Enlarge Your Borders

The wilderness journey had been longer than anyone could have imagined -- it had been 39 years and 10 months since Israel left Egypt. Finally, they were camped "on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab" (Deut.1:1) and there was a sense that they'd soon be crossing into the promised land.

"And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them." (Deut.1:3)

Moses spent 30 days rehearsing and documenting for Israel what the Lord's purpose was in calling them out of Egypt. He first reminded them of all God had done for them, writing the first four chapters of Deuteronomy to record it. He then carefully laid out in the following 22 chapters what God expected of the people, and finally, in chapters 27 through 33, he told them what God would do if they believed and obeyed His word.

Moses charged the people as one who knew this would be his last address to the nation before he joined his own generation in death. Because of his impetuousness at the waters of Meribah when he failed to sanctify God, he was painfully aware that he wouldn't lead Israel into their promised land. (See Num.20) And having failed to change God's mind in the matter, (Deut.3:23-27) he resigned himself to reminding the present generation that had grown up in the wilderness of all the Lord's instructions in preparation for entering the land.

The people, knowing that Joshua had already been commissioned to take Moses' place in leadership, (Num.27:18-23) also had an awareness that this would be Moses' last address to them. It is likely that they gave him their undivided attention, much as we would give a wise loved one our attention if we knew we were hearing their "last will and testament." Thus the book of Deuteronomy is the expression of the heart of Moses -- and of God -- to a people standing at the very border of their inheritance.

This also makes the book of Deuteronomy significant for us. God called us out of "Egyptian bondage," and now as the age draws to a close, we're positioned within sight of our promised inheritance. God's people have wandered in the "wilderness" for many years, going from one place of rest and refreshment to another, and now the time has come to "cross over Jordan" and take possession of all that is promised in Christ.

Many lessons can be drawn from Deuteronomy and applied to our walk with the Lord. I'll focus this article primarily on the disciplines and attitudes that Moses told Israel were necessary as preparation to enter and possess the land of Canaan. Being prepared to enter their promised land is similar to the "midnight cry" of, "Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him" (Mt.25:6) that we need to be prepared for at the end of this age.

God first told Israel that He would enlarge their borders in conjunction with them keeping the feasts -- especially the Feast of Tabernacles. He told the nation that all their men were "to go up and appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year" and not to worry about their lands and harvests while they were away. Although their harvests were gathered and their lands vulnerable to neighboring enemies, God told them that if they obeyed Him in observing the feasts, no one would desire their land while they were away. (Ex.34:22-24)

Consider the implications of God's request: He wanted the nation to so trust Him that all the men could go up to the feasts and leave their families, lands, and possessions in His care. Depending on where they lived, the men could be gone from home for weeks, which would cause their possessions be more vulnerable to their enemies than at any other time of the year. God called this trust "enlarging your borders" because they would need to leave their security and "comfort zones" behind, while committing all they had into His keeping.

Moses reminded Israel of God's promise to enlarge their borders as he instructed them in preparation for going into the land. (Deut.12:20) He knew they would be challenged to go beyond the "comfort zones" they'd known and grown accustomed to in the wilderness. Although some of their conditions along the way might have been described as austere, he reminded them that "these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing." (Deut.2:7)

Consider for a moment God's provision in the wilderness: He provided manna for entire nation six days a week, which meant they didn't need to raise crops nor labor for their daily bread. He also provided fresh water for them in the most usual places. (To help grasp the magnitude of God's provision in the wilderness, see INSIGHT "The Paralysis of Unbelief" vol.8/ num.1 Jan.-Feb. 1995) For the entire 40 years of their journey their feet had not swollen, nor had their shoes and clothes worn out. (See Deut.8:4; 29:5; Neh.9:21) That means they had not needed to be concerned about having a "clothing allowance" in their budgets!

In addition to those personal provisions and health benefits, the Lord also paid the nation's utilities for the entire trip! Every day the pillar of cloud, which likely provided shade from the hot sun as well as direction, stood before them. In the evening the cloudy pillar turned into a pillar of fire, which provided light and warmth against the cool desert night. We could say Israel enjoyed both central heating and air conditioning the whole time they were in the wilderness!

Now Israel was at the border of the land God had promised them and was being urged to cross over and conquer it. I can hear a few murmers rippling through the camp as the possibilities dawned on them: "Why should we cross the Jordan where we'll have to fight giants when we have everything we need right here?" And, "Why would we want to go into a land where we'll have work for a living when we already have a steady supply of manna every morning?" And perhaps, "We know God can provide a table in the wilderness, but what about in a land where we've never been?" No wonder two and a half tribes settled for an inheritance on the wrong side of the Jordan.

