The Most Basic Issue for God’s People

Transcript

GRS 51
4/24/1988
The Most Basic Issue for Man
Deuteronomy 7-9
Gil Rugh

Chapter seven of Deuteronomy basically deals with the destruction of the Canaanites and what God is doing in chapter seven is instructing Israel on their responsibility regarding the people who inhabit the land of Canaan. Israel is going to march into Canaan soon. Canaan is already populated. The land of Palestine is populated. Now what is Israel to do with those people and the basic command is to annihilate them destroy them. I had a professor when I was in school many-many years ago who said something that I have found to be confirmed by my own study of Scripture. He says anyone who tries to teach missions out of the Old Testament misunderstands the Old Testament. I think that’s true. This is quite a missions program. I want you to go in to the land of Palestine populated by pagan people and win them over to the God of Israel. No, I want you to go in to the land of Canaan populated by pagan people and destroy them: totally.

So the first seven verses give you a summary of these commands. “When the LORD your God shall bring you into the land where you are entering to possess it and you shall clear away many nations before you . . . then the nations are listed. Verse two . . . when the LORD your God shall deliver them before you and you shall defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. So there is no mercy to be demonstrated as Israel marches into Canaan. It is annihilation of the enemies of the LORD. Now there will be acts of mercy as God in grace does redeem some. Rahab the harlot and her family will be an early and clear example but Israel is not marching in on an evangelistic program not on a missions program. It is judgment time for Canaan and as will be in the seven-year Tribulation as Revelation chapter 14 says judgment without mercy and so here its judgment no favor no mercy is to be meted out. Verse three, “Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. “For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you.”

So the danger they’ll walk-march in and say well here are some attractive young people. Let’s take them as mates for our sons and our daughters. God says that would be a disastrous trap because intermarrying with the pagans will not make the pagans more what God wants them to be. It will make the people of God more like the pagans and that’s a principle that carries through Old and New Testament alike. So even though we’re not commanded to annihilate our enemies, we are not an earthly nation and an earthly kingdom, the principle of involvement with them in intimate relationships holds true for the people of God in the Old and in the New Testament and where Israel failed to do this, it brought disaster.

Back in Exodus chapter 34. This is not new instructions. We are being reminded of what God has already warned the people about in Exodus chapter 34 as they march into the land. Verse 12, “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going lest it becomes a snare in your midst. “You’re to tear down their altars smash their sacred pillars cut down their Asherim. Verse 15, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, they play the harlot with their gods, sacrifice to their gods then someone invites you to eat of his sacrifice. You take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods. You see if you marry someone who is not a committed follower of Jehovah who does not love Jehovah God with all his soul all his heart and all his might then that person will lead you away from God and that’s true whether you are a woman marrying the man or the man marrying the woman.

The pagan influence will be detrimental in your life. Look over to the last book of the Old Testament the book of Malachi chapter two verse 11. “Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god.” Israel did not heed the command of the LORD and the result was judgment on the nation Israel.

Come over into the New Testament to 1 Corinthians chapter seven verse 39. A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, but note this last statement: only in the Lord. The believer has the option to marry or not to marry as God has gifted them and leads in their life personally but if you choose to marry, you are confined to marrying a believer. Over in chapter nine of 1 Corinthians verse five. The apostle Paul asked the question, do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles, such as Peter called Cephas? So Paul says I have a right to be married to a believing wife. The same principle as we who today are in love with Jesus Christ in love with our God have come to believe in the salvation He has provided are not to be joined in marriage to those who are not followers of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians chapter six. This passage is not talking about the marriage relationship but is much broader and includes the marriage relationship, includes business relationships, includes all kinds of binding relationships. Verse 14 of 2 Corinthians 6. Do not be bound together with unbelievers for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God . . . Our responsibility is to be separate not isolated. It doesn’t say there is no interaction but we are not to be joined together or bound together with unbelievers and obviously, marriage is perhaps the most binding of human commitments.

