December 24 - 2 Timothy: The Prisoner Prepares His Son to Pass on the Message

Today’s Reading: 2 Timothy

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

This may have been Paul's last letter. He writes as a person who is resigned to his fate and making sure his work continues through his spiritual descendants.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Paul to Timothy, my son:
I miss you. God has worked in us through Jesus. This is the Message. Guard it well. Pass it to people who will pass it on. It always stays the same. Warn against nitpicking and promote walking the talk.
Run to maturity, patient with the immature.
Soon people will be outwardly religious but not set things right but they will not last long. Scripture is God-breathed and fully prepares us for God's Tasks.
Never give up teaching the Message.
I'm ready to die as an offering to God.
Come soon.
God's Grace be with you.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Message of Jesus is that He is working in us all the time.

God doesn't work only in people who are Christians. He works continuously in everyone in the world. He worked in Saul before he changed to become Paul, the Ambassador to the Gentiles. God worked in Timothy through his mother and grandmother. God wants to set all things right and is working now. Our job is to help people acknowledge God's Work in them and live accordingly.

Paul encouraged Timothy to pass on the Message to people willing and able to pass the Message on.

In church-planting movements the goal of a church planter is not to plant many churches. The goal of a church planter is to find people willing to pass on the Message and to teach them. They are the ones who plant churches. If they are unwilling to share the Message with others the church planter moves on to someone else. The reason is because people unwilling to pass on the Message will not keep God's Message alive. It dies with them. God's Message reproduces when people are willing to teach others willing to teach others.
One of the biggest issues churches have today is the fact that most members, though they think passing along the Message is important, keep the Word inside. This leads to a dilemma for preachers—do we continue teaching people who are sponges or do we leave them alone and find people willing to share? I would love churches to hold people accountable for passing on what they learn from the Bible. It is a great help for both the teacher and the learner.

God's Chosen People do not get caught up in worldly affairs or nitpick on doctrine.

We concentrate on setting things right for God the best we can. If we walk in that way, we will be truly religious.

Many people will never mature in God.

Paul's final warnings to Timothy are for him to watch out for people not content with the Message. It sounds too simple for many. They want a conspiracy, rules, a fun story, or an excuse to do whatever they want. Paul wants Timothy to watch out for these people and hold firm to the simple Message. He is to be mature, even when other people are not.

2 Timothy is a very humanizing book.

Earlier I wrote how these epistles are letters, not doctrinal statements. Nowhere in the New Testament is this truer than 2 Timothy. Paul is alone and knows his execution is coming. He wants to give Timothy one final encouragement before it comes. He doesn't know if they will ever see each other again. This is why he is steadfast about Timothy holding strong to the Message in the face of opposition. He knows that Timothy will soon be without his spiritual father. These words are meant to motivate Timothy to defend the Message for the rest of his life.

John Mark redeemed his work.

The first time we meet John Mark he was picked up by Paul and Barnabas but abandoned them on their first trip. Paul was so against working with him later that Barnabas and Paul split up on their next trip. Yet in Paul's last letter he tells Timothy to bring John Mark because he will become Paul's assistant. If this John Mark is the same as Mark found in 1 Peter, Peter considered him a son. He may have been the one to write the Gospel of Mark. When we trust God, God can mature us to great works even if we have a bad start. What a great redemption story!

How is God working through you?

December 19 - Titus: Paul Pushes Titus to Instruct in Life-Giving Practices

Today’s Reading: Titus

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Paul wants Titus to lead the congregation into a group that sets things right, not one that argues over religion.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Paul to Titus:
I point the way to God's Life.
Appoint worthy leaders in Crete, not rebellious people who add unnecessary rules but break God's Rules.
Show people a disciplined life—young and old, men and women—so enemies become friends.
Slaves, show God through your character.
God shows everyone how to live a godly life, getting us ready for Jesus' Return.
Be firm on directing everyone's thoughts to essential doctrines, not the fine print. Cut off dividers.
Help everyone learn to work well so they will have enough for themselves and the needy.
Greetings and grace to everyone there.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Titus, like Timothy, had to deal with people teaching religion instead of God's
Way.