Possessing the land meant that Israel would be engaging in war and severe conflicts with nations mightier than themselves. Crossing the Jordan also meant an end to the daily manna and all the provisions they had grown quite comfortable with in the wilderness.

It meant that they would need to learn new skills and settle into routines that were foreign to them after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The promised land had really sounded good when the fathers spoke of it, but now that the reality of it loomed forebodingly before them, they weren't quite so sure any more. Going into their land meant they'd have to leave familiar surroundings, enlarge their borders, and press forward into the unknown.

The book of Deuteronomy serves as a reminder, a commission, and a preparation manual to a people called to possess their inheritance. Although Israel would soon engage in military conflicts to conquer their promised land, its instructions aren't focused on strategies of war and great militaristic maneuvers. Rather, the book focuses on the attitudes and relationships necessary to keep God's favor and blessing. It repeatedly rehearses His commandments and appeals to trust Him to lead them into possession of the land.

Moses' burden for this is seen in chapter 4:1-2 when he said, "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you."

Several points are noteworthy in what Moses said in these verses. First, he admonished Israel to hearken to the various instructions of the Lord. "Hearken" implies more than just hearing something that is spoken. It implies an intelligent or attentive hearing what is spoken and suggests obedience to what is heard. This is confirmed in his statement, "for to do them."

The reason a response to the word was so necessary was that they "may live," and "go in," and "possess the land." It was not enough to just see the land, as Moses would be doing, or to just go into it: they were called to possess it. That meant they needed to "put it under foot" and make it their own. (Deut.11:24)

The underlying burden of Moses is expressed when he told Israel not add anything to, nor take anything from, the word the Lord gave them, because he knew that was what he'd done at the waters of Meribah. With the indictment of God still fresh in his mind, Moses wanted to be sure the people of Israel would not make the same mistake he'd made.

Remember that God had told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock and it would "give forth his water," meaning that He'd get the credit for bringing the water forth. But instead, Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" He then smote the rock twice, (Num.20:7-11) and in doing so, was guilty of both adding to, and taking away from, what the Lord had instructed.

The Lord wanted the people to look to Him as the source of their supply instead of looking to Moses. Although the water flowed from the rock and met the needs of the people and their flocks, the Lord told Moses and Aaron, "Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." (Num.20:12 my emphasis) From God's perspective, He considered Moses' impetuousness to be unbelief, and consequently, he could not enter into the land.

Moses reiterated his burden in chapter 11:22-25 and added further emphasis: "For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto Him;

"Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours...

"There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as He hath said unto you."

The emphasis Moses placed on this admonition was that in addition to loving the Lord and walking in His way, Israel was to "diligently keep" His word and "cleave to Him."

The original word used for"diligently keep" is translated several ways and in general means "to keep in the sense of tending and taking care of something." It first occurs in Genesis 2:15 where God put Adam "into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." The word also conveys the sense watching over something or giving attention to it, which in turn implies being responsible for whatever is being watched over. It is often used in connection with the word God gives and carries the implication of carefully observing what He said.

The phrase "cleave to" was first used in Genesis 2:24 to express the loyalty, affection, and devotion a husband is to have for his wife. It is used many times in the Old Testament and means generally "to cling, cleave, and keep close." It is also the noun form used in modern Hebrew for the word "glue."

So Moses' fervent appeal to Israel was that they were to "get close and stick to God" and give careful attendance to all He requested of them. If they'd do that, the Lord promised to drive out the enemy nations before them. Consequently, a fear of them would come over all the nations of the land so that none could resist the conquest of the land.

In preparation for crossing Jordan and possessing the land, Moses admonished Israel to give diligence and exercise great care in ten general areas. These same admonitions are pertinent for us to know and observe if we're to be prepared as the bride of Christ at the end of this age. Already we can hear a distinct call in the Spirit to get ready to "go out to meet Him."

The first area Moses reminded the people about was when they'd passed by mount Seir and through the coasts of the children of Esau. The Lord had given them a commandment to "meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession." (Deut.2:4-5; cp. Num.20:14-21)

The children of Esau and mount Seir are typical of the flesh nature and its strong holds. When Israel passed by their coasts, God had made it quite clear that He didn't want His people taking anything from them. If they did get anything from Edom, they were to buy it.

