God Promises a Homeland

God's Exceptional Choice  Out of Slavery - Into Nationhood Song of Moses Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)  Deuteronomy 1:1-8 The Message 1 1-2 These are the sermons Moses preached to all Israel when they were east of the Jordan River in the Arabah Wilderness, opposite Suph, in the vicinity of Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. It takes eleven days to travel from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea following the Mount Seir route. 3-4 It was on the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year when Moses addressed the People of Israel, telling them everything God had commanded him concerning them. This came after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled from Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who ruled from Ashtaroth in Edrei. It was east of the Jordan in the land of Moab that Moses set out to explain this Revelation. Moses Preaches to Israel on the Plains of Moab 5 He said: 6-8 Back at Horeb, God, our God, spoke to us: "You've stayed long enough at this mountain. On your way now. Get moving. Head for the Amorite hills, wherever people are living in the Arabah, the mountains, the foothills, the Negev, the seashore—the Canaanite country and the Lebanon all the way to the big river, the Euphrates. Look, I've given you this land. Now go in and take it. It's the land God promised to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their children after them." For Reflection Forty years had passed. A new generation of Israelites had been born. Some may not have heard the history of God's interaction, or at least, the record they remembered might have been distorted by the passage of time. Moses reminds them of God's promise. Then Moses leads them on a return journey to the promised land. The Israelites can confidently give their total allegiance to this One God, who has already proven Himself as their protector and guide. Even today, it's helpful to remember God's faithfulness to earlier generations in our families and nations. Our confidence in God is strengthened most when we recall how He has worked directly in our own lives to protect, provide for, and guide us. Pray Pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise for God, who has protected you and generations before you. Pray that you will remember God's grace to your children. Forward to a friend Sign up for our mailing list!