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Deuteronomy 1-2

Deuteronomy

1:1-46 -  With the exception of Caleb and Joshua, the older generation – including Moses – was not to enter the land (34-38).  For the new generation, there was a challenge.  There must be no more failures.  One wasted generation was enough.  This was the time for real commitment to the Lord.  He loved them – He had ‘set the land before’ them.  They were to rise up in faith and ‘ take possession of the land’ (8).  We are called to go on with the Lord.  ‘You have stayed long enough’ at a low level of Christian living.  God is calling us on to maturity: ‘go in and take possession of the land; (6,8; Philippians 3:13-14).  Do not hesitate to move forward with God:  ‘do not fear… It is a good land which the Lord gives us’ (21,25).  Will we be the new generation, ‘a new creation in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) ?

2:1-37 -  During their wilderness years, God’s people had many problems.  God is greater than all the problems!  Israel’s journey began in the land of  ‘bondage’ (Exodus 2:23-25).  From there, He led them to the land of promise, ‘the land which the Lord our God gives to us’ (29).  This is ‘amazing grace’:  ‘Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home’ (Mission Praise, 31).  In the giving and taking of the land, we see both grace and faith: ‘I have begun to give… this land over to you; begin to take possession…’ (31).  We are not saved by grace apart from faith.  We are ‘saved by grace through faith’.  We are not saved by faith without grace.  We are ‘saved by grace through faith’.  Saved by the Lord, let us press on to a life of ‘good works’ (Ephesians 2:8-10).
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