This is symbolic to us in that the first thing we must settle in our hearts if we want to possess our land and continue in the blessing of the Lord, is that we can't be involved with the flesh. Involvement with it will cost us the full price of our actions. On the other hand, if we're really under the direction of the Spirit, the flesh wants nothing to do with us either -- it's a mutual rejection!

Romans 8:7-8 puts it this way: "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, indeed it cannot; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (RSV) This should be an adequate admonition to anyone serious about possessing the inheritance the Lord has prepared for His people.

The second area of concern Moses had for Israel is given in Deuteronomy 4:9. There he told them to "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."

Moses wanted to emphasize the importance of remembering what God had done for them and that they be careful to pass those things on to succeeding generations. He knew that the quickest way for their appreciation of what God had done for them to be lost was to stop rehearsing it with their children.

He also told them later to "remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no." (Deut.8:2)

This reveals that Israel was not just to remember the "blessings" God gave them, but all the dealings of the Lord. Though they might not have agreed with Him, nor even believed that He had their best interests in mind, everything that came from His hand was for their good and instruction.

We need the same admonition. It's important that we give testimony to the things the Lord has done for us and in us, and that we speak of those things to our children. We all need to be reminded of God's care and love for us, because it helps keep us thankful for the covenant we have with Him.

Though we might not think that some of the things He takes us through are worth remembering, scripture tells us, "no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."(Heb.12:11) We need to faithfully teach and share with our children what God is doing in our lives, and why we appreciate His involvement with us. This helps to instill an appreciation and anticipation for His workings in their lives.

Scripture has much to say about our need of remembering and heeding God's instruction to us. James equates being a "doer" of what God says with not being a forgetful hearer. (Ja.1:25) The church at Sardis was told to "remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent...." (Rev.3:3) Hebrews 2:1 tells us, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."

In light of these scriptures, and many others that could be cited, we can see that the Lord considers it important that we continually rehearse what He is speaking and doing in our midst. As we remember how He spoke and lead us in the past, our confidence that He'll do the same for us now and in the future increases greatly.

The need to live by faith was the next area in which Moses admonished Israel. He told them: "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..." (Deut.4:15-16) He went on to say that if they began making images, they would "be driven to worship them, and serve them." (vs.19)

God had been careful to not reveal Himself in any form when He gave the commandments on mount Sinai. He wanted Israel -- and us -- to live and walk by faith. Though He gave laws to them, the laws were really promises if they would learn to live in the Spirit. They were given as God's "schoolmaster to bring [them] us unto Christ, that [they] we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Gal.3:24-25)

Many people have the misconception that we're to live by the various laws given in scripture and that we're to conform ourselves to the written word. But this is not what God wants. The pharisaic Jews of Jesus' time tried doing the same thing and were sharply reprimanded by the Lord and told to, "search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."(Jn.5:39-40)

We're to live by faith in response to every word that "proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Mt.4:4) This means God is still speaking to His people and consequently, we need a hearing relationship with Him if we're to hear and respond to His "present truth."

Too many times we're so committed to doing what God said that we can't hear what He is saying. This causes us to make "images" of what we think God intends for us, instead of staying in step with Him. We should note that scripture often uses the term "walking" in connection with our relationship to God for a very good reason: it implies continuance and staying up-to-date with Him. The only way we can do that is to have our ears opened to hear every word that still "proceedeth out of His mouth."

The written word of God reveals the principles of life, but it takes the Spirit of God to give life to the principles. We need to know that the principles of God are eternal, but the application of those principles are variable. Therefore, it takes the Spirit of Truth to apply what God said to make His word applicable to our present circumstances. Apart from that administration, we're limited to walking in accordance with the images me make of what we think God meant when He said whatever He said.

Moses said that if images were made, they would be served. Images are formed by our vain imaginations of what we think is right and godly. They're found in any religious form that tries to "lock God" into a creed or doctrine, then package it into "this is God." However, scripture tell us the Lord grew up as a "tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." (Isa.53:2) The next verse says that even if we saw Him, we would hide our faces and disesteem Him.

God wants us to relate to Him by present directives, not past experiences. This requires that we not make any images of what we think is God or is not God. As this age closes, He will lead His people into unprecedented realms of the Spirit, and we won't be able to buy "how to" books to check on how we're to do what He calls us to do. We'll need a hearing relationship with Him that has been so proven that we'll walk in step with Him in spite of what we perceive with our natural senses.

