The Temptation in the Wilderness

 

Outline of biblical history, Numbers and Deuteronomy [1]: “After giving the law to the Israelites at Sinai, God directed them to go in and take possession of the Promised Land.  Fearing the inhabitants of Canaan, they refused to do so, thus showing their lack of confidence in the promises of God.  The whole adult generation that had come out of Egypt, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, was condemned to wander and die in the desert.  Israel was forbidden to dispossess its kinsfolk, the nations of Edom, Moab, and Ammon, but was given victory over other nations that opposed it.  Finally, forty years after leaving Egypt, Israel arrived in the Moabite territory on the east side of the Jordan.  Here Moses prepared the people for their possession of Canaan, and commissioned Joshua as their new leader.” (149).

 

1.       Israel Under God’s Name

a.        From whence Israel came

                     i.            Promises to the patriarchs (esp. Abraham)

                    ii.            A new nation, born as the people of God

                  iii.            Freed from bondage, a picture of true redemption

                  iv.            Guided by God’s instruction and presence

b.       The stage is set for the fulfillment of one aspect of the promises, giving the land as the new Eden

                     i.            “New Eden”?  Yes!  Look at descriptions of Canaan as it should have been, blessed by God in Lev 26.3-13; Num 13.21-27; Deut 8.1-10, 28.1-14

                    ii.            Another picture of the New Jerusalem (Rev 22.1-5), along the path of cosmic restoration

c.        Until such time as Israel settles in the land, the tabernacle is of major importance

                     i.            God’s mobile dwelling place among his pilgrim people

                    ii.            God’s presence leads his people through the desert as he fights for them (Num 10.35)

                  iii.            God’s presence settles in the midst of his people at their respites (Num 10.36)

d.       Summary statement:  Num 6.23-27

                     i.            Describes the character / nature of God

                    ii.            Describes the position of Israel

                  iii.            Pictures the relationship between God and his people in the kingdom of God

2.       Israel the Covenant Breaker

a.        Israel’s response to God’s grace, perseverance and goodness?

                     i.            The people complain against Moses and God (Num 11.1-15)

                    ii.            Moses’ authority questioned by Aaron and Miriam (Num 12.1-2)

                  iii.            The spies and all Israel doubt God’s ability to give them the land (Num 13.25-14.12)

                  iv.            The people decide to do things their own way in spite of God’s judgment (Num 14.39-45)

                   v.            Korah and 250 chiefs rebel against Moses and Aaron (Num 16.1-35)

                  vi.            The people complain against Moses and God for God’s judgment of the faithless (Num 16.41-42)

                vii.            Israel complains for lack of water at Meribah (Num 20.1-5)

               viii.            The people grew impatient while bypassing Edom and spoke against Moses and God (Num 21.4-9)

                  ix.            The people begin to worship Baal after being led astray by Moabite women (Num 25.1-5)

                   x.            The people began to ‘mingle’ with Midianite women (Num 25.6-9)

b.       Again and again, but not every time, Moses intercedes for a people deserving and facing the impending judgment of God (cf. Num 12.13; 14.13-19; 16.43-48)

c.        From all these episodes, several points clearly emerge:

                     i.            The essence / substance of the promises / covenant is God’s people living in relationship to him in the land he has given them

                    ii.            Israel is wholly incapable of keeping the covenant and abiding by the tenets of the Law

1.       They reject the land and show their disbelief in God

2.       As a result, they remain in the wilderness until they die...then their children must decide whether they will receive God’s gracious gift

3.       The covenant relationship established at this point is still imperfect...still a shadow

                  iii.            God’s faithfulness and mercy always prevail in spite of the faithlessness and failure of his people

3.       Preparing the New Generation

a.        Deuteronomy is Moses’ series of farewell sermons before Israel crosses into Canaan

                     i.            For forty years the people wandered while God’s judgment played out on the faithless, older generation

                    ii.            Deuteronomy is known to be written in the form of an ANE treaty covenant and serves as a covenant renewal with the new generation

b.       Main sections in Deuteronomy

                     i.            The faithlessness and rebellion of the people in the wilderness (chs 1-3)

                    ii.            The stipulations of covenant living for the redeemed (chs 4-26)

1.       God’s covenant has a conditional side to it

2.       Israel has a responsibility to live consistently with its being God’s holy people

                  iii.            Blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (ch 28)

1.       In previous books, the exile was hinted at (cf. Lev 26)

2.       Here, the exile is described as a certainty

c.        Emphases of Deuteronomy

                     i.            God’s graciousness in freely choosing his people.  Why?  Just because! (Deut 7.6-11)

                    ii.            God’s redemptive purpose—dwelling with his redeemed people in the land he promised (Deut 8.1-10)

                  iii.            Israel’s utter dependence upon God for every blessing in spite of their faithlessness (Deut 9.1-24)

                  iv.            Obedience as a response to grace, not as the merit for it (Deut 4.20, 37-40; 5.15; 10.20-22).  Moreover, the reality that true obedience is from the heart, not merely outward conformity to the letter of the law (Deut 10.12-16)

                   v.            The importance of the family as the basic unity of covenant society (Deut 6.6-9, 20-25).  Repeatedly, the basis for the Law is given as the redemption accomplished at the exodus.

4.       Another summary:  “A regenerated nation without a regenerated land would be like Adam and Eve without Eden.  The promise of possession of the land is the promise of a land that is renewed in a way that points to the removal of all the ill effects of the fall.  Such a land is part of the kingdom that can be received only by faith” (154)

5.       At the end of Deuteronomy, the new generation stands under the renewed covenant with all the assurances that God will give his chosen people the Promised Land...and Joshua stands ready to lead his people into the kingdom God is preparing.

 


[1] Section outline taken from Goldsworthy, According to Plan:  The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1991).