Sermon Tone Analysis

Our Scripture lesson this morning is Deuteronomy 1:19-2:1.

Before I read our Scripture lesson this morning, I want to remind you of where we are in Moses’ sermon.

This first address, consisting of Deuteronomy 1:6-4:44, is a recounting of Israel’s dealing with God up until now.

The purpose of this section is to remind Israel why they should renew their covenant with God.

Of all the stories Moses will recount, Israel’s rebellion is the most import.

We know this because of all the time Moses devotes to it.

Although the rebellion at Kadesh-barnea represents only two weeks, Moses devotes 27 verses to it, a full 25% of the narrative verses in this first address!

In contrast, the journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, which is the first verse of our reading, has only one verse devoted to it, although it represents 43 weeks.

An even more striking contrast is found in the last verse of our reading today; this one verse represents 38 years!

So you can see, what transpired at Kadesh-barnea was very important.

With this in mind, let us hear God’s Word to us today:

May God now bless this the reading of His holy and infallible Word.

The key to properly understanding this passage is found in vs. 22, where Israel requests spies be sent out in order that they may know “the way by which we must go”.

This is a very faithless and rebellious request considering that the Lord was the commander of Israel’s armies and ever since Israel had left Egypt God alone had gone before Israel showing them the way.

This is found in Deut 1:30-31:

Do you hear what Moses is saying?

He is saying,...

The Lord Has Faithfully Shown You the Way

Psalm 78, is a recounting of God’s dealings with Israel from the Exodus from Egypt to the conquest of the Promised Land:

I chose to read from this Psalm because it extends beyond the time frame of Deuteronomy: God has, is, and will faithfully lead His people, and that includes you!

It is not without good reason that Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved portions of Scripture!

In John 10:11, Jesus identifies Himself as “the good Shepherd”, and in John 14:6, He famously says::

Do you understand what Moses, David and Jesus are saying?

They are saying that God is faithfully showing us the way, is leading us along the way, and will safely carry us to the place to our journeys end!

God’s faithfulness is the reason we should whole-heartedly submit ourselves to God as His vassals.

It is also God’s great faithfulness that makes seeking our own way so sinful.

Seeking Our Own Way Always Leads to Sin

I did not speak of this last week, but in Deuteronomy 1:15, we see that Israel was organized as an army.

As a child, I remember singing a song entitled, I Am in the Lord’s Army.

Perhaps you sang that song as well.

The military motif has fallen out of favor, and sadly, children are not taught this song any longer.

However, there is no denying in both the Old and New Testaments, the marshal theme is prominent.

We are commanded by the Apostle Paul to “put on the whole armor of God” and “to take up the sword of the spirit” (Eph 6:10-17) and at the close of the age, the saints will be in the armies of heaven that follow Christ (Rev 19)!

I say all this, because an army has only one Commander and Chief, and in the armies of heaven, it is Jesus Christ!

It was not Israel’s place to set the strategy; her place was only to obey.

God would go before them and show them the way.

More importantly, God would go with them and give them the victory!

Is this not always what is true of sin?

We doubt God’s love, ability and faithfulness.

We see this so clearly in our text:

Their natural reasoning was spot on; the people of the land were too strong for Israel.

However, our natural reasoning does not take into account the power of God; the people of the land were not too strong for God! Rebellion and sin always find their beginning in unbelief; and where does unbelief lead?

It leads to failure and futility.

Seeking Our Own Way Always Leads to Futility

The consequence of this rebellion was that God gave them just what they asked for:

God’s justice is perfect, it is never too much nor is it too little.

The punishment always fits the crime.

God is saying to that rebellious generation, “You do not want the land, fine you will not have it!”

Before I move on, I do want to mention that God makes three exceptions—God will give the land to Caleb, Joshua and the young children and infants of Israel.

I am going to focus on their stories next week, but for now, I want to point out that this is another example of God’s love, faithfulness and grace.

Our sin will never destroy God’s good plans and promises.

The Exodus generation would not inherit the land, but the next generation would!

Moreover, after we have sinned, God always gives us new opportunities for obedience.

Notice what God says in vs. 40:

Even though the Exodus generation was not to inherit the land, God did not disown them.

If they would repent and trust in God, they would inherit the greatest of all promises—eternal life!

Once again, however the Exodus generation did not obey God command.

Instead, they responded with false repentance saying, “We have sinned against the Lord.

We ourselves will go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.”

Do you see the irony in this?

Before when God commanded them to go into the land, they claimed the Amorites were too strong for them.

Now, when God commands them to turn away from the land, they presumptuously claim the Amorites are not too strong for them!

Earlier, I told you that natural reason cannot be trusted; do you see how unreliable their natural reasoning is here?

We have all heard the saying that the quickest way to get someone to do something is to tell them not to do it.

We laugh at this, but it is no laughing matter, it is evidence of how deprived our hearts are.

What was the result of Israel’s presumptuous rebellion?

It was utter and complete defeat at the hands of the Amorites!

After weeping many days at Kadesh-barnea, the people finally departed as the Lord commanded:

This is a picture of wasted lives.

A generation destined for greatness, spent the remaining years of their lives going in circles, until each and every one of them died!

Do you understand the significance of Kadesh-barnea?

Seeking our own way is always a road to nowhere!

Are you feeling a though your life is going nowhere?

Perhaps, it could it because you are not trusting and obeying God.

However, the most important lesson of Kadesh-barnea is that in the midst of our unfaithfulness is God’s faithfulness.

God does not abandon the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

By His power and faithfulness, God takes two men, Caleb and Joshua, along with the “little ones” of Israel, and conquers the Amorites thirty-eight years later!

It is this story well will begin to look at next week.