Paul's insistence that he taught God's Life at the beginning of the letter is not by accident. He compares it to those who add rules upon rules, increasing sin. Paul wants Titus to model, teach, and force the churches in Crete to observe God's Life. He even wanted Titus to cut off people who would not stop nitpicking doctrine. He has very many things to call them and none of them are good. Stay away from people who want to argue over religion!

"Solid doctrine" is not about worshiping right.

All of the things listed are character traits, not actions. Sound doctrine is about lives that set things right, not doing the religion right.

Older women should mentor younger women to be good wives. Older men should mentor younger men to be better men.

Paul wanted the older women to mentor younger women in how to love their husbands and be good wives. Older men should help younger men develop discipline. We have often split ministries and classes into age groups. I believe that split—provided there is not a separate time dedicated for mentoring—hinders older and younger men from gaining an equal respect for each other and helping each other set things right. Although class time is not sufficient on its own to mentor, it does send a message that we should stay with only people our age who are going through similar issues. It also cuts off access for younger and older people to mingle and get to know each other more. Mentor younger people one-on-one to live godly lives. Many of our teenage dropout rates could improve if we simply took the time to give them sufficient time to develop godly practices. Paul mentions one extra side-effect—our enemies will get to know us and see we're not as bad as they thought.

God's "readiness to give and forgive" provides the foundation for our courage.

Who could argue with a god who loved His Creation so much that He would call us when we were unwanted and mentor us into living His Life so that we could easily transition into His Kingdom? This god sacrificed Himself to set our relationships right. That god gives us courage! That god provides us with enough assurance to withstand uncomfortable situations and help others set their relationships right.

What mentoring have you seen/experienced?

August 21 - Jeremiah 41-45: The Remnant Flees to a Dying Egypt

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 41-45

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The remaining Judeans believed their wood and stone gods blessed them and the cessation of sacrifices caused their problems.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Ishmael, a royal descendent, killed Gedaliah. He and his men fled to Ammon.
Johanan and his army headed toward Egypt. Jeremiah warned that they would survive only by staying in Judah. Johanan answered that Egypt had peace and prosperity. Jeremiah told them God would punish Egypt, too. Johanan called Jeremiah a liar and continued on. Little did he know Nebuchadnezzar—God's servant—was preparing to smash Egypt.
God asked those left behind to leave behind their old gods. The women and men told Jeremiah the Queen of Heaven gave their blessings, not God.
God warned Baruch that worse would come.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Judah's murderous past continued with those left behind.

Manasseh, Josiah's grandfather, left a culture of murder behind. This led to Judah's exile. Unfortunately, Ishmael and his men continue that legacy. Beware your legacy, it may lead to a terrible future for future generations.

God still wants those left behind to set things right.

Nebuchadnezzar left behind only the poor and those unworthy of the great city of Babylon. They were unwanted. But God still wanted them. He called them to leave their stones and wood behind and return to Him. He wanted to set their relationship right so they could prepare the way for the exiles to return. God's call never ends. Set things right!

Judah learned the wrong lesson from their defeat.

In an ironic twist, Johanan first asks Jeremiah for a word from his god then calls Jeremiah a liar when it comes back not in his favor. It may be understandable that they did not want to face the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar but they continued to have no faith in God. Even the lesson they learned from Judah going into exile was that their foreign gods, the pieces of wood and stone which could not move, protected and blessed them. The saddest part of the entire conversation is now they consider offerings to the Queen of Heaven as their tradition, not setting things right through the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Caution, traditions of your ancestors may or may not lead to setting things right.

Are you willing to set things right or do you blindly follow the traditions of your ancestors?

July 11 - Amos 1-5: God's Chosen People in the Hands of an Angry (but Forgiving) God

Today’s Reading: Amos 1-5

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God chose Israel from the entire world. God expects more from them.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The message of Amos during Uzziah's and Jeroboam (the Younger's) reign:
"God roars from Zion.
"'Aram! Gaza! Edom! Ammon! Moab! Judah! Israel! That's it! We're through!
"'Israel, I picked you, and in return you persecute the poor and delight in evil? We're going in different directions.
"'I swear your judgment is coming. You were too hardheaded to understand my messages. Now you'll listen!
"'Set things right and live. Otherwise God's punishment is coming—and it's not a pretty picture.
"'Here is what I want—rivers and oceans of setting things right. Or take your so-called gods with you into captivity.'"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God is angry. He will be heard.