Now Scripture is very clear. I fear in our day that we are sliding into the same sin that was manifested in Israel’s life. The word of God is clear. Young people need to be taught that marriage is limited to other believers. We as parents need to have a clear stand on that issue. Oh, yes you should see the guy she’s dating--the girl he’s dating. She’s such a sweet--he’s such a neat guy in so many ways; he’s just not a believer. It rules him out! Well you haven’t even met him you haven’t even met her. I don’t have to; God doesn’t say do not be bound together with unbelievers unless you like them. Do not be bound together with unbelievers unless there pretty and attractive. None of that. There are no exceptions here and how many believers think my situation will be the exception? Then I dig the hole, I climb in and I say O God help. We need to be very careful that we’re following the clear instructions of the word of God.

Back in Deuteronomy chapter seven. Before Israel goes into the land God establishes that His people as they settle in this land must be very careful to remain distinct and separate from those people. Now let me say an aside here since I might as well stick my foot in. In light of what God says about the marriage of believers and unbelievers, I for the life of me can never understand why believing parents let their kids date unbelievers. Now that doesn’t mean you’re going to marry everybody you date but you’re going to end up marrying somebody you date and the first step starts the ball rolling so I think our young people have problems today. The problem young people have are parents who believe and have no standards and are afraid to enforce the standards. That’s an aside and there’s no extra charge for inserting that into Deuteronomy 7.

Back in Deuteronomy chapter seven. Why is this so important? Total destruction of all associated with the worship of the Canaanites in verse five. Verse six, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth”. The King James has it as a special treasure. You are a holy people. We are totally unique. We are set apart a holy people set apart by God for Himself so the goal is not what would please me what I would like. I’ve no doubt Israel saw some attractive women some desirable men in Canaan. They did Malachi testifies to that fact but they were to be concerned about satisfying and pleasing their God. You are a holy people to the LORD your God so they’re to be separated from all those who do not belong to Him. The LORD your God has chosen you and again the Scripture is clear we belong to God even as Israel did because of the sovereign choice of God. He had chosen Israel to be the people for His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. That’s remarkable!

Now Israel could get a swelled head here and think aren’t we wonderful! God chose us out of all the peoples all the nations on the face of the earth but let’s put that in perspective. Basically, what verses seven and eight are going to tell us is God didn’t choose you because you were anything special. Now God says that to us. You know you wouldn’t want to sit down with your wife and say I just want you to know I married you but you’re nothing special but that’s what God says to Israel. You belong to Me you’re My special treasure My private possession but I didn’t choose you because of anything special about you. Verse 7. “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples . . .”

Back when God called Abraham and entered into a covenant with Abraham the Abrahamic covenant it was Abraham and his family. That’s not much of a nation but He determined He would build a nation with Abraham’s descendants. God didn’t choose them because of the desirability of this great number of people verse 8, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath, which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. He did not even love them because they were redeemed He redeemed them because He loved them. Now the order is important but you note as far back as we’ve gone here—why did God choose Israel to be His own possession? Because He loved them. Why did He love them? Because He loved them. Yes, but why did He love them? Because He loved them. So you see God has sovereignly determined in Himself to place His love on Israel, there is no good reason, and quite frankly, I’d have probably chosen somebody else; for sure a race that was blond haired and blue eyed. You know we look around and if you’re honest and see what happens you say I wonder why God chose the Jews. There is no good explanation for it. That doesn’t mean they’re less desirable than other nations or more desirable that’s just a mute point. God decided He was going to place His love on Israel and they became His people.

Over in Ephesians chapter one. Even though there is a distinction between Israel and the Church with both Israel and the Church, we are dealing with the people God has chosen for Himself and so certain issues are the same for both Jews and for us in the church today. In Ephesians, chapter one verse four, after talking about the blessings of every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies that we have in Christ just as He chose us in Him, in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy . . . Now see the similarity with Deuteronomy and Israel? God chose Israel and they were to be holy. You’re to be a holy people. I chose you. Here God is saying concerning the Church He chose us, we’re to be a holy people. Verse five. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. I like the way the King James has it: according to His good pleasure. That’s the idea here He did it because He chose to do it.