The next area Moses addressed was to "take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which He made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee." (Deut.4:23)

At first this seems like a repeat of the previous admonition, but now the emphasis is on remembering the covenant. The implication is that we need to be mindful of what God has done for us, i.e., the covenant "which He made with you." This is similar to what we're exhorted to in Ephesians 4:1: "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (NIV)

The calling God placed on our lives requires certain responses from us. Just as God called Israel out of Egypt and commissioned them to keep His covenant so they would be "a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people," (Ex.19:5) so He's called us to be separate from the unbelief, unrighteousness, and darkness of the present generation. He said that if we're to be His sons and daughters we're not even to touch those unclean things. (1 Cor.6:14-18)

It's of utmost importance that we remember our calling and who we are in Christ. It doesn't matter whether we're young or old, whether we're in the workplace, the marketplace, or at home. What matters is that we have a consistent awareness of our calling and what it cost God to make that calling available to us. Remember, He makes the calling available, but we're responsible to make it sure. (2 Pet.1:10)

In the sixteenth verse of chapter 11, Moses told Israel to "take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them." (Deut.11:16)

This is an admonition to keep our priorities right. We're told in scripture to keep our "heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Prov.4:23) Jesus also spoke of the importance of guarding our heart and keeping it focused on right priorities, saying, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Mt.6:21)

Look carefully at what Jesus said and notice that He didn't say, "where your heart is, there your treasure will be also." The importance of how He made the statement is the implication that our heart follows our treasure, not that our treasure necessarily follows our heart.

There is a logical sequence for establishing right priorities. Proverbs 29:18 says, "where there is no vision, the people perish...." The word "perish" in this verse means to be without restraint. So we can paraphrase this principle and say, "where there is no vision, there is no restraint."

Then because restraints and priorities are closely related, we can follow the consequences of not having restraints and add, "where there is no restraint, there is no priority." It's also reasonable to conclude that to have priorities, one must have a commitment to those priorities. Therefore, we can take the principle another dimension and say, "where there is no priority, there is no commitment."

This principle works in either direction: where there is no vision, there is no restraint; where there is no restraint, there is no priority; where there is no priority, there is no commitment. Reversing the sequence, we note that without commitment, there is no priority, and without priority, there is no restraint, and without restraint, there is no vision.

All this might seem like a play on words to some people, but the principle is accurate. If we're to have right priorities, we must have a vision that we're committed to. Without a vision, we're reduced to making decisions based on situation ethics, i.e., if it seems right to you, then it is right for you. Such logic is prevalent in the world, but it should not be found among those called to be sons of God.

If we're to keep right priorities, we must be watchful that the "treasures" of the world don't draw our heart away from the goal set before us. It's much easier to "go with the flow" than it is to stay focused on God's call to us at this end of the age. Therefore, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." (Heb.3:12)

"Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee." (Deut.12:13-14)

The next area Moses was concerned about was that Israel follow the instructions God gave them as to the acceptable place in which to worship Him. They weren't to look around and choose where and what looked best to them, but they were to serve Him in the place He chose.

This is significant for us because we can think that if we were just in another location or with other people, we could serve God better than where we are! Or we can have the attitude that "other Christians can get away with this or that, so why can't I?" What God does or doesn't lead others to do isn't important to us: the only thing we need to be concerned with is that our obedience to the word He gives us is fulfilled.

God still has "tribes:" He has Baptist tribes, Methodist tribes, Pentecostal tribes, and whatever other "tribe" of Christianity there might be where you are -- and He has a plan and purpose for each of them. They're hearing the word He has for them, but what He says to them is not important to us if He's called us to worship Him in a different place. What is important to us is that we know where we're called and that we "bloom where we're planted."

In Israel, one did not choose the tribe you were born into. Neither could one wake up one day and decide to join another tribe for awhile! You remained in the tribe you were born into unless you were a woman and married a man from another tribe. But even then, any inheritance that might have been passed on to you stayed with the tribe you were born into. (See Num.36:1-13)

This is not to suggest that the Lord can't move us from one "tribe" to another. If He opens our ears and heart to understand that He's called us to a greater inheritance than the "tribe" we were born in taught us, He can "transplant" us as He chooses. The point is that we aren't to choose were we serve Him, but that we serve Him in the place He appoints for us.

Moses continued his instruction to Israel, telling them to "take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth." (Deut.12:19) This was a reminder that the Levites were not given any natural inheritance in the land, because the Lord was their inheritance. (Deut.18:2) Israel was responsible to remember their needs and support their ministry through their tithes and offerings.