These chapters are difficult to read. They drip of anger, fury, rage, and exasperation. God looks down on His Chosen People and what does He see? War crimes, slavery of God's Chosen People, promise-breaking, murder, desecration of corpses, rejection of His revelation, and persecution of the righteous and the poor. Now, God will be heard or they will wiped off the face of the earth. Beware: Anger God and your punishment will come.

Israel thanks God for taking them out of slavery by selling others into slavery.

God has given Israel all it needs: deliverance from Egypt, safe passage through the wilderness, a land flowing with milk and honey, prophets to deliver His messages, and destruction for their enemies. Israel has regressed slowly but surely away from God's influence. Now, they must repent or die. Why has this happened? They forgot what God had done for them. They stopped training their young people to set things right. This is what happens when we ignore God's direction to teach the next generation what God has done. We must always remind our children how God delivered and blessed us.

God tried to communicate His Message, but they never listened.

Before we write Amos off as a harbinger of bad news, God reminds Israel that He tried to remind them of their God by taking away what Canaan gave them. Their so-called gods could not give them bread; yet they never hungered for God. What a sad, sad statement when God called out for His Chosen People to return, but they couldn't care less. If you lack something you desperately crave, it may be God's way of telling you that you are asking the wrong source for it. Ask God and He will respond.

God, through Amos, gives this message: Come back! I don't want to punish you!

It is easy to write Amos' presentation of God off as an angry man ready to strike at the first good opportunity. Unfortunately, we have often pictured the God of the Old Testament, especially the Minor Prophets, as a beast and the God of the New Testament as a fatherly, genteel god. Conversely, the presentation of God in the Old Testament is just as gentle and fatherly as the New Testament. God wants Israel to "Seek me and live" (5:4, The Message).

I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
   When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
   I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
   That’s what I want. That’s all I want.

God wants worship that comes from setting things right, not religious grandstanding.

Are you singing to the God who sets all things right or placating an angry God bent on destruction?

June 26 - 1 Kings 15:25-16:34; 2 Chronicles 17: Israel's Revolving Door of Kings

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 15:25-16:34; 2 Chronicles 17

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

While Israel went through many kings who did not serve God, Judah had two kings who obeyed God.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Jeroboam's son Nadab was killed by Baasha. God's promise to Jeroboam was fulfilled.
Baasha was openly evil before God. God punished Baasha the same as Jeroboam.
Israel then went through several kings: Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab. Each became more evil than the previous. Ahab and his wife Jezebel openly worshiped Baal and made God angrier than any other king.
In Judah, Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, became king. He returned Judah to God and tore down the shrines. God blessed Jehoshaphat with a peaceful kingdom. He sent teachers throughout Judah to teach God's Way. Judah prospered greatly under Jehoshaphat.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Judah enjoyed peace while Israel had great upheaval.

As we read yesterday, Judah enjoyed peace, with various military victories in the middle. These kings, Abijah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat were mostly good kings. Israel's kings, Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab each became more evil than the next. They worshipped other gods and appointed non-holy men to be priests. None of them listened to God's word and because of that several entire families were wiped out. When God's Chosen People serve Him there is peace. When God's Chosen People go against God, there is great upheaval.

Jehoshaphat was loved by his people for following God.

Although there was a step or two between Jehoshaphat obeying God and his people loving him, the direction is clear. Jehoshaphat had a heart for God, acted upon that heart, God secured his place as king, and everyone in Judah loved and honored Jehoshaphat. He re-taught the Law to the Israelites in Judah. The entire country prospered because of Jehoshaphat's faith. When leaders give their heart to God and act upon that faith, the people rejoice and love their leaders.

Are you in a time of peace or upheaval?

