Journal Through the Bible: Week 26 Friday

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Deuteronomy 3:12-4:24

Moses relates the division of Gilead to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh. He also reminded them of the agreement of the men of those tribes to cross over Jordan to help the other tribes obtain their inheritance.

The people are reminded of the covenant that God made with them. They had even heard God's voice as they stood around Mount Horeb! They were to tell their children what they had seen and heard.

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? 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? Deut. 4:7, 8

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• God reminded them through Moses of the vow of the men of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh to fight alongside the men from the other tribes who would settle on the western side of the Jordan River.
• Through Moses God commanded Joshua to remember the things that he saw, specifically the conquering of Bashan and Og on the eastern side of Jordan, and therefore not to fear.
• God commanded Moses not to ask again about being able to personally cross over Jordan. Instead God told him to ascend Mount Pisgah and view the land from there. Then Moses was to give a charge to Joshua and encourage him in the task before him of leading the people over the Jordan River.
• Through Moses God commands the people to remember the things they have seen and to teach His laws of righteousness to their children because of those great things!

Does God make any promises?

• Through Moses God reminded Joshua that He would fight for the Children of Israel.
• Through Moses God reminded the people of His covenant of with them, including bringing them out of Egypt.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Moses is a type of Christ. He tells the people not to add to his word or take any away. Since Moses' words were scripture because he was being used of the Holy Spirit to write the first books of the Bible not one jot or tittle was to fail (so said Jesus in Matthew 5:18). Likewise, Jesus states in Revelation 22:19 that no one is to take away any words of the prophecy found in that book because they are scripture written by John as he was being used of the Holy Spirit.
• Moses is also the type of Christ when he states that all the words he received from God he delivered to his followers. Jesus said that He could only deliver to His followers what He saw and witnessed from the Father and that they should listen to His words because of it (see John 5:19-30).
• Jesus had an announcing prophet much like I AM did. Like John the Baptist, Moses was a voice crying in the wilderness telling people to prepare the way of the Lord.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• None that I identified.