One of the greatest testimonies of our commitment to the Lord and the word He gives us is expressed through our giving. If we're stingy in our giving, we're holding out on God, which in turn is proof of our untrustworthiness to have true spiritual riches committed to us. Scripture says: "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?" (Lu.16:11-12 NIV)

Having been in the ministry almost 30 years, I can personally testify to the spiritual growth and faithfulness in God's people in the area of giving. My family could confirm that the Lord has always been faithful to meet our needs -- sometimes in the most exciting ways! It's been a joy to see how responsive His people are when they really grasp the truth of the vision God sets before them.

The opposite is also true. I can't remember anyone who continually has spiritual problems and always wants counseling that has not been slack in their giving. God said, "one man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." (Prov.11:24 RSV) Such "logic" is contrary to the natural mind, but it is the economy of God and impossible to be improved upon. If we don't at least give back to Him the tithe that He said belongs to Him, He takes an additional 20 percent! (Lev.27:30-33) This is a true principle in both natural and spiritual dimensions.

Moses charged Israel that "when the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations" as they conquered the land, they were to "take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, `How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.'" (Deut.12:30)

The nations of Canaan represent the various spiritual forces that operate against us under the "prince of this world." Although Moses' admonition was that Israel not learn the ways of the heathen and serve their gods literally, the application is also pertinent to us. If we're to live in the Spirit and possess our inheritance, we must be careful that we not follow the ways of the world. As James put it, we must keep ourselves "unspotted from the world." (Ja.1:27)

Scripture is clear that being enamored with the things of the world causes us to become the enemy of God. (Ja.4:4) One of the reasons for that is because "the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things... choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." (Mk. 4:19) Because the spirit of the world is in direct opposition to God and godliness, the more entangled with the world we become, the more we alienate ourselves from God.

Although we're in the world, we're not to be of it, just as Jesus wasn't of it. (Jn.17:14) If we're to keep our ears open to the voice of the Lord, we must stay focused on our calling and on how that calling is to be fulfilled. Because of the influence the spirit of the world can get over us, we must not love "the world, neither the things that are in the world." And because the world is opposed to godliness, it should be apparent to us that "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 Jn.2:15)

"Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do." (Deut.24:8)

Leprosy was the most dreaded and feared disease of Bible times. Once it was diagnosed, there was no cure and no hope -- other than by an intervention by the Lord -- and consequently, the leper was already considered to be among the dead

There is not much pain in the early stages of leprosy, but later the emotional and physical pain is severe. Usually, the first thing lost with the disease is one's sense of feeling, then painless spots begin appearing on the skin. As the disease spreads, muscles deteriorate, bones separate at the joints, then gangrene sets in and begins claiming fingers, toes, and limbs.

The priests were responsible to diagnose leprosy if the signs of the disease occurred in someone. Once they pronounced one to be unclean, they were banished from the camp, commanded to put on the clothes of mourning, and went around crying "Unclean, unclean" if anyone came close to them. (See Lev.13-14)

Leprosy in scripture is always symbolic of sin. Although Moses' admonition was about the physical disease and how Israel was to deal with it, the applications are relevant to us about how we're to deal with sin. In short, because both "diseases" are deadly and cause the loss of sensitivity, cleanliness, and life, we should treat sin as carefully as God wanted Israel to treat leprosy. To tolerate sin in our lives -- while expecting to maintain wholeness of spirit -- is of itself evidence that we've already been infected by its insensitivity and deterioration.

The last area Moses admonished Israel to be careful about was concerning their obedience to the voice of the Lord. But first, he instructed them to build an altar to the Lord immediately after they crossed the Jordan. They were to build it with uncut stones, then plaster the stones, and write "all the words of this law very plainly" on them. (Deut.27:8)

This altar was very significant because it was a memorial to the Lord that He had kept the covenant He made with Abraham. He had told him, "I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

"And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen.17:7-8)

Although that covenant has far reaching spiritual significance, it pertains first to God bringing Israel into their promised land. In spite of all the provision the Lord made for them in the wilderness, it would in the promised land where they would really learn that He was their God and that they were His people.

The way this altar was to built is significant. Not only is it linked with the altar Moses built at Sinai when the law was given, (Ex.21:4) it is also points to Jesus, our Lord. Note that it was to be built with stones just as they found them, without lifting "up any iron tool upon them" (Deut.27:5) to shape or artificially prepare them.

So Christ is a stone "cut out without hands," (Dan.2:34) and refused by the builders as having no form or comeliness that should be desired. But He is a stone, elect and accepted of God, precious to us, and "made the head of the corner." (1 Pet.2:6-8) As with Israel and their promised land, so Christ, our altar and Rock, stands at the very entrance to our inheritance.