March 31 - Judges 3-5: Othniel, Ehud, and Deborah

March 31

Today’s Reading: Judges 3-5

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You've made it a quarter of the way through the Bible! Keep going!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is showing the next generations of Israelites His power and ability to defeat their enemies.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God left five kings to help Israel continue learning about war.
Israel cheated on God. Punishment? Serving Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years. Caleb's nephew Othniel saved them. Peace lasted 40 years.
Israel cheated on God again. Punishment? Serving Eglon 14 years. Ehud saved them by killing Eglon (a fat man). Peace lasted 80 years.
Israel continued doing evil. Punishment? Serving Jabin for 20 years. Deborah helped Barak lead against Sisera, the leader of Jabin's army. Jael, the wife of a Kenite, killed Sisera with a tent peg. Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise to God. Peace lasted 40 years.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God wants His Chosen People to remain ready for battle.

When 21st century Americans read this we think God continuing war is strange. Once again, this confusion is a situation of misunderstanding because of our time distance. The people of that day faced military forces that were often at war with each other. If they had peace for too long, Israel would grow, in the words of Deborah, "fat and sloppy" (5:7, The Message). God knew the people would be sitting ducks for any enemy. God wants His Chosen People to be ready to protect themselves in this world.

Israel blatantly disregarded God's commands about staying away from the people in Canaan.

God told Israel that if they intermarried Canaan's people they would serve Canaan's gods (Exodus 34:16). So here are the people giving their daughters to the people in Canaan and marrying their daughters. And Israel worship Canaan's gods. God punishes Israel. Do not marry people not wholly for God!

The judges were to show how God continued to love Israel.

God provided Othniel, Ehud, and Deborah to deliver His Chosen People from their captors. Israel needed to know how God still loved them. God will rescue His Chosen People when they are led into captivity.

God chosen both men and women as judges.

It is possible to make too much of this, to make having both male and females in leadership positions mandatory. What should be seen here is that God worked through Othniel, Ehud, and Deborah because they were willing to set things right for God's Chosen People. God can set all things right on this earth through anyone willing to obey Him.

Israel goes through cycles of generations who obey God and generations who do not.

God's people are not so fickle that they turn against God right away. It takes a generation or two to turn against God. But they always do. Faithfulness to God is not inherited. It must be learned.
It is this reason that people who complain about the USA going away from its foundation are right. The story of Israel gives ample evidence that generations do not follow in their ancestor's steps. The solution, however, is not to go back to their faith but to cry out to God to deliver us from our current sin and serve God again.

"Thus may all God's enemies perish, while his lovers be like the unclouded sun" (5:31, The Message).

March 22 - Deuteronomy 32-34, Psalm 91: Moses Says Goodbye to Israel

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 32-34, Psalm 91

The Message

English Standard Version

We did it! We made it to the end of the Pentateuch! Pat yourself on the back. Give yourself a nice meal (that's what I did!). Kiss your children (you should do that anyway—what's wrong with you?).

Since you made it this far you should have lots and lots of notes that help you remember it all. You do have notes, right? You wrote down all the great things you saw God tell Israel in the Law of Moses? You didn't? That's okay, I know someone who is blogging through the Bible who might let you have his notes. (Can you tell I'm a little giddy about getting through the Pentateuch?)

Tomorrow we begin Joshua. Now let's calm down and say goodbye to my favorite person in scripture so far, Moses.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

There was never a prophet like Moses—with his power, ability, and life full of action.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses taught Israel the song God commissioned. In it he spoke of God's greatness toward Jacob, the sins of Israel, and how God would punish them. He extols God's protection and His severe justice.
Moses blessed each tribe. He ends by praising Israel's God—unlike any god on earth!
God showed Moses the land of Canaan from Mount Nebo. Moses was not allowed to enter the land. Moses died. The people mourned his death for 30 days. There was never a prophet like Moses.
Joshua, filled with the spirit of wisdom, began to lead Israel. The people followed him.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 91

This anonymous psalm (traditionally attributed to Moses) could serve as a shortened version of his song in chapter 32. In it he instructs everyone to call on God to be their refuge. Anyone who calls on God will be protected from all problems—even from stubbing their toe.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Moses' song retells Israel's history in terms of God's goodness.

