Deuteronomy 9 - "You Have Been Rebellious Against the LORD From the Day I Knew You"

LINK: Deuteronomy 9

BACKGROUND

Moses puts the Israelites in their place by reminding them of the rebellious things they had done along the way from Egypt to the Promised Land. Therefore, they were not to assume that the conquest of Canaan was because of anything righteous that they had done. He gave two reasons why they would be victorious:

1) The nations they were conquering were wicked and demanded God's righteous judgment. 

2) God had sworn it to their fathers.

They had been stiff-necked and rebellious from day one, and to prove just how stiff-necked they had been, Moses went through incident after incident that proved this fact, and these were not even all of them! Can you remember these incidents from our previous readings?

1) Massah - This was when the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord because they had no water (Exodus 17:1-7). 

2) Golden Calf (Exodus 32) 

2) Taberah - This was when the people complained about their hardships and God's fire consumed some of them on the outskirts of the camp (Numbers 11:1-3). 

4) Kibroth Hattaavah - This was when the people complained about the manna, and God sent quail and a plague (Numbers 11:31-34). 

5) Kadesh Barnea - This was when 10 out of 12 of the spies brought back word that the land was too difficult to conquer (Numbers 13-14). 

Moses also reminds the people of His intercession for them.

APPLICATION

Are there any areas of your life where you can see self-righteousness? Do you test God by complaining about your hardships and having a pity party because He is not giving you what you think you deserve? Are you rebelling against God by failing to trust Him or obey Him? Let the story of Israel be an example to you. Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.

PRAYER

Lord, we know that we are not righteous except through the blood of Jesus Christ who was Your righteousness revealed. Lord, we know that You are the giver of all good gifts. Turn our grumbling into gratefulness. Lastly, Lord, forgive us for not going forward in faith with what You are calling us to do. Help us to believe You and move where You want us to move. For Your name and Your glory. Amen.