Then "Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, `Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do His commandments and His statutes, which I command thee this day.'" (Deut. 27:9-10)

Notice how great an emphasis Moses put on this admonition, using both "take heed" and "hearken" in relationship to obeying the voice of the Lord. It was a charge that required the highest degree of caution and attention, and is the only place in scripture where these two expressions are used together. They speak of the great privilege and honor of being called "the people of the Lord thy God," and of the responsibility to obey Him in appreciation of having bestowed such acknowledgment.

The New Testament charges us with similar admonitions and responsibilities. It tells us that we, "who were strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world... are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Consequently, we're " no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God."

Furthermore, we're "being builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2:12, 13, 19, & 22)

Therefore, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..." (Rom.8:16-17)

Consider the great calling and privilege we have of being made part of the family of God. Having received such an overwhelming prerogative, we should be quite desirous of carefully and completely obeying the voice of our adopting Father. In light of this, is there any question why Paul would say: "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (Eph.4:1 NIV)

Along with his primary charges and admonitions, Moses also spoke to Israel about some attitudes that were an essential part of them getting ready to enter the land. Some were a mind-set in preparation for crossing Jordan, others were essential for maintaining the blessing of the Lord. Because several of these attitudes are related to the previous commandments, I won't elaborate on any of them, but just give a brief description of a few.

When Moses gave the charge about serving the Lord in the place that He chooses, he also told them to "rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee." (Deut.12:7) Although the households here refer to the natural families and tribes of Israel, we can certainly apply the same principle to our spiritual household and family.

We need an appreciation for the spiritual family God has placed us into, instead of taking each other for granted. Although all of us are responsible for our own walk with the Lord, we should be thankful that we don't need to travel on the journey alone, although there might be times when we're by ourselves and feel as though we're alone. We need to pray for, and encourage each other to keep pressing on in the calling God gave us.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesian church along these lines when he prayed for them, that "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power." (Eph.1:18-19) His prayer should be an example of the way we pray for one another.

Moses spoke of Israel's need to give their tithes and offerings several times in Deuteronomy. In the 14th chapter he gave several reasons why it was so important for them to learn this discipline: "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year... that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always... that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands which thou doest." (vs.22, 23, & 29)

Notice that they were to give of all their increase, not just that which they felt they could spare. They were also to give because it was an aid in learning respect and trust toward the Lord. And finally, they were to give because it opened the way for the Lord to bless them "in all the work of their hands."

Scripture has much to say about the principle of sowing and reaping, especially as it relates to giving. Yet it is a subject that when raised, often brings "the gift of suspicion" rushing to the rescue! As soon as anyone mentions giving -- especially if we've not yet learned the blessing and glory of giving -- we tend to respond with, "Tithing was Old Testament" or "Here they go again, wanting more money." Though there have been many abuses by unscrupulous, self-seeking "ministry" who greedily extract the last possible dime out of people, we can rest assured that God knows about it and that they'll have their reward. All of such activity is Satan's "smoke screen" attempting to turn aside otherwise committed people from receiving the blessing God wants to shower upon them.

Consistency is the attitude and discipline that needs to be associated with giving. Moses said Israel was to give of all their increase, which implies giving in slack times as well as in flush times. Not that we're to focus on "giving to get," but consistent giving opens the "windows of heaven" with consistent and overflowing blessing. (Mal.3:10; Prov.3:9-10) When we truly understand this principle, we'll give ourselves to the Lord as an unreserved "living sacrifice" even before we give of our substance. (Rom.12:1; 2 Cor.8:5)

Paul instructed the Corinthian church in the area of giving regularly as he wrote to them about the offering he was gathering for brethren in need. He told them: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him..." (1 Cor.16:2) The point of his instruction was that they regularly lay aside their gifts so they wouldn't need to "take up a special offering" when he visited them. The amount they gave was to be in proportion to how God had prospered each of them the previous week.

Another attitude Israel was to maintain was an appreciation for the ministry of the Levites. We've already looked at chapter 12:19 and the admonition Moses gave them to not forsake the needs of the ministry, but there is more to it than just being supportive in natural ways.

