Israel

Before the flood the people of world had so moved away from the Lord’s ways that He found it necessary to destroy all people except the single family group who had not turned from Him. Now long after the flood the world’s population had grown again. This time into many nations. Once again the world’s population was corrupting itself by worshipping hand made gods and living wickedly. The Lord knowing this was going to happen, prepared a new nation – Israel. They would demonstrate to the corrupting world that there IS only one true God. And that God is Jehovah. And that it makes a world of difference if an individual or a nation made Jehovah their God and obeyed Him in all that He expects of them.

Israel is brought about as a nation by the providential intercessory acts of God. The Lord called Abram (Gen. 12) to leave his family and travel to a place that the Lord would reveal in time. During the next four hundred years Abram’s immediate family grows into a nation. A nation called Israel.

The Lord Makes A Covenant With Israel

About four hundred years after the Lord’s calling to Abram, on their way to Canaan the Lord makes a covenant with Israel. He invites them with the following words:

Exodus 19:5-6
5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

The nation of Israel whole heartedly accepts the covenant with Jehovah:

Exodus 19:7-8
7  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

The Giving of The Law

From Exodus 20 we read of the Lord giving the Israelites His Law through Moses. The Law giving the Israelites more detailed laws and daily living rules than any people ever had before. The reason for this is probably because no living person at that time had access to reliable truth. Up until then what was understood about the Lord and His ways was passed down from the previous generation. This ‘common knowledge’ of the ways of God that were passed on down from one generation to the next, from the beginning, was no longer accurate. The Israelites would now have written laws that instructed them in knowing exactly what dignity and what honour the Lord required of them towards Himself. They also would have laws and rules, from God, to govern their everyday life living together as a nation.

Conquering Canaan

This plan, however, had a serious hiccup right at the beginning. In preparing to conquer the land of Canaan, where Israel would live and fulfill their purpose. Only Moses, Calab and Joshua of the twelve tribes of Israel trusted the Lord to carry out His promise to give them victory over the corrupt, but stronger nations living in Canaan. Despite the Lord proving to them that He could overcome any enemy or obstacle that they encountered.

Consider what the Lord had already seen them through:

• Miraculously freeing them from the clutches of Pharaoh in Egypt through the Lord’s Ten Plagues. (From Exodus 5)
• Crossing the Red Sea on a miraculously dried sea bed, and then seeing the Egyptian army destroyed as the Lord returned the Red sea’s water over the temporary path across the sea. (Exodus 14)
• The bitter water made sweet at Marah. (Exodus 15)
• The Lord feeding the Children of Israel with Manna and quails. (Exodus 16)
• The Lord gives Israel water from a rock, when Moses strikes it with his rod. He does so in the presence of the leaders of the Israelites. (Exodus 17:5-6)

Even the most doubting of Israelites could never have attributed the provision of God, and the success of Israel in battle to ‘good fortune’ or their military strength. Each knew that the Lord was their provider and protector during those times. He was taking care of them, and no obstacle or enemy proved a match for the Lord.

So when, after experiencing the Lord’s provision and protection, and then still doubting that He would keep His promise to over come the obstacles in conquering the land of Caanan. The Lord rejected them. In accord with His own purposes and His grace and mercy, the Lord only rejects the adults of Israel. And it then takes close to forty years of wandering in the wilderness for all the adults of Israel to die. And for the next generation of adults to get to know Jehovah. Only Moses, Calab and Joshua of all the adults that came out of Israel were still alive. This second generation of Israelites would fulfill Israel’s purpose from the Lord.

Preparing The New Israel for The Conquering of The Promised Land

The Lord leads Moses to take great pains in preparing Israel to understand what was before them regarding life in the Promised land. It was going to be glorious, but was at the same time an enormous responsibility. They were not going to simply enjoy a wonderful life in the paradise land of Canaan where the Lord would make certain that in every area of live the Israelites prospered. They were going to have to make sure that they kept their part of the covenant and obeyed the Lord precisely as He plainly declared to them through the Law that He gave them.

Moses’ preparatory message to them recorded in the bible as the book of Deuteronomy is very instructive.

Israel Must Keep The Whole Law

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 5
1  Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
2  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

5  Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

V1/ They must pay attention to the ‘statues and judgements’ that Moses taught them, so that they could do them. Their obedience will ensure that they live – their very existence as a nation depended on their obedience - , and be able to go in and possess Canaan God’s gift to them.

V2/ To be sure that they got the point that they were to keep every law of God. They are told that they were not add to nor take away from His Laws. The last part of the verse says that it is dependent on their not adding to, nor taking away from the Law, that would determine whether or not they would be able to keep His commandments (Law).

