Deut 1:19-30 Reflecting on where you've been: Using the past to face today's life changing moments

Reflecting on where we’ve been. That can be a good thing. It helps us with perspective of where we currently are. It enables us to overcome current difficulties. It reminds us what we are on a journey. It causes us to stop and reflect on our great God. It provides us with insight as we face today’s life changing moments.

It’s really a daily battle. Jesus continues to draw us and patiently work with us. It is a lifelong journey of a thousand decisions to walk with Christ.

But there are times when the battle comes to a head.

There are cross roads in our lives.

Times when the choices we make will shape the rest of our lives

These are critical moments along our journey. These are life-changing moments.

Will we respond in faith? Or will we reject the Lord and move away from Him.

So it was for the people of Israel.

Moses reflects on one of those moments in the journey of the people of Israel.

Let’s listen and learn.

Deuteronomy 1:19-30 Reflecting on where you’ve been Using the past to face today’s life changing moments

I. Reflecting on where you’ve been: All part of the greater journey

A. In the wilderness Deut 1:1

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 1 These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, …

B. In the victories Deut 1:4

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 4 after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites … and Og the king of Bashan ….

C. Moving toward His promises Deut 1:6-8

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 6 “The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7 Turn and take your journey, … 8 See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers …

II. Reflecting on where you’ve been: Remember the Lord’s faithfulness

A. Redemption & grace Deut 1:19a

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 19 “Then we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrifying wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us. And we came to Kadesh-barnea.

1. Out of Egypt – saved out of slavery

2. Came to Horeb/My Sinai – there met God / Received His Word / discovered what He desires / Heard His promises

B. His provision in the wilderness Deut 1:19b

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 19 “Then we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrifying wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us. And we came to Kadesh-barnea.

1. Through times of trial – here 100 mi from Horeb to where they were to end up at the edge of Canaan

2. Even when they were not very faithful

3. Saw faithfulness in scary times

C. His revelation of Himself & His Word Deut 1:19c

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 19 “Then we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrifying wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us. And we came to Kadesh-barnea.

1. Receiving the mind of the Lord / along the way

III. Reflecting on where you’ve been: Important decision points along the way

A. A time to decide Deut 1:19d

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 19 “Then we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrifying wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us. And we came to Kadesh-barnea.

1. Time to decide

2. Come to the place of making a decision

3. Come to the place of claiming the blessing – moving from a place of defeat to receiving the blessing

B. A need to embrace faith Deut 1:20-21

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 20 And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. 21 See, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

1. Catch the vision “see”

2. God is giving this to you

3. A need to act by faith = given to you, so take personal action – in spite of your apprehension

C. Beware of the need for sight instead of faith Deut 1:22-23

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 22 Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’

1. Before we move by faith – send men

a. See what is ahead – not have so much uncertainty

b. See what rational way to do it – bring us word vs. God’s Word

2. Moses saw the request from the eyes of faith

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 23 The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe. 24 And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out. 25 And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, ‘It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.’

a. Okay to use wisdom - not okay if this replaces faith

b. – like Joshua can be done in association with faith – how do we best proceed by faith. – not to see if we move forward at all

c. Came and reported the richness of the land – see the result – Moses sees it as clarification of God’s promised blessing

d. Also came with a faithless report – see the magnitude of the obstacles rather than the promise of God

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IV. Reflecting on where you’ve been: Beware of refusing to follow

A. A refusal to respond Deut 1:26

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 26 “Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God.

1. Refuse to obey (plenty of excuses but ultimately refuse to obey)

a. Giants / walled cities / fierce people / military people / many opponents

2. I refuse to accept what the Lord has said

a. I won’t do the hard thing

b. I want my way instead of His way

B. Closed-door murmuring Deut 1:27a

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 27 And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the Lord hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

1. Stir up themselves and others

2. Not looking for encouragement to go forward – looking for support to refuse to go – not seek Lord or His leadership – create a following – justify oneself – cowards

C. Questioning the Lord’s character Deut 1:27b

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 27 And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the Lord hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

1. Get angry at God – should make it easier / do it my way / obey what I want you to do ---- If not get angry at god

2. The Lord has evil motives / against me / He caused these obstacles so I will be defeated / He brought trouble to cause me to faill

3. Is He for us or not

D. Questioning the Lord’s sufficiency Deut 1:28

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 28 Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’

1. The obstacles are bigger than God – I can’t do it & neither can God

2. The Lord does not have enough power to fulfill what He says He will do

3. OR overcoming obstacles is up to me --- I am not up to the task --- I can’t do it --- practical atheism

Faith demands – believe He is (just who He says, in control, able to do whatever He desires) / that He rewards those who respond to Him / obey Him

V. Reflecting on where you’ve been: Embrace fresh offers to respond

A. Restrain your fear Deut 1:29

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 29 Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread (terrified) or afraid of them.

1. A word of encouragement --- a recognition that it would be nature to be afraid --- that is okay --- a fresh offer to trust Him

2. Stop living defeated

3. Who do I need to be afraid of --- the obstacle or God

B. The Lord will personally get involved Deut 1:30

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 30 The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, …

1. The Lord will personally be involved

2. The Lord will fight on your behalf

C. Remember how the Lord’s has provided in the past Deut 1:30-31

(ESV) Deuteronomy 1 30 … just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’

1. He has done it before

2. He has been involved all along and has not left you even to this point