God recounted the journeys that brought them from slavery to the brink of true nationhood. Its a great story and I truly accept what Moses said, probably the greatest story ever told in the history of humankind, since the dawn of creation.
The journey from Mt Horeb to Kadesh Barnea, where the spies crossed into the Promised Land, was an 11-day ordeal. The time they spent at Kadesh was as much as 38 years.
There is all manner of theological dispute about exactly how long they
stayed there, but I am satisfied it was for 38 years as suggests in Deut 2:14,
notwithstanding some contradiction in 1:46.
Anyway, in Chapter 2 of
Deuteronomy, God said, “You have circled this mount long enough”. He referred
to the Mount of the Amorites, at Kadesh. They then journeyed around Edom as
Edom would not grant them safe passage.
At some stage you will also have to stop going around your issues and
head off into what God has destined for your life.
That put them on the direct route from Horeb up the Jordan rift Valley,
through Moab to the brook Zered. Actually it was Wadi-al-Hisa, a long wadi in
Jordan that ends at the Dead Sea. It offered enough water to sustain them prior
to their final push into Canaan.
Then they crossed the Arnon and confronted King Seir of the Amorites and
took their land, after being instructed not to meddle with any other nation.
Then they faced the battle of Edrei against Og, and prevailed again.
They had become strong and no one could withstand them.
However, God set about preparing them meticulously for the land ahead,
only he reaffirmed that Moses would never cross the Jordan. His journey was
ending.
In chapter 4 God instructed
them not to add to or take away any part of the law. He also reminded them that
“He had taught them” wisdom and statutes. That says a lot about how God saw
their journey. It was a time of learning and instruction.
That is what equipped the nation to rule over their mandate.
He confirmed to them that since creation there was never anything to
compare with the Exodus. He had walked an incredible journey with them and the relationship
had deepened into something eternally precious.
As such, he swore never to leave them.
In Chapter 5 God reiterated
the essence of the law and the commandments, regarding the fundamental Decalogue
and ancillary laws relating to festivals, food and coexistence.
In Chapter 6 he invoked their
love again and their dedication to one God, not to tempt him and never to go
after other Gods. He reveals his jealous love for a people that he had so
clearly come to love very deeply.
In Chapter 7 He instructed
them to rid their land of all who lived there, to cleanse it of idols and pagan
ideas and to occupy the land fully. He also promised to be with them and remain
faithful, even unto a thousand generations.
He swore then to fight with them and to bless them richly before all the
nations.
It is a profound picture of a very proud father setting his children off
on their own journeys. The paternal father was fading. Now the children would
become sons and daughters.
It is the most amazing story of how God carved a people out of nation,
saved them from slavery and raised them up as a people of principle, with statutes
that would sustain them into the future and a tabernacle that would always
center their faith.
It is truly one of the greatest stories ever told.
With so much recounting, I will leave you with some important maps.
(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com