Moses' song goes back to Jacob and tells how God guided him to all he had. No foreign gods protected Jacob. Yet "Jeshurun" (the ironic name for the nation of Israel—meaning "upright" though everything they did was the opposite) did everything wrong. They grew fat, lazy, and happy. They began sacrificing to foreign gods and forgot their god,

They are a nation of ninnies, they don't know enough to come in out of the rain. If they had any sense at all, they'd know this; they would see what's coming down the road. (32:28-29, The Message)

By singing this song the people were able to remember their common history and the mistakes that were made by their ancestors.

Moses' blessings are similar to Jacob's in that they tell how each tribe would live.

Moses' blessings matched each tribe's personality and the trajectory of their future. This will be shown in the books of history.

There was never a prophet like Moses.

Moses had an extremely significant life. He grew up in Pharaoh's house as an adopted grandson, rejected his upbringing to protect his people, fled into the wilderness for 40 years where he married and began a family, returned to Egypt to battle the pharaoh, freed his people, and guided these people for 42 years wondering in the wilderness. In all that time he never lost faith in God, only once took control over God, and protected Israel when they doubted God. What a wonderful man of faith, a wonderful man of God! May we all have the faith of Moses!

God will not allow anything to harm anyone who calls on His name.

In a passage which will come up again in the New Testament, Moses tells Israel that God would protect them through all trials and in all circumstances. God will protect His people.

That's it! What was your favorite/least favorite part of the Pentateuch? 

March 21 - Deuteronomy 30-31: Moses Reminds Israel of God's Forgiveness

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 30-31

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God tells Moses to prepare to die—and the people would not obey God's word. Not great parting words.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses comforted Israel. "If you repent, God will restore your relationship and your land.
"These are simple, understandable laws. You need no guru to interpret it—love God and obey Him. If not, death.
"I am 120 years-old and will soon die. Joshua, be strong and courageous. You are Israel's leader. Remember your ancestor's teachings."
Moses wrote the Law for the people.
God told Moses it was time. He warned Moses that Israel would soon worship other gods, but He wanted them to have a song to remember the Promise and return to Him.
So Moses taught Israel this song.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God is slow to punish and quick to forgive.

Considering what was written yesterday, this is an important part to include! Moses wants Israel to remember that God's ability to punish was equal to His ability to save. If they repented of their sin then God would save them from whatever calamity they faced. Things would be back to normal—as though nothing had happened in the first place. God's punishments are severe, but His forgiveness is complete. What a great God!

The Law of God is simple.

In a section that is quoted again in the New Testament, Moses reminds Israel that God's Law is not so difficult that they need some guru in another place to interpret it for them. The Law of God is simple—love God and keep His commandments. If you do not love God and keep His commandments, you will die. That does not need a Master's of Divinity degree to understand!

Moses passes the mantle to Joshua.

Moses knows Joshua is the next chosen leader. He does not want the same problems to happen to Joshua that happened to him when he became Israel's leader. So he, in front of all Israel, passes the mantle of leadership to Joshua. No one could question Joshua's legitimacy. He also encourages Joshua and the Israelites to obey God when they enter Canaan. Leaders should publically pass on the legitimacy of leadership to their successor.

God has Moses write a song that will help Israel remember His ability to both punish and forgive His people.

God realizes the people are not fully converted to Him. So he has Moses write a song that the people can sing for generations to come that would help them remember the god of their ancestors (chapter 32). Teach your children songs that can help them remember God when they no longer remember theology.

What songs are you teaching/have taught your children to help them remember God? 

March 13 - Deuteronomy 5-7: Moses Reminds Israel that God, Their god, is One

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 5-7

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Moses is repeating God's call to holiness by repeating the commandments God gave Israel.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses reminded Israel of the Ten Commandments and how they begged Moses for him to hear God in secret. God told them to stay on His spiritual road.
God gave commandments that would help them live long, fruitful lives if they obeyed them. "God, our god, is a mono-god. Love Him with everything you can! Let His laws guide everywhere you go. God will give you a developed land. Remember how you got there.
"Stay away from Canaanites in every way. They will tempt you to leave God. God chose you because you would be faithful. Make God's choice correct!"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God punishes parents for what they teach their children. God rewards parents for what they teach their children.