Why did God choose you to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ? He predestined you to adoption as a son because He chose to do it. Look down in verse nine. He made know to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention or according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Him and so on. Again, you take it back, God decided to do it. That was His good pleasure to do it. Down in verse 11, also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will . . . God counseled with Himself and decided this is what He would do. That’s why even though you may have been chosen by God to experience the glories of His salvation you are no better no more lovable than the person who is going to spend eternity in hell and there is no good reason humanly speaking why God should have chosen you or me and not chosen someone else. He decided He would do it. Just as with Israel, why would He choose the descendants of Abraham instead of another nation because He decided to do it?

We say that sounds rather arbitrary but God has the right to be arbitrary. He decides within Himself what He will do and that is what is right and all we can do is stand with grateful hearts that God should place His love on us and live as holy people in light of the fact He has chosen us for Himself. Undeserving sinners. You not have thought that would have been Israel’s response to the God who placed His love on them when they were not worthy of it when there was no good reason but they took it for granted and failed to live in holiness much as we are doing today? We forget the specialness that has been bestowed upon us because God sovereignly has placed His love upon us in Christ.

Back to Deuteronomy seven verse nine. At the end of verse eight as I mentioned you’ll note the redemption took place in Egypt and bringing them out of Egypt was because God had chosen them and placed His love on them. It puts it in the right order and that’s also true of us. God chose us before the foundation of the world and placed His love on us then. We have then experienced that redemption because of His love. “Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant, His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation . . .” A thousandth generation is a proverbial expression meaning forever to those who love Him and keep His commandments. He repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face.

That’s where we are with the Canaanites of verse 10. They hate Him they have rejected Him. Keep in mind the Canaanites have had many years to respond in faith to the God of the Israelites. They’ve had all the years of the wilderness wanderings because when Israel finally marches into Canaan they’re going to find out that for the last forty years the Canaanites have been talking about the Israelites and the redemption that they experienced out of Egypt but they haven’t come to believe and now it’s time for judgment. God repays them who hate Him.

Verses 12 to 16. The blessings of the covenant will come upon those who are obedient to the instructions that God gives and down in verses 12 to 16 God talks about the blessings He will bring upon them. Verse 13, “He will love you, bless you, multiply you; bless the fruit of your womb, the fruit of the ground, grain, new wine, oil, the increase of your herd your flock . . . verse 14. . . blessed above all peoples no male or female barren among you among your cattle. Verse 15. All sickness removed . . . verse 16 . . . all the enemies destroyed . . .” all as a result of the obedience of God’s people. Now there’s a principal here even though the details don’t apply to us.

Blessing always comes as a result of the obedience of the people of God. As we walk in obedience to God then God is free then to pour out His blessings on us. We get into real problem is when we try to take the specific blessing promised to the nation Israel and apply them to the Church today. For example, a verse like verse 15. The LORD will remove from you all sickness. You see God doesn’t want you to be sick. Well the problem with that is it was promised to an earthly nation who would reside in the land of Canaan. If Israel had walked in humble obedience to their God then all these blessings would have been theirs.

Carry that over to the Church today we are not an earthly nation and the specific blessings promised do not apply. You know it’s amazing how selective--most of the people preaching this on television don’t have any hurts. They’re not even looking for the blessing of a herd that is fertile. What’s wrong? Selective, I mean it was really significant blessing; the increase of your herd the young of your flock and so on. Oh, we’d just be interested in verse 15 thank you. Well for Israel, it all went together. Why? That was all-significant for this earthly nation but the principal is there. As we as believers are obedient to God we do experience His blessing and the blessings that we experience are not the same. Material areas were promised to Israel and those blessings will ultimately be realized for Israel in the coming kingdom in which the Messiah will rule.