V5/ They were to note that they were taught statues and judgements ‘that the Lord commanded Moses’ to teach them. They were to be sure to understand that what Moses taught was not his statutes and judgements but the Lord’s. ‘Statues and judgements’ that they were to live by in the land of Canaan.

No doubt to drive the point home, Moses repeats the commandments not to tamper with the Law.

Deuteronomy 5:32-33
32  Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
33  Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Again they are told that they are not to deviate from what the Lord has commanded them. They are to keep to the straight and narrow of His will expressed through the Law. They are not to turn aside to the left or to the right. God’s Truth may not be tampered with. History records the disaster that met with those who turned aside from the Truth. With Israel the Lord waited seventy years before severely punishing Judah – the two tribes who carried the promises of God and through whom the Messiah came. So while the Lord is severe in His standards, His mercy and grace is beyond comprehension.  However, as the Lord promised the chastisement – the cursing – did come.

What is important here, is the fact that Israel are given very specific laws governing all areas of life.

• The Ten Commandments (Ex. 20)
• The laws governing daily life (Ex. 21 – 23)
• The institution and construction of the Tabernacle (Ex. 25 - 31 & 35 – 40).

Therefore, there was no area of life that they did not have adequate instruction from the Lord. No matter what the situation, they had God’s will for it. Either one of the Ten Commandments, or one of the laws governing daily life, would instruct the Israelite on God’s will in any area of life. The individual that sought to obey God would not have a problem understanding God’s will in any situation he /she found themselves in. Note that it is never up to the nation or individual to decide what is right or wrong. They are told by the Lord through the Law. Therefore, for the first time in history they had Truth recorded in a book. Truth that ultimately governed all peoples on the earth.

The Lord Is VERY Serious About His Requirement That Israel Keep His Laws (Statues and Judgements

In Deuteronomy 5:29 the Lord expresses His passion for Israel, and through them the whole human race.

Deuteronomy 5:29  O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!

At this time in their history the book of Deuteronomy demonstrates how carefully the Lord had Moses prepare Israel, and their new leader Joshua. Prepare them to occupy Canaan and passionately esteem (‘fear’) the Lord and keep all of His commandments ‘always’ – i.e. generation after generation. That passionate – such an heart in them’ - attitude towards the Lord and that kind of obedience would guarantee them a good life, ‘that it might be well with them’. And not only for them, the adults, but also for their children. That is, their children’s futures as adults with their own children. What a life the Lord offered them! Such a destiny was offered to them. But as is seen the Lord has His terms. He would not give that elevated life to rebellious people. They were to willingly from the heart submit to Him. And demonstrate that submission with consistent, passionate obedience.

How we harm ourselves and hinder our usefulness in His kingdom when we refuse to obey from our hearts? Many give only ‘lip-service’ and have no passion for the Lord. The Lord hardly ever receives any of the love He calls for from His redeemed creatures. (Deut. 6:5)

Israel’s Purpose Is Clear

Israel’s purpose, as a nation, is clear. ‘Be an example to all nations, demonstrating the kind of life a child of Jehovah has when He is their God’. See Deuteronomy 4:5-9.

Deuteronomy 4:5-9
5  Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6  Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
7  For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
8  And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
9  Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

V6/ “for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations”, Israel will gain a reputation among the other nations, because of the Lord and the Law that He gave them to live by. They will conclude that Israel is a great nation with wisdom and understanding because of the Lord and His Law.

V7/ Most importantly in their reputation is their being so great and having God so close to them. A nation that is able to call upon Him.

V8/ They are a great nation that has statues and judgements that are remarkably (‘so righteous’) righteous. For a great nation they don’t have laws that only benefit a small minority. They are righteous in that they are to the benefit of all.

V9/ An important warning! They are warned about taking care of their walk with the Lord.

‘take heed to thyself’
‘keep thy soul diligently’

i.e. they were to make their walk with the Lord a priority in life, ‘lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life:’ They were to be sure that they kept focus on their walk with the Lord. That they did not degenerate in their walk with the Lord to simply a mechanical practice of religion, or even moving away from all true religion. In their called for zeal, they were to be sure to teach their sons and grandsons how to walk with the Lord. The outward practice of their faith was not enough. It had to be a passionate walk with Jehovah. A walk of loving obedience. Only that would ensure their unique walk with God would continue.

As with the previous ages that we have looked at, Israel had God’s will – Truth – given to them. Life was not a democracy. They were covenanted to the Lord to live by His Law. And living strictly by His Law would guaranty them life as only God could give. All other nations were meant to be drawn by the abundant life that Israel demonstrated. Drawn to the God that gave the abundant life. Who gave that life to all who looked to Him in faith.

NEXT – One Truth as revealed through ‘The Church’ or ‘The Body of Christ’