Becoming the People of God

Recalling the Ultimate Purpose of God

Moses, standing before a generation of families who have known nothing but what is described as a ‘grea t and terrible wilderness’ (Deut 1:19), shares a series of messages beginning in Deuteronomy 1 that I believe can remind us of who we are and where God is leading as we enter into a new year - a year that promises to be one a change.

Deuteronomy 1:6–8 HCSB

“The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb: ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites and their neighbors in the Arabah, the hill country, the Judean foothills, the Negev and the sea coast—to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon as far as the Euphrates River. See, I have set the land before you. Enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their future descendants.’

The descendants of Abraham were in Egypt in order that they might survive. Abraham’s offspring, Joseph, had been set apart by God’s protection into a place of significant leadership in Egypt that through him God might provide for Joseph and his family - all the descendants of Abraham. They were 70 or 72 when they arrived in Egypt.

Moses, writing a history of the people of God, reminded them that

Exodus 1:7–8 HCSB

But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them. A new king, who had not known Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

This new king saw the descendants of Abraham and Joseph as a threat and he subjected them to slavery. This continued for hundreds of years.

After 400 years of slavery, God raised up Moses through whom He defeated the power of Pharaoh and instructed Moses - it’s time for My people to return to the homeland I promised their forefather Abraham.

Deuteronomy opens with Moses before the entire generation of Israel having been born in the wilderness, or under the age of twenty when the events at Kadesh-Barnea occured (which Moses will discuss in Deut 1:19-following).

As this generation, on the east bank of the Jordan River, looks westward, Moses reminds them that they are privileged to be part of a promise God has been fulfilling for generations:

Deuteronomy 1:8 “See, I have set the land before you. Enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their future descendants.’”

God has been at work - often in unseen and hidden ways for generations to bring His promise to fulfillment. And now…

HERE THEY ARE!

REMEMBERING THE ULTIMATE PROVISION OF GOD

Deut 1:9-18 reminds God’s people that they themselves are the ones capable of making necessary decisions. Moses is the chief , yet he acknowledges he cannot enter the Promised Land without the assistance of God’s people.

Deut 1:19-33 rehearses a difficult period in Israel’s history.

According to Deuteronomy 1:2 “It is an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea by way of Mount Seir.”

What should have taken 11 days from Mt Sinai, also known as Mt Horeb, has now taken 40 years!

WHY FORTY YEARS?

The first year after being rescued from Egypt by the mighty power of God was spent at Mt Sinai/Mt Horeb. There God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the rest of the law that was to serve as the constitution of Israel as the people of God inhabiting the promised land of God!

Deuteronomy 1:22–25 HCSB

“Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let’s send men ahead of us, so that they may explore the land for us and bring us back a report about the route we should go up and the cities we will come to.’ The plan seemed good to me, so I selected 12 men from among you, one man for each tribe. They left and went up into the hill country and came to the Valley of Eshcol, scouting the land. They took some of the fruit from the land in their hands, carried it down to us, and brought us back a report: ‘The land the Lord our God is giving us is good.’

Moses reminds these young adults and their families of what they certainly already knew -

Deuteronomy 1:26–28 HCSB

“But you were not willing to go up, rebelling against the command of the Lord your God. You grumbled in your tents and said, ‘The Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites so they would destroy us, because He hated us. Where can we go? Our brothers have discouraged us, saying: The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, fortified to the heavens. We also saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’

Here Moses points out a foundational truth we ourselves often ignore…

Deuteronomy 1:29–33 HCSB

“So I said to you: Don’t be terrified or afraid of them! The Lord your God who goes before you will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt. And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place. But in spite of this you did not trust the Lord your God, who went before you on the journey to seek out a place for you to camp. He went in the fire by night and in the cloud by day to guide you on the road you were to travel.

COUNTING ON THE PRECIOUS PATIENCE OF GOD

God pronounced a hard judgment - see Deut 1:34-38.

Instead of simply confessing their sin, the parents and grandparents of the generation to whom Moses was speaking acknowledged their sin and deliberately disobeyed God’s word yet again (Deut 1:41-43).

The introductory words of Moses end on a sad note:

Deuteronomy 1:45–46 HCSB

When you returned, you wept before the Lord, but He didn’t listen to your requests or pay attention to you. For this reason you stayed in Kadesh as long as you did.

REFELCT AND RESPOND

The year 2026 will mark significant changes in all our lives. No, I won’t predict what changes will occur. Change will happen. That is a guarantee.

Much of that which changes will be outside our ability to control. We don’t have control over the economy. We can’t control the peace processes in Europe, the Middle East, South America and Africa. We will be asked to vote in the May primaries and the November general election - and we must vote - but as usual in Oregon our numbers in Douglas County can’t overcome the numbers in the more populated areas of our state.

I’m not here to preach despair or defeat.

Rather I believe that the words of Moses, spoken thousands of years ago, have a particular relevance for those of us in this room - and for the decisions we will be asked to make.

These opening words in Deuteronomy give a framework by which we can think and pray about the future God has for us:

God’s Ultimate Purpose is Larger and Bigger than We Can Imagine

There are two scriptures that have come to dominate my thinking and praying:

Matthew 28:18–20 HCSB

Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Revelation 7:9 HCSB

After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands.

God’s Provision is Greater than we think or imagine

An early follower of Jesus once prayed these words - and we can use them as well:

Ephesians 3:20–21 HCSB

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Just as Moses reminded those men and women - is there anything too difficult for God?

God’s Patience Provides Opportunity to Move Forward into His Future

As we will see in Moses’ words, more than once God had reason to destroy Israel and begin again with Moses.

Yet, because Moses interceded, because God is patient Israel entered the promised land.

It is not too late to ‘go up; take possession of all God has for us…’

Join me in this phenomenal challenge and opportunity fo 2026!