This is the reason God says that he punishes to the third and fourth generation and rewards to the thousandth generation what is taught. Parents have an essential role in setting their children pointed toward God. Parents set the spiritual foundation for a child. This is why later Moses will repeat God's command to

Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates. (6:6-8, The Message)

Our God is only one god and we honor Him by loving Him will our all.

Jews today call the sentence, "Hear, o Israel, God, your god, God is one," the Shema. You may have noticed that I write both (G)od and (g)od when I mention our God. This is because the word "god" is very confusing in English since it has two meanings. The Hebrew word for "God" (name) is Romanized as YHWH and anglicized as Yahweh or Jehovah. The Hebrew word for "god" (generic) is elohim. So this sounds to a Jew as "Yahweh, our elohim, Yahweh is one." In English we are limited to "God, our God, God is one." That is completely confusing. So instead, I use (g)od when I want to write about the generic "cosmic being." So our god is God (Our elohim is Yahweh).
I mention all of this to point out that the god of Abraham, the god of the Promise, is not a consortium of gods coming together to decide what we mortals will do. Our god is God. We are monotheist. ("mono-" meaning one and "theist" meaning god). He is completely and utterly different than the gods of the Canaanites, Greeks, Romans, Hindus, and any other polytheist (poly- meaning many) religion.
This is why I sing David Sexton's arrangement of "Hear, O Israel," to Josiah most mornings. I want him to know from an early age that our god is God and that He is one.

God once again repeats the warnings to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan to prevent temptation to add other gods to God.

I have mentioned this several times, so I won't repeat myself. But it is here again. Don't allow people who worship other gods be part of the Chosen People. They can and will erode the Chosen People's whole-ness. Don't even bring a souvenir home. Destroy all of it.

God chose Israel because of the Promise, not because of their strength or merit.

God is adamant—Israel does not deserve the land He will give them. The people in Canaan are bigger, stronger, more numerous, and well-fortified. Israel will receive Canaan because God made a promise with Abraham.

March 11 - Deuteronomy 1-2: Moses Reminds Israel's New Generation Their Story

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 1-2

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we begin Deuteronomy, the last book of the Pentateuch. It is a series of sermons given by Moses to the Israelites before he dies and they cross into Canaan. Much of the book repeats narratives and laws found in the previous three books (Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers). I will not copy-paste what I have written in those books but will touch on themes that repeat.

Onward and upward!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Moses begins his series of speeches on why they were there and not in Canaan already.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses spoke to Israel near the Jordan River 41 years after leaving Egypt.
"God led us through the wilderness. Now you can take the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God fulfilled part of His Promise—Israel is as numerous as the stars! You chose leaders to settle quarrels justly.
"We sent scouts into Canaan. You became afraid and God punished us. You tried to enter without God and were routed. I cannot enter. Joshua will lead you.
"God had given the wilderness we visited to the descendents of Esau and Lot. But some fought us and were defeated."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Moses is retelling the wilderness story to a new generation.

No one over 20-years-old when the scouts went into Canaan could enter Canaan. They have all died. Now a new generation is ready to enter Canaan. Moses wants to make sure they understand how they got here and who will protect them when they go in. He does not want a repeat of the previous fiasco. Every generation must receive its call from the previous generation. Without this the next generation floats by without truly knowing God's purpose for His Chosen People.

God has fulfilled part of the Promise—Israel now numbers as the stars.

God promised Abraham that his descendents would be as numerous as the stars. Moses gives praise to God for fulfilling that part of the Promise. God will fulfill His Promises!

God also makes promises to non-Chosen People

The Moabites and the People of Esau are not people of the Promise. They are relatives of the Israelites but God did not make the same promise to them as He did Abraham. However, He promised them land. God makes promises to those outside the Promise of Abraham.
What does that mean for us today? It means we do not hold a monopoly on God. God will deal with anyone willing to listen to Him. This can be people who know nothing about Christianity as we know it. What does this mean for missions? Missions is not about taking God to a new place He has never been. Missions is about taking Jesus' name to a people who have not yet called on His name.