Deuteronomy 1 (19-46)

Covenant Elders II

Last time we looked at the covenantal structure of Deuteronomy,

and how the elders appointed in chapter one were designed to exercise God's authority,

and as such became covenantal elders.

A covenant in the Ancient Near East first identifies the one making the covenant

(in this case Moses as God's spokesman),

then it has a historical prologue,

the stipulations of the covenant

the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience

and concludes with the disposition of the covenant (future arrangements).

Deuteronomy 1-4 is the historical prologue.

It is important to remember this,

because historical prologues are designed

to remind the people how great their king is,

and how unworthy they are of having such a great king.

And so Moses reminds Israel of his history.

Remember how God has been faithful to his promises,

and remember how you have not!

And once again, the theme of covenant elders comes to the fore.

Because the elders were the ones who led the people.

In verses 19-21 Moses recounts how God commanded his people to believe his promises,

and obey him by taking possession of the Promised Land.

And at first the people seem willing to do so.

They suggest sending spies out to prepare the plan for battle.

Some have suggested that this indicates a lack of faith,

but Joshua did the same thing 40 years later.

No, at this point, the people are still following their covenant mediator-Moses,

and faithfully preparing for battle.

But who were these spies?

In Numbers 13 we are told that each of these spies were heads and leaders of their tribes.

They were taken from among the covenant elders of Israel.

And in Numbers 13 we hear that ten of the spies bring back a bad report.

Here in Deuteronomy the story is briefly summarized;

the people rebel when they hear the report of the spies.

(verses 26-28)

Then Moses said:

(Verses 29-31)

Moses reminds them of what God had done,

how he had destroyed the Egyptians,

how he fought for them in the wilderness,

Carrying them as a man carries his son.

God has delivered them from the hand of all their enemies,

He has provided for all their needs,

Would they now believe his promises?

verse 32

"Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the Lord your God..."

despite Moses pleading, they refused to believe Yahweh.

What was the result?

v34-40

Those who rebel against Yahweh will never enter the Promised Land.

And this was true not merely for the spies (or elders) who spied out the land,

but also for those who followed them in their sin.

Only the two spies/elders who believed God and gave a good report (Caleb and Joshua)

would enter the land.

Indeed, Moses himself was forbidden to enter the land because of the people's unbelief.

But while God was angry and did indeed discipline his people,

he did not cut them off entirely,

for he promises that he will still bless their children (v39).

But as for you, God says,

turn and go back to the wilderness toward the Red Sea.

Notice that the people repented of their sin (v41).

They admitted that they had sinned, and sought forgiveness.

But they still hadn't learned obedience.

Because now God told them that he would not bless them

if they attempted to fight without his presence.

Sin has consequences,

and the Israelites needed to learn not to rebel against the commands of God.

But the people did not listen.

They did not learn.

They went up anyway into battle,

and were defeated by the Amorites.

And when they wept before God,

v45 says that "the Lord did not listen to your voice or give ear to you."

God refused to answer the prayers of those who refused to believe his promises,

those who refused to heed his voice.

If you do not listen to God-then he will not listen to you.

It's not a matter of sinless perfection.

It's a matter of believing his promises and doing what he says!

The book of Hebrews contrasts Moses with Christ.

Turn over to Hebrews 3

Moses was a servant, faithful in God's house,

but Jesus is the son who reigns over God's house.

Therefore, Christ is a better mediator than Moses:

There is no way that we can enter the land without God on our side.

therefore we need Jesus Christ to go before us to defeat our enemies.

Moses was a faithful servant who served as the covenant mediator for God,

the one who proclaimed God's word, and God's commands to the people.

But Moses couldn't bring the people into the land.

Moses was not the sovereign Lord of Creation or Redemption,

He could speak to the people,

but there was nothing he could do to SAVE his people,

so he wasn't enough.

The problem is our hearts.

We are a rebellious people.

We turn to our own ways, just like the Israelites.

We need a mediator who is able to overcome our sinfulness,

destroy all our enemies,

and rule us with sovereign authority.

And that is what Jesus Christ has done.

Moses could speak the Word of God,

But Jesus IS the Word of God,

and he has come to dwell in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Moses could confront the Israelites with their sin,

But Jesus takes away our sin by the blood which he shed on the cross.

Moses could be a mediator who spoke for God to man, and for man to God,

But Jesus is a mediator who IS God,

and reconciles us to God in his own person.

Second, Jesus succeeds where Moses fails.

Notice in verse 37 that Moses was prohibited from entering the land

because of the rebellion!

But wasn't Moses innocent?

Didn't he try to convince the Israelites to obey God?

Why was Moses prohibited from entering the land?

(we are told elsewhere of Moses's own failings--but here, what is the reason?)

Moses was the covenant mediator.

He was responsible for what the Israelites did.

But he failed.

There was no way that he could guarantee the obedience of his people.

