June 1, 2025
Dave Stephens


Focus Scripture:
Deuteronomy 1:1-8

“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. (It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.). 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. 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.

East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying:

‘The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 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. 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.”’”

They had been there long enough…God gave a command to Move.

Why had they stayed in the Wilderness for so long?

-This was transition from receiving the law to acting upon it.

3 Lessons from the Wilderness Journey

These words are just as relevant for us now as they were for this second generation of wilderness travelers.

1. We should have empathy for the Israelites:

There was grumbling at Moses and God. It’s reflective of common human failings.

Paul gives us great insight into this passage in Deuternomy:

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

“For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

We need Self-Reflection: This passage lists complaining, idolatry, and disobedience.

• How often are we Grumbling and Complaining:

  Philippians 2:14-15

  “…do everything without grumbling or arguing, so we may become blameless and pure.”
  • How often do we complain about our circumstances instead of trusting in God’s provision?
    
  
  
• What about Idolatry?

  Colossians 3:5

  “…put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature…”
  
  
  
• Disobedience? We have all disobeyed God’s commands.

  Proverbs 3:5-6

  “Trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.”
  - Learning from Mistakes: Paul believes these scriptures are to be a reminder to us…

So…I want to ask you to approach Deuteronomy (this series) with a humble heart, ready to learn from the Israelites’ sins on the Journey.

2. There are

Effects from Sin

There are consequences to sin.
• Sin
  Reveal Answer
  Your Plans:

  Romans 6:23 states that “the wages of sin is death…”
  Sin disrupts God’s good plans for us, leading to spiritual death…and sometimes physical death.
  
  

• Sin brings
  Reveal Answer
  :

  Matthew 7:13-14 speaks of “…the narrow gate that leads to life and the broad road that leads to destruction.”
  Sin leads us off the narrow path, causing us to wander aimlessly.
  

Sin has an Impact on Our Journey:

Postponement and Abandonment:

Hebrews 3:12-13 warns us against a “sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
Sin can delay our spiritual progress or even cause us to abandon the journey altogether.

3. There is always

Reveal Answer

and Covenant

This renewal is significant as it prepares the new generation to enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 29:1-15)

Renewal has Spiritual Implications:

Reveal Answer

to God

Moses emphasized to the Children of Israel the importance of wholeheartedly committing to God’s statutes and commandments.

Deuteronomy 26:16, 17

“The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.”

The renewal of the covenant serves as a reminder: God is faithful, and we are called to be a faithful people.

-Trust in God’s promises and live a life that honors Him.

Call to Action:

Casting Off Sin:

Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us to “…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and to run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

- You can have freedom and joy that comes from living a life free from the burdens of sin.

Conclusion:

This series in Deuteronomy is gonna be great…be committed to opening your heart to receive what God has in store for you this summer…