When God brought Israel out of Egypt, it cost every Egyptian family their firstborn son. In exchange for those sons, God declared that all the firstborn sons of Israel were His. But instead of taking the firstborn from every family of every tribe, the Lord told Moses: "Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the LORD." (Num.3:12-13 NKJ)

Israel was to appreciate God's choice in taking the tribe of Levi to minister in the office of priesthood, instead of the firstborn from every family. If the eldest son of every family were taken for the priesthood, a father could not have passed an inheritance to his firstborn because the priests didn't have a natural inheritance. Therefore, God's choice was to be looked upon as a gift to the nation, and they were to appreciate the ministry of the Levites and the service they provided. (See Num.8:11-19)

We also need to appreciate and encourage those who "minister at the altar" faithfully. As with the Levites, the ministries God has provided to bring the church to full maturity in Christ are His gift to the church. Those ministry gifts are expressed to us through the poured-out lives of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. (Eph.4:8-13) Though their administration might not always be perfect, we need to appreciate that God gave them to us and receive their ministry. Anything less is to refuse a gift of God.

It's not that the ministers are the gift, but the administration of God through them is the gift to the church. Careful reading of the Ephesians text cited above will reveal that the ministries are given "till we all come...." This means that the gifts operating in the people doing the ministering are to benefit them as much spiritually as they do the people they're ministering to.

Deuteronomy 18 gives another attitude that is needed in preparation for entering the promised land. In verses 18-22 the Lord said He'd raise up a Prophet out of Israel that would be like Moses and He would put His own words in His mouth.

Then the Lord said: "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him." Although we know this is a reference to Jesus, the following verses make it clear that it refers to more than just Him.

"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die." (vs:20)

We know that Jesus never spoke anything other than what the Father gave Him to speak, so this verse can't refer to Him. What is revealed here is a principle that is quite important for us to learn. The next couple verses answer the question that might arise in one's heart about how to know if what the "prophet" is saying is really from the Lord. The Lord said that if his word doesn't come to pass, "thou shalt not be afraid of him."

Here is the principle that reveals the attitude we need: We must discern the word we hear and be ready to respond to the truth when we hear it. If we don't hearken to the truth, God "will require it" of us, i.e., we will be held accountable for what we've heard. However, if a ministry speaks out of their own presumption, we're not to blindly respond to what is said. If that happens, God promises to deal severely with the haughtiness of the ministry.

We need a respectful attitude toward those who speak the word to us, but at the same time, we need to discern what we're hearing. We shouldn't be impressed by personalities or eloquence, but we do need to respond to the truth when we hear it. Scripture tells us that we're not to believe "every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 Jn.4:1; see Rev.2:2)

"Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it." (Deut.19:14)

Removing the landmarks that God set as boundaries in Canaan would put one under His curse. (Deut.27:17) He didn't want Israel to enlarge the borders of their allotted inheritance by fraudulent means, because if their holdings increased, He wanted it done in the way He prescribed.

We might think that landmarks have nothing to do with going into our spiritual inheritance. Naturally and figuratively speaking, a landmark can be a prominent identifying feature of a landscape, a fixed marker that indicates a boundary line, or an event marking an important point of a journey.

An important decision is sometimes called "a landmark decision" because of its far-reaching or precedent setting significance. A certain stage in the development of a project or a turning point in history is sometimes called a landmark.

Landmarks also refer to boundaries and limits of both possessions and responsibilities. For example, we pay taxes for every bit of property we own, but we're not accountable for anything beyond our property limits. Neither are we responsible to care for and maintain what is not within our possession.

There are many spiritual "landmarks" in the economy of God as well. For example, every place we put a limit on how far we'll go with God becomes a boundary and "landmark" for our faith. Scripture says that in the wilderness, Israel "turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." (Psa.78:41) Although God was well able to do above and beyond what they could have imagined, their unbelief put limits on what He could actually do for them.

This is an area where we need a right attitude toward our "neighboring" brethren if we're to be ready to possess our inheritance. Some people can only be comfortable with carefully defined "articles of faith" and "statements of doctrine" to live within. Such declarations become borders and boundaries for their faith and commitment, landmarks that they can readily identify and articulate. These limits are "in the land" of the inheritance and part of God's provision, but they certainly aren't the whole land!

If God has opened our ears and given us an understanding heart, we should be like Caleb when the land was being divided among the children of Israel. Although he was 85 years old, he wanted the mountain of the giants for his inheritance! His faith knew no boundaries, thus he could confidently request of the elders of Israel: "Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said." (Jos.14:12)

Don't remove nor destroy the "landmark" limits of your neighbor's faith through ridicule and contempt. Respect the inheritance the Lord has for them, knowing that the whole "land" is His and that He allots it as it pleases Him. Be thankful for the portion He gave you and know that all are responsible for what they've been given.

One of the abominations the Lord hates is "a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." (Prov.6:19) As Moses continued his instructions to Israel, he told them that "one witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth...."

