Read Deuteronomy 10 at Bible Gateway.
Previously: deuteronomy 9:1-29, the role of unbelief
Please review the teaching tools of scripture, especially the Hebrew paragraph divisions. The paragraphs marked by an “s” at their close are weak paragraphs, which indicate a change of facet but not a change of theme or topic. The paragraphs marked by a “p” at their close are strong paragraphs, which indicate the completion of a theme or topic.
This is the fifth section explaining the first commandment, Worship YHVH only, which we discovered was THE commandment. (The first commandment is explained in Deu 6:4-11:25, and this is my summary of it.) This section is made of a single strong paragraph:
Deu 10:1-11 {p} Israel enters the Land by the mediator of the covenant
I say this is the topic theme of this strong paragraph, because it is an account of Moses going up to Mt. Sinai, to YHVH, and coming down from Mt. Sinai, from YHVH to the people of Israel, in order to establish the covenant between YHVH and Israel. The covenant was established through Moses the mediator of the covenant, the mediator between God and man. Moses is acting as a type of Messiah Yeshua, the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5), who establishes the covenant between God and man.
The previous strong paragraph coupled with this one, reveals:
Deu 9:1-29 {p} Israel cannot enter the Land by self- righteousness
Deu 10:1-11 {p} Israel enters the Land by the mediator of the covenant
They both have as their theme, the entrance to the Land, which is the realization of the promise that God had promised Israel (a prophetic picture of God’s children entering into the promise which He has promised them, salvation or eternal life, obtained for them by the mediator of the covenant, Messiah Yeshua).
Now, I asked the Spirit, “Okay, this is all very interesting and reveals Messiah Yeshua and the Gospel of grace prophetically. Awesome! But why is this bit about entering the Land set into the middle of the explanation of Worship YHVH Only? I don’t see the connection.”
I was reminded of the time Israel was faced with entering the Land previously, which is recorded in Num 13-14. Twelve spies are sent into the Land, and they return bearing the wonderful fruit of the Land, but ten of the spies give an evil report of the giants in the Land, and discourage the hearts of the children of Israel from entering into their promise (remember that our two strong paragraphs in Deuteronomy are about entering the Land of promise).
Joshua and Caleb give a good report, and try to encourage Israel to enter the Land (to enter their promise), but the people lift up their voices and weep, and the idea begins to circulate among the people, to stone the two faithful witnesses, and Moses and Aaron, with stones. At that point the glory of the LORD appears in front of the Tabernacle, and God says something very interesting:
Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me?” Num 14:11
In other words, refusing to enter the Land was the same as Israel rejecting God from being their God. It was the same as having other gods before God. Why did Israel not enter the Land? They believed the report of the ten spies which contradicted God’s promise, but they did not believe the word of the Lord which He spoke, which promised them His power in overcoming the giants of the Land. They did not enter in because of unbelief (Heb 3:19).
When we do not enter in to our promise by the mediator of the covenant, Messiah Yeshua, and instead attempt to enter in to our promise by self- righteousness, we have rejected God from being God over us. We have not worshiped Him only, but we have elevated other gods before Him. When we do not believe His Word in general, or His promises to us specifically, we have rejected Him. We have not worshiped Him only, but we have elevated other gods before Him.
Believers, do not read this and think, “This does not apply to me!” I know myriads of church- going Spirit- filled people, who have asked Jesus to be their Savior and Lord, and have experienced the transforming power of new life in Him, while they still strive to earn acceptance before God by works of obedience! When the enemy accuses them of their failures, they believe him and allow themselves to be burdened with guilt and shame, but when God encourages them by His promises or by the assurance of His forgiveness, they do not believe Him but instead continue under the load of their oppression. When that happens, who has the church- goer believed, the enemy or God? Not God. They have elevated other gods before YHVH, and have rejected God from being God over them.
Let His people, who are called by His name, humble themselves, seek His face and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, even of unbelief in His grace, His forgiveness, His mercy, His goodness, and His promises, so that He may hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Continued: deuteronomy 10:12-11:25, love and obedience
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