Deuteronomy: At Journey's EndSample

Getting stuck

According to verse 19, the Israelites started out for the Promised Land from Kadesh Barnea; verse 46 tells us that was where they ended. It’s the story of a people who got stuck! What was meant to be a springboard to blessing (v. 22) became the location and punishment of failure (v. 46). 

Now how did that happen? Well, look at an interesting contrast. In verses 6–21 the people begin (vv. 6–8) and end (vv. 19–21) following God, and in between (vv. 9–18) they obey God under the guidance of their appointed ‘judges’. But in verses 22–46 they begin (vv. 22– 25) and end (vv. 41–46) following man, and in between (vv. 26–40) they rebel (v. 26), grumble (v. 27), do not trust (v. 32) and, consequently, are sent back into the wilderness (v. 40). 

It is so often like this in the Bible: when we see the pattern, we see the message. A people under the word of God are in the way of blessing; a people turning from the word of God are the architects of their own loss and deprivation. By refusing to enter the land (vv. 25–26) the Israelites were in effect choosing the wilderness – and they got what they chose. 

The heart of the matter was disobedience to God’s word – this is why the significant reference to Moses, Caleb and Joshua lies at the centre of today’s reading (vv. 36–38). They are a case in point. Moses had committed his own disobedience (Num. 20:7–12) and paid the penalty, on ‘your account’ (Deut. 3:26, NKJV), so that people would see what a serious offence it is to disobey. Caleb and Joshua had stood up against the rebels (Num. 14:6–9) and were rewarded for their obedience (Deut. 1:35–36, 38). 

Disobedience has various facets. It began with the Israelites’ logical plan to send spies (v. 22). They requested ‘men’ to go ahead of them – as if the Lord had not led them safely thus far! Was the pillar of cloud and fire not enough (Ex. 40:38)? Human reliance replaced spiritual trust. Reliance on human wisdom soon became stubborn resistance (Deut. 1:26), digging in one’s heels against God’s command, discontent (v. 27) and the sin of sins – abandonment of the way of faith (v. 32).

Reflection

The Lord is unchanging in power (v. 30), in love (v. 31) and in care (vv. 32–33).