MILESTONES
AND MEMORIALS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Text:
Deuteronomy 4:1-40
Memory verse: Only take heed to thyself, and keep
thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen,
and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them
thy sons, and thy sons' sons. (Deuteronomy 4:9)
Israel’s history is a mixture of good
and bad, successes and failures, triumphs and defeats. Generations of them had
known nothing but suffering, pain and afflictions inflicted on them by cruel
slavemasters. The oppression was hard and long, until God sent them a deliverer
in Moses. In our passage, Israel stands at the threshold of Canaan after a
forty-year long meandering journey through the wilderness. Moses, for his part,
had borne the brunt of their imperfections. He was denied entry into the
promised land because, when provoked by Israel’s immaturity, he smote the rock
contrary to the divine instruction to merely speak to the rock. At this point,
Moses and Israel stood at what was, effectively, the junction of the old and
new generations at the threshold of the Promised Land. It was an appropriate
time to remind the people of the memorials and reflect about the milestones
which have characterised their action-packed history. This was the reason for
the writing of the entire book of Deuteronomy - to reiterate all the laws,
commandments, statutes, and warnings earlier given by God at various points
along Israel’s pilgrimage. The name of the book which derives from the
Septuagint, the Greek edition of the Bible, means “second law” or, more
properly, “repeated law”.
Question One: Enumerate the successes and failures
of Israel and how these could serve as lessons for present generations of
Christians in the Bible Church.
At God’s command, Moses had set
memorials for Israel at various points along the Egypt-Canaan pilgrimage. As he
approaches his last years on earth, Moses calls Israel to remembrance of the
commands of the Lord. These serve as the milestones of the past to the new
generation and gives counsels on how to enjoy continued favour in the present
and avoid future degeneration into backsliding.
1. MAJOR MILESTONES TO WAKE
UP THE NEW GENERATION
Deuteronomy 4:1-14; Exodus
12:42; 19:9-20; Hebrews 12:18-21; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
Milestones
are important events in a person’s life or career, or in the history of a
nation. It also marks the beginning of a new phase or chapter in one’s life.
Israel’s journey from Egypt to Caanan had important milestone events for sober
reflections, serious reminders and solemn warnings. The first three chapters in
the book of Deuteronomy had chronicled Israel’s forty-year wilderness
wanderings. Chapter four, our main text, signifies the divine instructions for
unstable pilgrims.
Question Two:
Why was it necessary for Moses to constantly remind Israel about the major
milestone events in their history and the relevant lessons for the new
generation.
Moses, a strategic and successful leader, would constantly
remind Israel about major milestone events in God’s past dealings with them as
a way of fortifying them through obedience and righteousness. The first
milestone was the Passover night. “This is that night of the LORD to be
observed of all the children of Israel in their
generations.” (Exodus 12:42). The second milestone, the giving of the
Pentateuch and the awe-inspiring spectacle that heralded it. “And ye came
near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the
midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the LORD spake
unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw
no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant,
which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them
upon two tables of stone.” (Deuteronomy 4:11-13). These were major
milestone events upon which if generations of Israel had continued to hang
their faith and loyalty to God, forty years or four hundred would have made no
dent on their convictions and distinctiveness. But they failed.
The third
significant milestone was the tragedy of Baal-peor when Israel was snared in
abominable idolatry and fleshly lusts through Balaam’s counsel. The undiluted
wrath of God and the stern judgement that followed the sin would serve Israel
as a memorial to the danger of compromise with the world and the consequences
of corruption of God’s holy covenant by His people. “For all the men that
followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.” (Deuteronomy
4:3) It is a testament against the peddlers of the erroneous doctrine of
unconditional, eternal security. By the same token, however, this milestone is
a heart-warming reminder of God’s preservation of the few righteous people even
if they live in a perverse, immoral society. “But ye that did cleave unto
the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.” (Deuteronomy 4:4)
Without
doubt, one of the most solemn memorials of all is Moses’ lamentation of his
disqualification from entering the Promised Land. Even more sobering still is
the cause of that painful denial. In Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 21, Moses
reminded Israel, “the Lord was angry with me for your sakes”. Israel had
provoked their leader to the point of costly frustration; he smote the rock
contrary to divine instruction. The purpose of this reminder was not to
reproach the people but to validate the high standards God holds His servants
to. Members of the Church owe it to themselves to keep praying that they would
not be the stumbling-blocks to trip their spiritual leaders into sinning
against God. Israel recorded these iconic milestones within a space of forty
years, but they are “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the
world are come.” New generation believers must be guided by the truth that
fifty years may seem long, but it is quite a short span of time in the life of
a church that hopes to continue harvesting souls to heaven until Christ comes.
2. MEMORABLE MESSAGES AND
WARNINGS FOR WANDERERS AFTER NONEXISTENT GODS
Deuteronomy
4:7-9,15-28; Psalm 78:9-66; Judges 8:22-27; Daniel 5:1-6,17-30; Luke 12:14-21)
The key
feature of the book of Deuteronomy is the intentional repetition of earlier
warnings given by God.
Question Three: Explain the danger inherent in managing success. How
does that matter to the Church, and to the individual Christian youth, today?