Verses 17 to 26. God will deliver their enemies into their hands, it doesn’t matter how powerful, and how great these enemies really are God will give them the victory. Verse 21. “You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.” That’s because in verse 17. “If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’ That’s not the issue. The issue for Israel is obedience. You know I can simplify my life so much as a believer if I just clear out all the other extenuating circumstances. For Israel, it doesn’t matter how powerful the Hittites are and the Hittites were a powerful nation. It doesn’t matter how mighty their army is it simply matters that Israel is obedient. Don’t dread them the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. Are the Hittites greater than God is? No, what do I have to fear? Have you seen My army? No, that’s not the issue; the issue is your God. “The LORD your God, verse 22, will clear away these nations before you little by little . . . the important thing for Israel was to demonstrate their love to God by complete obedience then the enemies would be handled by God.

That’s true for us as believers today. My one overwhelming responsibility before God is to walk in submissive obedience to Him but what about this situation. My one overwhelming responsibility
Is to walk in obedience to my God but God what about—my-- I can see it so clearly for Israel. I need to remember that but Lord; you said this is what I am to do as a godly person. I have to trust you with all the consequences with all of the ramifications that may be associated with that but when I walk in obedience to God that frees God up to do what He wants to do in my life and through my life in the lives of others.

Come down to chapter eight. Here we have a reminder of God’s faithfulness. Israel is called to remember the faithfulness of God. As Israel enters the land it’s important that they remember that God has brought them to this place, that God has been faithful in their life. Remembering His past faithfulness will help them to be obedient today. You know we’re always afraid about tomorrows. Think back on the faithfulness of God, which brought you to this point. That gives you courage to face tomorrow. That’s what Israel is called to do here.

Chapter 8 God’s faithfulness verse two. “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has lead you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” The wilderness was a time of testing and developing for the nation Israel. It provided an opportunity for Israel to learn to trust God in the face of very difficult and trying circumstances. They could see God meeting their needs in seemingly impossible situations. You know what He says here. The Lord was testing you whether you would keep His commandments or not. You know if I don’t obey God under stress then I don’t obey Him. Stress reveals my character it reveals what I am. The wilderness was a time of testing for Israel that they could learn that God was trustworthy. Here they were after forty years in the wilderness the nation hadn’t been annihilated. The nation hadn’t been wiped out. The nation hadn’t been reduced to a small handful of people. God had been faithful. He humbled you and let you be hungry. Now note, “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” Christ quoted the last part of this verse in the temptation He faced with Satan. Matthew chapter 4 and Luke chapter 4 both record this.

The point being made is the basic issue for man is not even his material physical needs. The basis issue for man, particularly here, the people of God is complete dependence upon God and obedience to Him is always my greatest challenge. That’s what Israel had to learn. The fact that there wasn’t enough food in the wilderness to feed these people was not the issue. As they trusted God they were fed so what did they learn? Man lives by the word of God. When God tells you go through the wilderness you go through the wilderness and He provides the manna. He provides the clothes. What do we do? God says go through the wilderness. You say wait a minute there’s not enough food in that wilderness wait a minute—about the clothes. You know what we say I want to take care of everything so I don’t have to trust Him because what if He doesn’t come through when I’m out there.

The wilderness experience was for Israel to learn you take God at His word and God supplies the need. Verse four. “Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.” Can you imagine that walking through the wilderness? Forty years! Now in our day, we wouldn’t be too excited about this but their clothes never wore out. Can you imagine that? How would you like to be wearing the same things for forty years? They didn’t have the easy cycle on washing machines. Take um out, wet them down, and beat them on the rocks. You do that for forty years. You know this material was good it lasted forty years. Look at that pair of sandals. There’s not even a hole in the bottom after forty years of walking. My feet never even swelled up. Man lives by the word of God. You obey God and God takes care of the needs. You know what I wanted to do. I wanted Him to tell me Lord how are You going to take care of the needs. Sure Lord I trust You but before I go forward tell me. No I live by the word of God.

