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The name of this week’s parasha is D’varim, which means “words,” and covers Deuteronomy 1:1 through 3:22. In the 40th year of the journey to the Promised Land, Moses spoke to the Israelis all that Adonai commanded him to give to them after the victories over Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan. Although this journey should have only taken 11 days from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea, it took the Israelis 40 years to complete because they did not believe Adonai and rebelled against Him, and suffered the consequences for their actions, which we’ll learn more about in this parasha.
While across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses expounded on this law, reminding the Israelis that God told them to enter and possess the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their descendants. Moses recalled the events from Exodus 18 when declaring he could not handle all the Israelis’ disputes by himself because they were too numerous, so he appointed honest and ethical judges over them. Anything too difficult for these judges would then be judged by Moses.
The chapter ends with the recollection of the Israelis’ distrust and rebellion against Adonai when coming to the Promised Land, which resulted in their defeat by their enemies and the exclusion of those who disbelieved and rebelled against Adonai from the Promised Land, which is also seen in Numbers 13-14. Upon their arrival, Moses told the Israelis to obey Adonai and take the land He gave to them. 12 Israeli spies were chosen to enter the land and bring back a report on it. When the spies returned with their report, the Israelis rebelled against Adonai and refused to go because most of the spies said the inhabitants there were too strong and had large, fortified cities. They even claimed to have seen the descendants of the Anakim there, who were known for their large physical size.
Although Moses encouraged the Israelis not to be afraid of them, because God would fight for the Israelis just as He did in Egypt and the wilderness, they refused to trust God. Their response angered God, who said this evil generation would die outside the Promised Land, but only Caleb and Joshua would enter the Promised Land with the Israeli children. Moses would also be excluded for his sins at Meribah in Numbers 20. The Israelis were then commanded to depart towards the wilderness. Sadly, they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years – one year for each of the 40 days they explored the Land – until everyone that God said would perish outside the Promised Land was dead.
The Israelis realized their error and said they would obey Adonai and fight, but He told Moses to tell them not to fight, because He wouldn’t be with them, and they would be defeated. Moses told them Adonai’s command, but they didn’t listen. They rebelled against Adonai’s command and were defeated in battle just as He had warned them.
In chapters 2 and 3, Moses recalled the Israelis’ interactions with other nations during their journey to the Promised Land, which are also described in Numbers 20-21. God instructed the Israelis on which nations they must not provoke, due to His decision not to give the Israelis their land. Adonai’s mighty power is displayed in giving the Israelis victory over Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who was a descendant of the Rephaim, a group of physically large people. These kings and their people were destroyed, and the Israelis took their land, animals, and plunder.
Moses’ division of the conquered territory between the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, is also described in Numbers 32. Although the wives, children and livestock of Reuben and Gad could stay behind, their valiant men were still required to go and fight alongside the rest of the Israelis until the other tribes also had their territory in the Promised Land. The parasha ends with Moses encouraging Joshua to not be afraid of the kingdoms the Israelis would encounter in the Promised Land, because Adonai Himself would fight for them.
Parasha D’varim shows us some important principles that we can apply to our lives. From the reminders that Moses gave to the Israelis of how God provided for them during their journey to the Promised Land, we see the importance of remembering what God is teaching us in His word – His commandments are for our benefit, and we would be wise to pay attention to these reminders and obey His commandments, so that we’ll experience His blessings instead of His punishments.
We also see the folly of trusting in human strength instead of trusting in Adonai. The Israelis were fearful of the people in the Promised Land because they thought these people were too big and powerful to fight against and rebelled against Adonai by refusing to go when He told them to go. The Israelis should not have been afraid of these people – Adonai promised to fight for the Israelis, and these people were no match for Adonai’s awesome and mighty power. Those who didn’t trust Adonai paid a serious penalty for their sins and died in the wilderness outside the Promised Land, while Caleb and Joshua would enter the Promised Land because they trusted Adonai.
We can apply this principle when we are faced with opposition from others for loyally following Messiah Yeshua – we don’t need to be afraid of what others may or may not do, because Yeshua has overcome the world. So, let’s show our trust in Yeshua by loyally following Him as Lord and Savior, and experience the blessings that come from being His good and faithful servants!