Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.9MB)
This week’s parasha is titled D’varim, which means Words. It covers Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22. The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Torah.
Moses begins D’varim by giving Israel the first of three major discourses. He rehearses the words of the Law and recounts their wilderness journey.
In this week’s parasha, we will focus on two events: the spies who initially scouted out the Promised Land, and the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua.
Chapter 1 recalls the tragic experience at Kadesh-barnea, where unbelief prolonged the journey from Egypt to Canaan by many years. What should have taken 11 days on foot became a 38-year death march.
Only two individuals, Out of Approximately 3 million People who left Egypt would enter the land of promise: Calb and Joshua. Even Moses was denied entrance. This is the tragedy of unbelief: it wastes time, lives, and souls—and it robs Adonai of the glory due His Name.
Adonai said to Israel, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Now go and occupy the hill country of the Amorites. Understand, the Lord your God has given you the land.” So, Moses told them, “Go up and take possession of it…. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Moses then reminded the new and younger generation how the older and previous generation—now perished—had come to him with a proposal.
They wanted to send men to spy out the land, to discover the best route of entry and identify which cities should be taken first. This idea seemed good to Moses, and in light of the people’s desire, the Lord then instructed Moses to choose twelve spies, one from each tribe.
This plan may have seemed strategic, but it ultimately led to fear and unbelief instead of faith. The spies were sent out and returned with their report: “The land the Lord our God is giving us is indeed a good land, but the people there are stronger and taller than we are.
Their cities are large, with walls rising high into the sky. We even saw giants there.” Their report demoralized the rest of the people.
How much more evidence did the people need that their God was well able to defeat their enemies and give them the land? Hadn’t He defeated and disgraced all the gods of Egypt? Hadn’t He protected them, fed them, and led them all the way to Canaan? God’s people needed only but, to trust and obey.
The Israelis’ sin was not just in underestimating God’s power. They accused God of hating them and blamed Him for their situation. They doubted God’s goodness, denied His word, and disobeyed His will.
God has not changed. How many people today have been offered the promise of eternal life in His heavenly Kingdom, yet will tragically find themselves in eternal separation from Him because they rejected the Way, the Truth, and the Life?
Though Moses was forbidden to enter the land, he was allowed to view it from afar. But the best view is no substitute for being there.
Moses did ultimately make it into the Promised Land—when he stood with Yeshua on the Mount of Transfiguration. God honored him during that glorious moment and gave him a glimpse of the Kingdom to come.
Moses was commanded to encourage and support Joshua, his replacement, who would lead Israel over the Jordan and into the land. This had to hurt Moses deeply. Yet He could do no other than obey.
Some Final Thoughts
God prepares us before He promotes us. Joshua’s rise to leadership wasn’t sudden; it followed years of faithful service and testing. Like Joshua, we must be obedient and willing to serve humbly before being entrusted with greater responsibility. Promotion in God’s Kingdom begins with preparation, obedience, and proven faithfulness.
Moses and Joshua were foreshadowers of the Messiah. Just as Moses led the nation through the Red Sea, and Joshua led the Israelis over the Jordan and into the Land, so too will Messiah lead all who truly trust in Him to victory, holiness, and eternal life.
When we focus on fears, failures, and past regrets, we risk forfeiting God’s blessings. Let us trust Him, move forward, and not let yesterday rob us of tomorrow’s inheritance.
God will allow false prophets, false teachers, spies, and enemies to arise to evaluate our faith. The enemy is a deceiver and destroyer. Please don’t be deceived. As for those who are deceived, they will have their part in Lake of Fire. But Messiah is our Deliverer and Life Everlasting.
We have the love of our Father in Heaven, His precious Word, and the Holy Spirit. Yeshua said, “My sheep listen to My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.” So again, please do not be deceived.
Stay rooted in Scripture, filled with the Spirit, and faithful to the voice of Messiah.