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Weekly Guide：Week 30
August 02, 2020
Week 30 Day 1: Boundaries of Canaan ⇧ ⇩
Question
How the Israelites should have lived in the promised land?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God gave Israelites the boundaries of the promised land and selected leaders, one from each of the 9 and half tribes. They followed the leadership of Joshua and high priest Elijah to distribute the land.
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In Numbers 35, God gave the regulations on establishing towns. God also established the cities of refuge for those who have killed someone by accident as their places of refuge. This was to keep them away from the avengers to prevent endless revenge killings that would defile the promised land.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - It is God’s grace to establish cities of refuge for those who killed unintentionally to ensure proper trials. Sins of blood can only be cleansed with blood. Those who fled to the cities of refuge must wait for the death of the high priest. The blood of Jesus Christ has forgiven all our sins, intentional or not. He is the city of refuge for all God’s people. Let me atone in front Jesus and pray to Him to release me from my sins, to give me protection and freedom in Him.
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Identity - God’s promise to Abraham was about to be realized! God kept His promise through 40 years of continuing complaints and rebellions from the Israelites. Even today, His promises to His people have not changed. What encouragements do I receive and how do I value myself with the promises He has given to me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 30 Day 2: Security of Inheritance ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God ensure the land of those who has no son will not go to other tribes?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- With God’s permission, the daughters of son-less Zelophehad inherited his land. The family heads now faced a new problem. Namely, a tribe’s land may go to other tribes in the Year of Jubilee if daughters with inheritances marry men from other tribes. Therefore, by God’s command, Moses ordered: “They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within their father’s tribal clan.” The daughters obeyed.
Meditation: My Story
- Community - Zelophehad’s daughters obeyed all God’s commands. These daughters not only cared for themselves but also their father’s property. God’s children should look after not just themselves. Do I follow any of the world’s viewpoints but against God’s? What can I do to care for the church and fellow Christians?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 30 Day 3: Failure of Rebellion ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why did the previous generation of Israelites fail to enter the promised land 40 years ago?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The new generation of Israelites who have not reached 20 or yet to be born at the time of exodus from Egypt, have now finally reached the plains of Moab across the Jordan river from the promised land after 40 years of wandering journey. The Book of Deuteronomy documents the last days of Moses where he followed God’s command to reiterate the laws and regulations so that they “fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” (Deu. 10:12-13)
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Deuteronomy 1:1-4:43 reflects on the past 40 years of Israelite’s history.
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Chapter 1 reflects on the event 40 years ago when the previous generation of Israelites forgot God’s protection and the miracles God performed for them. They rebelled against God for their lack of faith in God and the fear of the large and powerful descendants of Anak.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Israelites spent 40 years wandering on a journey that could have been completed in 11 days. It wasn’t the geographical distance but their lack of faith kept them from reaching the promised land. The distance to God’s wonderful promise is probably a lot closer than I think. What do I need to let go of in order to win over my disobedience and to follow God whole heartedly?
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Community, Fidelity - In addition to calling the knowledgeable and renowned to become spiritual leaders, God also calls on all to serve and be responsible in all kinds of tasks in church. How am I responding to Him to serve with others as a unified team in His work? How am I letting go of my own agendas and objectives so God can use me fully?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 30 Day 4: Pushing up North ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did Moses summarize the way Israelites complete their wandering in the wilderness and the final push up north?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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All the men died 38 years after they refused to enter the land of Canaan due to fear. Now, Israelites obeyed God’s command and pushed northward. They entered the land of Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites peacefully. However, they battled Sihon king of Heshbon when they went through the land as God began to put terror and fear of the Israelites on all nations under heaven. (Deu. 2:25)
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Moses asked God to let him cross the Jordan river but God did not let him. God did, however, let him to go up to mount Pisgah to see the promised land.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything. We are often burdened by unimportant things and unable to enter God’s rest even though we lack nothing. Can I let God take the burden off my shoulder?
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Community - Moses encouraged Joshua: Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you (Deu. 3:22) Is there someone I can give encouragement to?
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Community - Those two and half tribes gotten their lands before entering the promised land helped the rest of the people enter the promised land before settling on their one land. Have I thought about sharing what I have while indulging in God’s blessings?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 30 Day 5: Plead to Israelites ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses plead desperately to Israelites?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Moses pleaded continuously to Israelites to obey God’s law and pass on the obedience to their descendants so they may continue living on the promised land.
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Moses established three cities of refuge to the east of Jordan river for the two and half tribes.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - As a result of obeying God’s law, will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” Is my head knowledge of God’s law real wisdom? Do I have the law embedded deep in my heart?
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Walking with God - God forbids idolatry because we believe what can be seen and ignore the unseen truth, way, and life. Do I believe my own eyes and what I see more than the unseen God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 30 Day 6: The Ten Commandments ⇧ ⇩
Question
What were the ten commandments?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God gave Israelites the laws in chapters 5 to 11.
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God reiterates the ten commandments to the new generation of Israelites. The ten commandments are the essence of the law. The first four are about God, the last six are about people.
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Moses stressed “it was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.” (Deu. 5:3)
Meditation: My Story
- Walking with God - The Israelites feared God as they heard His voice in the fire. Jesus said: “because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) Do I fear God from the bottom of my heart so that I would obey His law and bring blessings to myself and descendants?