Furthermore, "if a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

"And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you." (Deut. 19:15-19)

Untold damage has been done to the reputation of godly individuals through false accusations, gossip, and unjust criticism. God hates it, and said we shouldn't "give ear" to what we hear about our brethren, except what can be confirmed by at least two people. He said such slander is an evil that must be put away from among His children.

Scripture has much more to say about the way we're to honor and respect each other than what I have space to address here. Perhaps Romans 12:10 best sums up the attitude we're to have toward the brethren around us: "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (NIV)

Through the principle of sowing and reaping, God told Israel that a false witness was to have done to him what he intended to do to his brother. Although this referred primarily to civil strife and situations where a man tried to obtain gain by fraudulent means, the principle is also carried over into the spirit.

The primary reason for raising questions about our brother's character is to make ourselves look better by comparison. Yet even where sin is involved, we're to have an attitude of consideration and concern trying to "restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." (Gal.6:1 NKJ)

The last attitude I'll look at is the confidence Israel was to have that the Lord would go before them as they conquered the nations of Canaan.

Everything leading up to this encouragement, as well as everything that followed, was to instruct them in how to remain in a right relationship to God so that He could go into the land with them as the Captain of the hosts. Although great conflicts awaited them in the land, the primary instructions God gave them were not in the areas of conflict and war, but on how to get into such an alliance with Him that they'd have an unquestioning confidence in His leadership.

So Moses said: "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt....

"Hear, O Israel... let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." (Deut.20:1-4)

Notice how carefully Israel was to guard against fear. They were told to not be afraid, not let their heart faint, not to fear, not to tremble, and not to be terrified of the enemy.

Naturally speaking, they had every reason to be fearful of the nations they'd engage in the conquest of the land. Most of those nations were warring kingdoms with generations of experience on the battlefield. By contrast, Israel had been in slavery for four generations prior to wandering in the wilderness for the past 40 years!

The instructions given to Israel about not being afraid can be summed up in a few verses of the first chapter of Philippians. Paul wrote to them, saying, "let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God." (vs.27-28 NKJ)

God wants it to be clearly understood that His people need not be frightened by any tactics of the adversaries. It doesn't matter whether that adversary is the world, the flesh, some demon, or sin in general. If we'll just conduct our lives in a manner appropriate with our calling, and stand in faith with our brethren, the enemy is given a clear message that their days are numbered and that salvation has come to the people of God.

We need an attitude of complete confidence in the integrity of God's character, regardless of how impossible or overwhelming a situation might appear in the natural. When we have His word directing us, we need to press forward in the Spirit in obedience to that word until we see Him fulfill it. Anything less is to jeopardize our place in the inheritance.

Remember, "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Tim.1:7 NIV)

I've only "scratched the surface" of the instructions Moses gave to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy. Volumes would need to be written if one attempted to cover and apply everything that is pertinent to us in this wonderful book. But one thing is certain: As they camped on the border of their inheritance, God was getting Israel ready to be "stretched" beyond where they'd been comfortable, and enlarge their borders both in natural and spiritual dimensions.

As we approach the end of the age, let's allow the Spirit to speak those things to us that are necessary as preparation for us to "cross Jordan" spiritually and go into our inheritance.

Spiritual complacency and blasé attitudes won't be good enough to take us in. Fearfully holding on to the securities and precedents of the past will not suffice. If we only eat yesterday's manna we'll find that it is stale and full of worms.

God wants us to rise up in faithful obedience to the word He continues to give us. It is high time to get our relationships right with the Lord and with our brethren, keep our eyes focused on the prize, and await the call to go in and take the land -- a call that is already drifting toward us through the misty darkness of this age's twilight.

Responding to the call to take possession of our inheritance will require us to put every unclean habit, spiritual distraction, and besetting sin under the absolute lordship of Jesus Christ. It means that our faith will need to be stretched beyond anything we've yet experienced on our spiritual pilgrimage.

Every insidious device Satan has will be mustered against us in an attempt to stop us and keep us satisfied with what has been acceptable in the past. "Wilderness blessings" will abound on every hand, serving as distractive temptations to see if we'll settle for provision instead of possession, healing instead of wholeness, or deliverance instead of inheritance. And as with Israel of old, many people will be quite content to settle for a meager allotment on this side of the Jordan.

I can almost hear the cry of Moses' heart as he summarizes God's instructions to His people: "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" (Deut. 10:12-13)

Much more could be said about our need to be ready to take possession of our inheritance. However, space will only allow me to say one more word to all who have a heart to hearken and the courage to possess their inheritance:

"Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Lu.21:28)