was: the living God, the leader of their nation. He also taught them who they were: people who were fallen, sinful, prone to rebellion and doubt. He gave his rebellious people the law to help them understand how to relate to God and to other people. Your spiritual pilgrimage may be lengthy, and you may face pain, discouragement, and difficulties. But remember, God isn't just trying to keep you alive. He wants to prepare you to live in service and devotion to him.

1:1-5 The 40 years of desert wandering come to an end in this book. The events of Deuteronomy cover only a week or two of the 11th month of the 40th year (1:3). The 12th and last month was spent in mourning for Moses (34:8). Then the Israelites entered the promised land the first month of the 41st year after the exodus (Joshua 4:19).

1:6, 7 Notice that Moses' summary of Israel's 40-year journey begins at Mount Horeb (Sinai), not in Egypt. Why did Moses leave out the first part of the exodus? Moses was not giving an itinerary--he was summarizing the nation's development. In Moses' mind the nation of Israel began at the base of Mount Sinai, not in Egypt, for it was at Mount Sinai that God gave his covenant to the people (Exodus 19, 20). Along with this covenant came knowledge and responsibility. **After the people chose to follow God (and it was their choice), they had to know how to follow him. Therefore, God gave them a comprehensive set of laws and guidelines that stated how he wanted them to live (these are found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers). The people could no longer say they didn't know the difference between right and wrong. Now that the people had promised to follow God and knew how to follow him, they had a responsibility to do it. When God tells you to break camp and move out to face a challenge he gives you, will you be ready to obey?

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Sometimes discernment means determining who is leading off the cliff and who is sticking with God. It is challenging. But I keep coming back to God. It is God that sanctifies. He does this through His Holy Spirit of Truth that Jesus promised to send believers. It is not the rituals and remembrances that sanctify, but the Holy Spirit's work daily, moment by moment, reinforcing, affirming, tugging back to the path of righteousness--reminding of the Savior's example, giving the words meaning. It is emphasis on what is true. I praise God for that.

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Almighty Father, I don't have to tell You that You are the Father of my Lord and Savior. You already know. I praise You. I will forever. Thank You for knowing each of us individually. Thank You for our individual relationship with You. Thank You that You know our hearts and minds intimately, and know if our praise to You is sincere and if our actions are pleasing to You, or if You are doing sanctifying teaching to us. Surely the One who led an entire nation through a 40-year sanctifying desert experience can do His sanctifying work on us. We are willing, Lord. Refine us, patiently and with mercy. According to Your will, and timing. In Jesus' name, Your Son, my Savior, Amen.

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A Song: https://youtube.com/watch?v=LVKHqq6uoMM

Have a blessed day.