So how are these people who are coming out of the desert ever going to reach the Promised Land?
They can only arrive there and maintain a good life there if they have and keep the three qualities of obedience, humility and faithfulness. They must always remember who brought them there and why.
Again; God and Moses are forecasting their future and letting them know what is most important.
YOU ARE CHOSEN AND SPECIAL; BUT NOT BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS
Deuteronomy Chapter Eight is basically a note from God saying; I have chosen you; you are special. Do not forget that it was Me and remember all the amazing things that I did for you as you lived in the wilderness before I gave you the Promised Land.
Remember how I fed you with Manna from heaven, gave you water from a rock, and I clothed you with cloth that did not wear out. All that you had with you lasted for forty long years. I gave you strength; your ankles never swelled. I brought you into this new land that is full of blessings. Do not forget me! (God)
HONOR GOD’S COVENANT AND BE BLESSED
God also went on to say that as long as the people honor His Covenant; they will prosper and be blessed.
However; if they became like the pagans that God was driving out of the land; God would treat them in the same way and destroy them. Idolatry is still strictly forbidden among God’s people and their nation.
BREAK GOD’S COVENANT AND BE CURSED
Deuteronomy 8: 19-20 proclaims: 19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy, Chapter 9 is spent encouraging the people to remember that God will go before them into the land and he will give them the strength to drive out the giants. God promises to give them supernatural strength and might against their enemies. It definitely was going to happen; not because the Israelites had been righteous; but because of the wickedness of the pagan nations living in Canaan at that time.
God reminds Israel that they have behaved like a stiff-necked people; but He will show them mercy and protect them.
FACING THE GIANTS AND TAKING THE LAND
Deuteronomy 9:1-3 says; Hear, Israel: You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. 2 The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?” 3 But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you.
It is definitely a time for Israel to be humble before a Mighty God. They are reminded by Moses of how God would have destroyed them during the time of the golden calf worship; when Moses brought down the ten tablets with the commandments written by the finger of God. When God saw what was happening in the camp; He wanted to destroy everyone there and replace them with the offspring of Moses.
MOSES INTERCEDED FOR THEM AND ACHIEVED FOR THEM WHAT HE COULD NOT ACHIEVE FOR HIMSLEF
Moses had pleaded for mercy for them and had received such. Moses reminded God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and God overlooked the stubbornness of the people and their wickedness and forgave their sins.
Moses’ prayers allowed the people another chance to enter the land; but Moses would have to say goodbye to them first. God was not going to let Moses cross over; he would die after he was given a glimpse of the promises from a far away mountain peak.
Why did God do this? How could He have forgiven the people so much and not forgiven Moses?
You can trust the fact that God had His reasons. He loved Moses very much. One day we will see the power of that love again; and one day Moses too will walk again with His people in the Land of Promise.
Never doubt that God knows what is best; even if it looks wrong from this side of eternity.
THREE QUALITIES OF A GODLY NATION
Now God is ready to bring them into the new land. Nothing could be more important than their complete obedience, humility and faithfulness.
If a nation does not have these three qualities; there is nothing that God can do to help them.
Look around you today America.
Are we obedient?
Are we humble?
Are we forever faithful?
Have we been faithful, obedient and humble to keep the ways of God in the land that He has blessed us with?