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Hey Reading Community,
This week we are ramping up to an important turning point in the Israelite's story: entering the Promised Land. So let's take a moment to reflect back on everything that has happened so far.
God promised Abraham that somehow, through his family, all the nations of the world would be restored to God's blessing. Eventually, Abraham's descendants were enslaved in Egypt, but God rescued them and brought them to Mt. Sinai, where he entered into a covenant with the entire nation of Israel. Sadly, Israel broke that covenant right there on Mt. Sinai (golden calf, anybody?) and, later, God disqualified the Exodus generation from entering the Promised Land, and they were made to wander forty years in the wilderness.
At this point in the story, Moses offers the children of the Exodus generation many words of warning and wisdom as they are about to cross into the Promised Land. Without further ado, let's wrap up Deuteronomy and hear Moses teach the Torah to this new generation.
Onwards!
Jon, Tim, & The Bible Project Crew
P.S. Want to dive deeper? Check out our blog on biblical theology. This week see Moses Predict the Israelite Exile. |
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Chapter 5
The Wilderness |
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Week 9
Summary |
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This week we will listen to Moses teach and develop the laws, ordinances, and commands for those who are poised to enter the Promised Land, the new generation. This is also the section where Deuteronomy gets its name, “Deuteronomion,” Greek for “second-law.” At Mt. Sinai, Moses received the Ten Commandments and then delivered many other laws to Israel.
Here, on the edge of the Promised Land, Moses expands and clarifies many of these earlier laws about worship procedures, tithing, leadership structure, and social justice, among others. Near the end of the book, he reminds this generation of the blessings they will receive if they keep these laws, and the curse that will befall them if they do not.
But after forty years, Moses knows the people of Israel people intimately, and he predicts that they're going to be unfaithful as they enter into the Promised Land and break the covenant just like their ancestors. He locates the root of the problem with Israel's stubborn and rebellious hearts. In their core, they actually don't want to trust God. So, Moses' grave prediction is at the same time a cry for divine help. Moses has hope that God is going to transform the hearts of his people so that they can love God with all their heart, soul, and strength. The Torah concludes by showing that God's own covenant faithfulness is Israel's only hope. |
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