This is the point that Jesus was making in Matthew chapter six verse 31. Do not be anxious then saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or with what shall we clothe ourselves? For all these things, the Gentiles eagerly seek. Now you note that the Gentiles are a synonym for the unbelievers. The unbelievers are concerned with what they’re going to drink, how they’re going to be clothed the basic necessities of life food and clothing. You know what Jesus says that’s what occupies the minds of the unbeliever; don’t you be occupied with them. Now if I don’t have to be occupied with the most basic needs food and clothing that liberates me. What am I to be doing? Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” What is to be the goal of my life? The righteousness of God. Well what about food and clothing. He’ll take care of it. Now He may not take care of it in the abundance that our world desires because keep in mind this is all the unbeliever has to grab. I was reading an account that some of you probably read in one of the magazines about a very greedy couple. They estimate they’re worth about a billion and a half dollars. That’s a lot of money. Most of us couldn’t spend a billion dollars if we tried until the day we die but with a billion and a half dollars, you know what the observation of this article is as they interviewed people that know these people. The more they have acquired the greedier they have become and it has become an obsession with them that they have more. You see the Gentiles are never satisfied. What else do they have but we as believers we don’t even have to be worried about the basic things of food and clothing because I first occupy myself with Him. His righteousness and He’ll see that my needs are met. That’s what God is telling Israel back in chapter eight.

Now I say that because we ought to keep in mind we look at Israel and say why didn’t Israel do it. These are simple instructions couldn’t they even trust their God? Look at how you live. Look at what occupies your mind your thoughts the goals that you establish that drive you on and it becomes very convicting to realize how many of these things are centered in material things. How much of what the world says ought to occupy our attention occupies our attention rather than what God says being the focal point of our life. So there was miraculous things done but God provided for Israel so you wonder how the food came how the clothing went and God supernaturally took care of it.

In verse five of Deuteronomy. Thus, you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. You know the difficulty of the wilderness Israel ended up there because of sin and rebellion but as they walked through the wilderness that was God’s intention in the child training process for the nation. That was part of the developing of that people in preparing them for the blessings that would follow and because of the wilderness Israel was to be more ready for the blessings that God would have. God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.

We have to go back to Hebrews 12 quickly. We’re talking about a hard life. We’re talking about hardship that went on for a long time forty years is a long time. Some of you are going through difficult times struggles things are hard. Now think about it that’s going to go on for forty years. You say if it’s going on forty years, I quite but you know it was all part of God’s plan for Israel. Hebrews chapter 12. These Jewish believers were getting weary in the struggle so God tells them verse three. Consider Him [Christ] who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lost heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; you have forgotten the exhortation, which was addressed to you as sons. “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” He scourges every son whom He receives. Scourging is a very-very severe and painful form of chastening and discipline. People died under scourging. We’re talking about some painful processes here and He says you’ve forgotten what the Scripture says.

That suffering that hardship that heartache that difficulty are part of the child training process for us as God’s children. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom the father does not discipline? We’ll get into this in discipline. Some fathers treat their kids like they weren’t their kids. So if you don’t discipline your kids you’re treating them like they weren’t your kids but if you are without discipline of which all have become partakers then you’re illegitimate children you’re not sons. You note that everyone who is a child of God experiences the discipline of God for his development and if you don’t experience the discipline of God, it’s very simple; you’re an illegitimate child. You’re really not part of the family.

Furthermore we had earthly fathers to discipline us, we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? They disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, we’re to be strengthen. He is disciplining us for righteousness. That discipline process goes on through life. Why? He’s preparing us for the glory of His presence.

