Two Sundays ago with Emmaus Road Church along the river in Idaho Falls . . .
Pastor Beau taught from the text, Deuteronomy 31:1-13.
His talking points: God is With You
- God Goes With His People
- God Goes With His Leaders
- God is Present Through His Word
He introduced the Bible passage with a question somewhat to this effect: “Have you ever been in a situation that was impossible?” He shared one of his own stories while in the military. Others from the church family shared some of their personal experiences of how God helped them through the trials. God is our strength in the midst of impossible situations.
Moses is at the end of his life, and Pastor Beau suggested that he was a little bitter.
Even with me the LORD was angry on your account and said, “You shall not go in there” (Deuteronomy 1:37).
And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, “O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon. But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, “Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again” (Deuteronomy 3:23-26).
The problem is that the people took out their frustration on their leader through severe complaining, and he angrily took out his frustration on them. Both the people and the leader left God out of the picture.
Pastor Beau urged us first to take our problems to the Lord. We ought to sit before the Lord and share our issues with Him. Take it first to the King of Heaven! Believe that God is with you.
Second, when sheep bite, shepherds need to take their hurts to the Lord. Pray for your leaders. Frustrated pastors need prayer. Usually, a church member does not know all what the leaders are thinking or knowing. They often experience opposition. Beau shared the hostile responses by hecklers given to a chaplain in a recent town hall meeting.
Third, leaders do come and go. But God’s Word remains constant. You can trust God’s Word fully. Beau said that he was a Torah guy, but he urged all the brothers and sisters in regularly hearing and reading all of God’s Word, whether it is a one year, three year, or seven year plan, etc. And then he told us how important it is for the little ones to hear it all, too. He cried when he read the first chapter of The Jesus Storybook Bible to his boy.
For the kids, I would also recommend:
- God’s Love: A Bible Storybook
- The Gospel Story Bible
- The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross
- The Children’s Story Bible (an old classic)
- The Radical Book for Kids (very cool book for older kids)
My questions related to the text . . .
Observation
- How old was Moses?
- Who goes first into the promised land?
- Who is with you?
- What are some of the examples of past victories?
- How come the people don’t have to be afraid?
- Who will succeed Moses?
- When is Israel to read the law?
- Who is in the assembly to hear the law?
- What are three responses to God’s law (v. 12)?
Interpretation
- What is significant about the seventh year among Jewish people?
- What is the Feast of Booths?
- Why was there the need for a transition from Moses to Joshua?
- Can you think of an instance in the New Testament where Moses actually stepped foot into the Promised Land?
Application
- Do you feel like there was a dream that God has kept you from entering?
- What gives you hope for the future by thinking about what God has done for you in the past?
- Israel did not have to be afraid in following the massive command of God to conquer and inherit the land because of what central truth? How does this parallel the massive command given to the Church to make disciples in all the world?
- How may you intentionally hear God’s law? Do you have a systematic plan?
- What about your children? How will you help them hear?
Providence Downtown - Roots by the River 