Deuteronomy 1

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The First Sermon of Moses

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Moses reviewed Israel’s sojourn at Mt. Sinai.

  2. Moses reviewed Israel’s sojourn at Kadesh Barnea.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Always distinguish between confident faith and presumptuous pride.

QUESTIONS

  1. Give some evidence why the book of Deuteronomy is important for believers of all times.

  2. What was the setting for the book of Deuteronomy?

  3. According to the description in verse 7, what was the extent of the land given to the Children of Israel?

  4. Has Israel ever possessed all the Land that God promised them?

  5. What was the report from the twelve men sent to spy out the Promised Land?

ANSWERS

  1. The book of Deuteronomy is quoted frequently in the New Testament. The Lord Jesus quoted Deuteronomy three times in response to Satan’s temptations.

  2. In a series of sermons, Moses prepared the Children of Israel to enter the Promised Land by reviewing God’s covenant with them. This served as a preview for what was to come as they conquered the land the Lord God had given them.

  3. The Land included all of the land of Canaan from the Negev in the south to the Euphrates River in the far northeast and from the Mediterranean Sea on the west side to the Jordan River and the Arabah on the east side.

  4. No, under King Solomon they controlled all this land, but never fully possessed it. They will when the Lord returns, as we know from the prophetic Scriptures.

  5. The spies brought back the report that indeed it was a good and fruitful land, but because of unbelief, ten of the spies and the rest of Israel refused to go and possess the Land. They were convinced that they would be defeated by the giants.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The journey from Mt. Horeb to Kadesh Barnea could have taken the Children of Israel 11 days –instead it took them 40 years. Think of the last time you wandered around in circles in your Christian life, falling short of maturity and growth because of sin.

  2. The Children of Israel wanted to check out the Land first –even though God said it was a good land and that He would give them victory. This indicates a lack of faith on the part of Israel. Can you relate to the Children of Israel’s mentality?

CHALLENGE

  1. When the Children of Israel were told that they could not go into the Land, they changed their minds and proceeded to go up and fight the enemy. But it was too late and they were soundly defeated. This was presumptuous pride, not confident faith.

KEY VERSES

  • “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.” Deuteronomy 1:6

  • “They brought back word to us, saying, ‘It is a good land which the Lord our God is giving us.’ Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 1:25-26

Deuteronomy, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidDEUTERONOMY 1