Now we are looking for ways to escape the pressure. For these Hebrews they were undergoing persecution for their faith. Some of us are afraid to be bold in our jobs we might get fired. The Hebrews were facing that kind of thing. Being publically identified with Jesus Christ and taking a stand for Him was too costly and yet the writer to the Hebrews says that’s exactly part of the disciplining process. Don’t be afraid to be identified with Him to be bold for Him that’s part of the chastening process. Painful sure. Hurt sure but it’s part of the developing process.

Back in Deuteronomy chapter eight verse 11. You know the wilderness presented one set of problems. Prosperity will present another. In the wilderness as they were pressed in and as they endured the suffering, that was one set of difficulties. Will they trust God in the face of such struggle but now prosperity will present another set of problems and the danger is in prosperity they’ll forget their God. They’ll get to enjoying all that God has given them so much that pretty soon they’ll have forgotten about their God. Sounds like maybe God is describing us today. Verse 11, “Beware lest you forget the command, lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today . . . You note the evidence of forgetting God; not obeying Him. It's just that simple. You look around and say how many believers have forgotten God today. On that standard quite a few. If were not characterized by complete obedience to His word that’s an indication we’ve forgotten.

Beware . . . verse 12 . . . lest you have eaten and are satisfied, built good houses, lived in them your herds your flocks multiply, your silver and gold multiplies, . . . then your heart becomes proud . . .verse 14 . . . and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt the house of slavery. Forget how so? By not obeying Him. That complete devotion and obedience to Him is what consumes my life. Interesting God says be careful when prosperity comes you don’t quit loving Me with all your being and manifesting that love by complete obedience.

Verse 16. “In the wilderness He fed you with manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you that He might test you to do good for you in the end.” I have the last part of that verse underlined in my bible. To me that’s an encouragement that He might humble you that He might test you to do good for you in the end and you know we even more than Israel know what God intends for us. No matter what the sufferings of this life no matter what the hardships of this life I know I am an heir and co-heir with Jesus Christ. I am destined for all the glories of God’s presence. All the sufferings all the tests all the trials are preparing me for that. That puts it all in proper perspective. “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, My power the strength of my hand made me this wealth.” I did it. Sometimes you hear Christians give testimonies you get the idea that’s what their saying. I’m pretty smart I’ve worked pretty hard and I’ve accomplished a lot, “But you shall remember the LORD your God for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth.”

Where did you get that mind? Why were you not born retarded? Why were you not born deformed? Why were you not born in a part of the world where you would be scratching out a living by begging for your food for the day? Simply the graciousness of God but we in pride lift ourselves up and say, look what I have accomplished. Look what I have done. Look at who I am. That’s a danger for God’s people here. He’s writing to Israel. He’s not saying this is what the Hittites are going to be like what the Canaanite peoples are going to be like. You think this is the danger that lays ahead of you as you come into prosperity. We need to be very, very careful. I fear that what is happening to Christianity in North America in the United States of America as in our prosperity and in our wealth we have forgotten our God. We are no longer consumed with being obedient to Him. We want to be obedient to Him but in a balance of getting, all of the abundance we can while we can get it. The tragedy is it doesn’t work. Wouldn’t work for Israel and it doesn’t work for us.

Down to chapter nine. Israel’s been reminded of God’s faithfulness now they need to be reminded of their rebelliousness and we just want to pick up a couple of highlights out of this chapter. The major part of the chapter deals with a reminder of Israel’s unfaithfulness in the past. Verses 7-21 are going to draw attention to how unfaithful Israel has been. The first three verses talk about the fact Israel will conquer the land even though the people are mightier. It doesn’t matter what the obstacles are it doesn’t matter what the opposition is. Israel will be successful because God has called them to the task.

Verse three, “Know therefore today that it is the LORD your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the LORD has spoken to you.” I love this verse because you know what it says. God will do it and you will do it. God is the consuming fire He’ll destroy them He’ll subdue them so that you might drive them out and destroy them. Israel humanly speaking as you look at it-its going to look like they just march in and blow these people away but you know what happened? God is doing it. It’s just that simple. As the people of God obey God, God’s power is free to work in accomplishing His purposes.

