Deuteronomy 9 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
We cannot escape the command that God gave His people to displace the indigenous people. God is the one leading the charge. “Know therefore today that He goes over before you as a consuming fire . . . He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So, you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised.” We see a promise from God, God’s involvement, and the people’s charge to obey. We may not be able to defend this practice of killing the Canaanites, but God commanded it..
Since victory is predicted and will be accomplished, God addresses the arrogance that will follow. What wicked hearts we have! God says, “He will destroy them and subdue them . . . .” yet we are prone to say in our hearts, “It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land.” Let’s pause and consider who is saying this. These people were raised by people who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because of their unbelief. Of all people, one might think these might tend, even a little, toward humility. Not at all. Proud as a peacock. That is our heart. Making one idol after another like a factory produces products. God calls them “ a stubborn people. Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. Even at Horeb (where God gave the 10 commandments) you provoked the Lord to wrath . . . . They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them; they have made themselves a metal image.”
If you think God is judging the nations harshly consider how He treats His own people who disobey. The first generation all died never entering the land promised to them. They constantly rebelled against God wanted to go back to slavery, longing for the food of Egypt. While Moses was receiving the 10 commandments, the people of Israel were involved in the raunchiest of sins. God “was so angry with you that He was ready to destroy ( a term He uses often against the nations surrounding Israel) you.” How little godliness we find in the Bible. Rather we see God forgiving, being rich in mercy, overflowing with grace, seeking those who rebel against Him. What wonderful grace He extends to such rebellious people.
In vs. 13 and following, Moses reminds them of the kind of people they are. This is not a flattering picture. They are only forgiven because God appointed an intercessor: Moses. Moses is not done. In vs. 22 and following, Moses reminds them of cities where they rebelled. “. . . then your rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God and did not believe him or obey his voice. You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you.” How would you like your pastor to say that to you? But it was the truth said to them so they will recognize their sin and turn away from it. Sadly, that is not how the rest of the Bible reads.
Moses is the great intercessor as we read in vs. 25ff. He pleads for mercy for the same people that give Moses so much grief. So, although God is grieved by their sin and although Moses is wearied because of their rebellion, God’s love is never ending. Moses reminds God of His hesed or covenant loyalty as a reason to forgive. In v. 27, “Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin, 28 lest the land from which you brought us say, “Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness.” 29 For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.’
When Moses says remember in v. 27, Moses is not implying God has or can forget. But that God is bound by His promise to the patriarchs to give them a land. Earlier God called the people of Israel, in v. 12,
Moses’s people: “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you have brought from Egypt have acted corruptly.” Here, Moses calls them “your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.” Moses, rightly, refuses to have God call them Moses’ people. Moses knows God and knows He will see to it that God fulfills His Word.
If you are prone to pride and start taking credit for the wonderful things you do for God, remember your nature. We sin because we love to sin. We were born with a nature to sin. Sounds unfair? I don’t think we should be asking God for justice, not fairness. We may not get what we think we deserve. We might better admit that we sin and need help from outside ourselves. It takes less energy, verbal twisting, and intellectual gymnastics to just confess (say what God already knows it true about us) our sins, not make excuses, and ask for God’s forgiveness.
Lord, we are not building golden calves or wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, but we make, protect, and worship our own idols. We honestly think our way leads to a better life while Your rules lead to a much less attractive life. We think You are a taker and not a giver. For this, for our hearts bent on self, we repent and ask for forgiveness we do not deserve. We bring nothing good to our relationship only sin. But You shower on us more than we could ever imagine. Why should You forgive us, justify us, sanctify us, and finally glorify us? Grace is the only answer. Forgive, restore, sanctify, and draw us in heaven when we die. May we live for God’s glory alone. In Christ. Amen.