But, dearly beloved of our Lord Jesus Christ,

this is where our mediator is so much better!

Because Jesus succeeds where Moses fails:

Jesus can guarantee the obedience of his people.

After all, it is his obedience--his righteousness,

which has been placed upon us in his death and resurrection!

Those who belong to Christ have been declared by God

to be righteous in HIS sight IN CHRIST.

Jesus need not fear that ANY whom the Father has given him will falter,

because HE HIMSELF has paid the price for our sins,

he has already accomplished all that is needed for our salvation,

and NOW, as our covenant mediator,

he works HIS grace in us,

that we might be conformed to his image.

Moses could not guarantee the obedience of Israel, and when they failed, he failed.

But Jesus HAS guaranteed our obedience,

because of his perfect obedience in our place.

Moses shows us our need for Jesus.

But Hebrews 3 takes this a step further.

3:7-19

This speaks of the generation of the Exodus (quoting Psalm 95).

--Those who had seen the power of God in delivering them from Egypt.

Even so, Hebrews says, we must beware lest there be in any of us an evil, unbelieving heart,

that would lead us to fall away from the living God.

But exhort one another, as long as it is called today-you need each other-

that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Here we see the importance of the body.

What was the failure of Israel in the wilderness?

v18-19

those who did not believe the promises,

and therefore were disobedient.

Disobedience to God flows from unbelief.

And Hebrews says that the way to avoid this path of unbelief

is through the exhortation of one another.

Further, Hebrews 13:17 shows us another aspect of this:

"Obey your leaders and submit to them,

for they are keeping watch over your souls,

as those who will have to give an account."

In the context of Deuteronomy 1, this takes on a serious aspect.

Moses had to give an account of the souls of Israel.

Moses (though one of the elect) was forbidden to enter the promised land

because of the rebellion of his flock.

(Now part of this was due to the inadequacy of the covenant itself.

Moses was the covenant mediator of a covenant that could not bring eternal life.

Since the Law cannot bring life,

it is fitting that the mediator of the law

should not enter the land which represented the new creation)

But the point of Deuteronomy 1

-reinforced by Hebrews 13 is that Moses had to give an account for Israel

-there is a corporate responsibility.

Your elders must give an account for you.

It is a mutual relationship.

Notice that the failure of the elders/spies leads to the unbelief of the people,

which in turn leads to the judgment against the whole people.

If the people had believed God, and heeded the minority report of Caleb and Joshua,

then they could have disciplined the wayward elders and entered the land.

But by following wayward elders,

they themselves become guilty of the sin of unbelief.

To have a high view of the eldership does not relieve the people of responsibility.

Israel could not blame the spies/elders for their sin.

But the elders-even the covenant mediator-Moses

-will pay dearly for the people's rebellion.

This shows us our need for godly rulers and judges

--elders who will govern wisely and well.

Because just as Moses appointed elders over the church in his day,

to rule and guide the people,

So also Christ has given elders to the church today,

to shepherd the flock on his behalf.

But this also warns us that we are not to be blind sheep.

When Moses told the Israelites to enter the Land,

they rebelled against him,

following their elders against the command of Yahweh.

Even so, if an elder tells you to do something, or believe something,

which is contrary to the Word of the Lord,

then you must not follow the elders in their sins.

Having elders does not remove from you the obligation to follow Christ.

But for those of you who are considering

whether it is God's call upon your life to become an elder,

let this be a warning to you:

the Israelites followed their elders in rebellion,

rather than listen to Moses;

even so, there is a danger that the congregation will follow you,

rather than listen to Christ.

You must be very careful that what you tell the flock is indeed the Word of God.

You are told in verse 17 not to show partiality in judgment

--hearing the small case as well as the great,

not being afraid of any man,

"BECAUSE THE JUDGMENT IS GOD'S"

It is the authority of Christ which you exercise.

This is shown in Matthew 18:18,

where, speaking to the Apostles, Jesus says,

"whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

And in I Corinthians 5:4

"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together,

along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh,

that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

And in Hebrews 13:17,

"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive,

for they watch out for your souls,

as those who must give an account.

Let them do so with joy and not with grief,

for that would be unprofitable to you."

As you consider this task,

remember that you do not serve for your own good,

or to accomplish what you want,

but to serve as Christ's steward of the flock.

There is a curse upon those who rebel,

or who lead the people of God in rebellion.

But there is a blessing for those who remain obedient.

Notice what we are told about Caleb and Joshua.

Caleb (v36)

Joshua (v37-38)--Moses was responsible before God for the rebellion.

Those elders who believe the Word of the Lord,

and who lead his people in the paths of righteousness,

shall enter the land,

and shall receive their reward from Christ himself.

Consider carefully who you recommend to be an elder;

and if you desire to become an elder,

consider carefully what your motivation is.

Let us pray:

Heb. 13:20