It reminded me of 1 Corinthians chapter three and verse seven where we’re told we are fellow workers with God and one waters, one sows, one waters, one reaps but it’s God who gives the increase. Why are we effective in our service together for Jesus Christ? Oh, because I have such great gifts because we are such a talented group of people. People come from the outside and they say, my, what a talented church. Poo! That doesn’t have anything to do with it. You know what it is. The power of God working in lives. That’s what makes it happen and we need to be careful otherwise we set back and say boy there’s nothing we can’t do and there’s nothing we can do apart from the power of God at work. Just jot down Proverbs 21:31 a verse that many of you have memorized. The horse is prepared for the day of battle but victory belongs to the LORD. That doesn’t mean we don’t have responsibilities. Israel had to march into the land. Israel had to go to war. Israel had to fight but God brought the victory. So for us we have to carry on the ministry He’s called us to but never lose sight of the fact only as we are obedient to Him can He give us the victory?

Verses four to six. God stresses the fact the victory over the Canaanites will not be due to Israel’s righteousness. We constantly need to be reminded of this. Three reasons are given for Israel’s coming victories in these verses. Verses four and five. “Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out from before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you. It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it because of the wickedness of these nations . . . that God is driving them out so God says let’s get one thing straight we’re going to drive out the Canaanites and it had nothing to do with your righteousness. It’s their wickedness that I’m punishing. I’m not rewarding your righteousness I’m punishing their wickedness. The first reason they’ll be victorious.

The second reason at the end of verse five “. . . in order to confirm the oath . . . the covenant . . . which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” To confirm the promises made to the patriarchs that’s why God is doing it He told the patriarchs, He would do it and He will honor His word. The third reason is in verse six, “Know then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.” Basically, to evidence God’s grace because they don’t deserve it, they’re a stubborn people. They have consistently resisted the will of God but to demonstrate His grace He still blesses. Isn’t that true of us. Not one of us would be anticipating heaven if it depended upon us. We’re all stubborn people even as His children but in His grace, He continues to work to bring us to the promised blessing.

Verses seven to 29. The last point of stubbornness is going to be illustrated. You have any question about how stubborn you are God says to Israel let us look at your history. There has been a continuous pattern of rebellion back to Egypt and that’s as far back as He’s going to go with this generation. The main incident is the making of the golden calf at Mt. Sinai or Horeb as it’s called here. On that occasion, you remember we’ve already looked at it Moses is up on the mountain receiving the covenant from God. While he is there on that solemn holy occasion Israel’s down at the food of the mountain making a calf of gold to worship; making their own god.

Verse 13. “The LORD spoke further to me saying, ‘I have seen this people, indeed it is a stubborn people.” and then God says I’m going to wipe them out going to blot them out. Moses turns and comes down the mountain . . . and verse 17 . . . “I took hold of the two tablets, threw them from my hands, smashed them before your eyes.” Here’s an example of righteous indignation or righteous anger. Moses is angry at what God is angry. He is angry with people who are sinning. Down in verse 19. Moses says, “I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which the LORD was wrathful against you in order to destroy you . . . I want you to note here it is an example of anger not just against sin but against people who are sinning. I do not believe it is biblically correct to say God loves the sinner but hates the sin. You cannot disassociate sin from the sinners. If you remove sinners from the face of the earth, you’ve taken care of the sin problem folks. Here God’s hot anger is with you Moses says and He’s going to destroy you and furthermore verse 20 “The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him . . . that’s personal anger against another personal being the personal God against the sinner. Remember that God is angry with the wicked every day the book of Proverbs tells us so don’t make any artificial distinctions between sin and the sinner and God does not either. He is angry with the sinner. He hates the sinner and his sin but in grace and mercy, He has provided redemption and forgiveness for that wretched undeserving sinner.

