DEUTERONOMY 1-3 - CATCHING UP ON THE PAST

DEUTERONOMY 1-3 - CATCHING UP ON THE PAST

A.T. Pierson was right when he said, “History is His story.” The Bible isn’t a boring museum where everything’s dead. It’s a living drama that teaches us about God and encourages us to obey Him and enjoy His blessings (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:1–12). No book is more contemporary than the Bible, and each new generation has to learn this important lesson. - WARREN WIERSBE 

The charge Moses gave to the newly appointed leaders is one that ought to be heeded by everybody who serves in a place of authority, whether religious or civil (Deut. 1:16–18). The emphasis is on character and justice and the realization that God is the judge and the final authority. If all officials made their decisions on basis of nationality, race, social position, or wealth, they would sin against God and pervert justice. Throughout the Law of Moses, there’s an emphasis on justice and showing kindness and fairness to the poor, especially widows, orphans, and aliens in the land (Ex. 22:21–24; Lev. 19:9–10; Deut. 14:28–29; 16:9–12; 24:17–21). Frequently the prophets thundered against the wealthy landowners because they were abusing the poor and the helpless in the land (Isa. 1:23–25; 10:1–3; Jer. 7:1–6; 22:3; Amos 2:6–7; 5:11; Zech. 7:8). “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker” (Prov. 14:31, NKJV). - WARREN WIERSBE 

There’s a difference between unbelief and doubt. Unbelief is a matter of the will; it causes people to rebel against God and say, “No matter what the Lord says or does, I will not believe and obey!” Doubt, however, is a matter of the heart and the emotions; it’s what people experience when they waver between fear and faith (Matt. 14:31; James 1:5–8). The doubter says, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” God seeks to encourage doubters and help them believe, but all He can do with rebels is bring judgment. - WARREN WIERSBE  

Even in the Christian family, brothers and sisters in the local church don’t always love each other. The Corinthian church was divided four ways (1 Cor. 1:12); the Galatian believers were biting and devouring each other (Gal. 5:15); the saints in Ephesus needed to be kind and forgive each other (Eph. 4:31–32); and in the Philippian church two women were at odds with each other (Phil. 4:2–3). Family feuds and church disagreements are at least somewhat confined, but when entire nations cultivate and sustain hatred for one another and wage war, many innocent people are hurt. - WARREN WIERSBE