Israel was
already smelling the air of the promised land; their goal was in sight, well
within their grasp. They would soon possess their much longed-for possession.
They were flushed with success and giddy with excitement. It was a most
auspicious time for their insightful leader, Moses, to bring them important
messages of warning from God. The messages were at once pointed, pungent and,
prophetic. The joy of success and good fortune may become an intoxicant that
causes otherwise focused believers to forget their vows and perform mindless
acts. “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul” (Proverbs 13:19)
but that sweetness must be enjoyed mindfully. If caution is thrown to the
winds, success time could become sinning time, backslapping could soon lead to
backsliding. That was the error of Gideon, Belshazzar, and the rich fool. It is
for the same reason that thoughtful observers have declared that managing
success is much more perilous than managing failure. “Rejoice with
trembling” (Psalm 2:11) is the admonition of scripture.
Question Four: In what ways are Christian youths called upon to be
watchful?
Moses’
thrice repetitions of the solemn warning, “Take heed unto yourselves” (Deuteronomy
4:9,15,23), is to the present generation of Christians, as it was to that
generation of Israel, a three-point alarm to watchfulness. First, watchfulness
against progressive but imperceptible corruption of the pure faith. “Only
take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things
which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of
thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons”. New generation
believers have a serious duty of watching lest the precious heritage from the
fathers of faith slip away from their hearts. It is a dangerous sign when sound
doctrine loses its grip upon the hearts of young people, or when young people
despise the saving, sanctifying truth, received from the fathers of faith. The
present generation of believers must not permit any deterioration or declension
in a dangerously permissive society of this age.
Secondly, Moses’ words called Israel to
watchfulness against brazen-faced idolatry. “Take ye therefore good heed
unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD
spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt
yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the
likeness of male or female” (Deuteronomy 4:15-16). How could a people that
had witnessed the manifestation of God’s mighty miracles and power later
descend into such shameless idolatry? For four hundred years, Israel had
observed how the Egyptians worshipped and served their many gods; bowing down
to objects of wood, stone, gold, and silver was ingrained in their memory. So,
sad as Moses’ warning seemed, it was not misplaced. For good measure, it
quickly progressed from a mere warning to a fearful prophecy: “When thou
shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long
in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the
likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to
provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day,
that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan
to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be
destroyed. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be
left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. And
there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which
neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.”
(Deuteronomy 4:25-28) Fools
despise the word of prophecy, but wise people take heed to aligning their lives
properly in relation to it. For example, Simon Peter should have been on guard
against the temptation to deny his Master rather than carelessly dismiss
Christ’s forewarning of the act. Present generation believers ought to pray
earnestly, repent, and return to God where necessary and, remain watchful so as
not to fall into grievous idolatry.
The third
occurrence of the words, “Take heed” is a call to careful preservation of
our distinctives as a covenant people. The believer’s relationship with God is
exclusive, it does not admit of an intruder. “For the LORD thy God is a
consuming fire, even a jealous God.” God will not share your love and
loyalty, or your affection and attention with other lords. Moreover, besides
the general revelations of scripture to everyone, the dealings of God with
individuals, families or church denominations differ from one to another.
Christian youths should avoid the grievous error of petty jealousies or carnal
comparisons with other Christian groups or fellowships in their schools or
neigbourhoods. It is wisdom for Christian youths to run in their own lane so as
to win their own prize with God.
3. MIGHTY MIRACLES RECOUNTED
TO WOO AND WIN THE NEXT GENERATIONS Deuteronomy
4:29-40; Psalm 78:1-8; 105:1-2,5-15,37-45; Acts 3:19; Galatians 3:13-14
Moses’ serious warnings
transited into tender words of promise and affection clearly designed to assure
future generations of Israel of God’s special love and care. First, he outlined
God’s past mighty miraculous acts in their favour:
1.
an uncommon revelation of Himself to Israel (Deuteronomy 4:32-33).
2.
an uncommon leader in Moses;
3.
an unprecedented redemption from prolonged bondage (Deuteronomy 4:34).
4.
a distinct separation as a peculiar people (Deuteronomy 4:34);
5.
unusual spiritual experiences (Deuteronomy 4:35-36);
6.
unashamed love from God (Deuteronomy 4:37);
7.
unexpected victories over stronger and mightier nations (Deuteronomy
4:38) and
8. an unparalleled
inheritance, that is, the Promised Land.
Question Five: Outline the proofs of divine favour enjoyed by a
faithful church and how the present generation of believers can preserve the
spiritual legacies handed down to us.
As a church, the sure testimony
is that the Lord has favoured us with all these. We have an uncommon book – The
Holy Bible, a fearless leader, and other faithful ministers to teach it. We
have the Lord, His love, promises of victory and dominion, and His unfailing
presence. Above all, we have a mansion waiting in heaven.
Secondly, Moses encouraged the future generations of erring Israel with promises of God’s mercy, forgiveness, restoration, and deliverance from cruel enemies. Their restoration was guaranteed but not automatic. As always, God’s “times of refreshing” only follow genuine repentance (Deuteronomy 4:27-29); that is the unchanging order.