Here Israel is going to be forgiven by God not because they deserve it but because God determines to use the intercession of Moses to spare the people and to spare Aaron. Incidentally, verse 20 is the only time we’re told that for his part in that Aaron was almost destroyed by God. Sometimes you wonder when you read that account with Aaron’s key part as the leader in charge what was God’s attitude. God was so angry with Aaron he was ready to destroy him but He used Moses as an interceding instrument to preserve him. I want you to note also that the smashing of the tablets by Moses was not just an act of uncontrolled anger but it presented to the people the smashing of the covenant. They had agreed back in Exodus 24: 3 that they would obey God in all that He said. Now here while God is in the process of giving the covenant they have smashed it. The very fact that Moses smashes these tablets of stone pictures graphically; you’ve smashed this covenant. Only the grace of God enabled that covenant to be instituted to continue with this kind of people.

Down to the following verses. They’re some other incidences verse 22 of rebellion verse 23 Kadesh-barnea verse 24 an encouraging verse to me. Moses was the leader of God’s people. “You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day I knew you.” That’s what Moses has to say to Israel. He has known them all the way back from Egypt you know what he says, you’ve been rebellious since the day I knew you. These are the people of God. Constant struggle and battle to have them walk according to the way of God. Isn’t that a sad testimony for the people of God that their leader would have to say you’ve been a rebellious people ever since I knew you? This is your on-going character your on-going pattern. You know what Moses does he doesn’t give up he doesn’t get discouraged He doesn’t say yes LORD I’ll just step back out of the way and you fry them all to a crisp. Let’s start over. That’s why God placed Moses in that position and not me. What does Moses do verse 25. He fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights praying for those people. Now we sometimes get tired praying for one another for 10 or 15 minutes. Moses, you get some idea of the godliness of this man. Forty days and forty nights, he is interceding on behalf of this people that God might spare them. Look at the prayer of Moses as we draw this to a conclusion. Moses intercedes for Israel and he gives three basic reasons why God should not destroy the people.

First, He has chosen them to be His people. None of these reasons will have anything to do with Israel deserving to be spared. Verse 26, “I prayed to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD God, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.” Verse 29, ‘Yet they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out . . . by Your great outstretched arm.’ You note all the attention to God. This is what You’ve done—this is what You’ve done. You chose them You redeemed them You brought them out, You; It’s on the basis of what You have chosen to do that I am interceding on behalf of this people. You redeemed them.

Moses goes back to the patriarchs and God’s covenant relationship with them. Verse 27. “Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness or their sin.” He wants Israel to be forgiven not because they deserve it but because of the agreement, the covenant that God made with the patriarchs. You made a covenant. Forgive them on the basis of what You have said you would do.

Third to vindicate the very character of God in verse 28. Otherwise, the land from which You brought us [Egypt] will say, “Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which He had promised them because He hated them He has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.” If you kill, Israel it will look to the Egyptians like You weren’t really a God who redeemed them. A God who intended to do what He promised in bringing them into their own land. For the vindication of Your name, spare them.

That is a model prayer. A man of God summarized here for us in a few verses forty days and forty nights of intercession. God on the basis of Your sovereign choice, on the basis of Your promises, on the basis of Your character forgive Your people. A good indication of how we ought to pray for one another. I see other believers that we need to be praying for we need to be praying for one another on the basis God has chosen us. We need to pray God will undertake on our behalf not because we deserve it not because we’re worthy but because He did choose us, because of the promises He has made to us as His children in His word, because of His character. My arriving in glory is going to be a vindication of the character of God that He has done as He promised and He could do it even with me. So when you pray for me pray in light of those truths when we pray for one another. There is a pattern. What a glorious privilege to be the children of God to be chosen by God. What an awesome responsibility to be called to live a life of obedience to love God with the totality of our being with all our energy manifest that in obedience to Him. Be willing to walk with nothing but His word and leave everything else in His hand. What a privilege to walk by faith.

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