Deuteronomy: Lessons to remember as you walk to the Promised Land

Chapter 9

My daddy loves his fireplace. As I write this, he is 91 and is still chopping wood and building fires. He is slower than he used to be, his fires aren’t as big and roaring, and sometimes he has a hard time getting one going, but he loves it. He will sit back in his recliner, feet up, and say, “This has been a good fireplace. I’ve really enjoyed it.” To him, a fire means home and relaxation, comfort and contentment. When I go home and sit in front of one of daddy’s fires, that’s what it means to me too. This is not the kind of fire mentioned in Deuteronomy 9.

Read Deuteronomy Chapter 9:1-3.

How does God cross over before the Israelites?

Who will destroy and subdue the people in these cities?

Why is it important for the Israelites to know that it is God going before them that will bring their success?

God often gives us the image of a consuming fire when He speaks of His judgement. Deuteronomy 4:24 speaks of God being a consuming fire in His jealousy when His people worshipped other gods. Isaiah 30:27 and Isaiah 33:14 speak of God’s judgement as a “consuming fire.” Lest you think this image is only found in the Old Testament, the writer of Hebrews included it in chapter 12: “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (v. 28-29).

All of these images of consuming fire are found as a result of judgement, judgement of a people who did not follow God, who “trampled under foot the Son of God,” and “regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified,” and “insulted the Spirit of Grace” (Hebrews 10:29). It isn’t politically correct to speak of God’s judgement nowadays. Most don’t want to hear about the powerful consuming fire that says, “VENGEANCE IS MINE. I WILL REPAY. . . THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE” (Hebrews 10:30). And yes, my Bible had that verse in all caps! No, we don’t want that God. We want the one who loves us and forgives us and overlooks our sin. That’s the God we want. The problem is . . . that isn’t the God of the Bible, not Old Testament or New.

How do you feel about God as Judge?

Why is it important that He is a judge?

Would you expect a judge in a court of law today to punish those who had broken the law? Why?

What would our society be like if judges didn’t punish, if everyone knew they could do whatever and never be punished?

If it is important to have a just judge who upholds the law in our society, wouldn’t it be important to have a God who is just as well? Explain.

Why does God let us see Him as this consuming fire, this God of judgement that will repay evil? The answer is two-fold. First, He wants us to know that He is in control and He deserves respect. Fair enough. After all, He is the creator of everything. Second, He wants us to know Him. How could we understand His forgiveness and grace and mercy if we had nothing to be forgiven from? It is our need for forgiveness and grace and mercy that makes us understand these characteristics in God. Without the need, we would never understand in quite the same way. Let’s see what the Israelites needed in the rest of this chapter.

Read Deuteronomy 9:4-29.

Moses was well aware of his audience. He uses the rest of this chapter to remind the Israelites of how UNrighteous they have been. They were a stubborn, rebellious people. They provoked God to anger with the golden calf so much that Moses had to plead and reason with God not to destroy them. Over and over they rebelled. Over and over they provoked the LORD to wrath. Sounds a little like someone I know. Me.

Can you think of any time you have rebelled against the Lord? Explain.

Moses would come before the Lord and plead for the Israelites. How did you work out your rebellion with the Lord? If you didn’t, now is a good time. Pray and talk to Him.

I love that God makes it so clear in Deuteronomy 9 that He was not acting on their behalf because of anything they had done. They were stubborn and rebellious. God made it clear that He was acting because of His faithfulness and what He had already promised to do.

I think this is so important for us to understand. So many people think that God won’t forgive them because of their past. “I’m not good enough,” they think. God would tell you: No. You aren’t good enough. No one is good enough. He saves you because it’s what He promised to do if you reached out to Him.

The Bible word for this is justification. Imagine a court scene where you have broken the law and are on trial. You admit your guilt and confess your sorrow over the wrong-doing. The judge looks at what you’ve done and passes a death sentence as payment for your actions. You know you are guilty. You know you were wrong. You know you deserve death. You don’t want to die, but you know. You hang your head in defeat and anxiety. The court room is silent as the sentence settles on you and you feel its weight. Then someone stands up. Jesus. He says to his Father, the judge, “Here. Send me. I’ll take the punishment for her.” The judge agrees and you are set free as Jesus is taken back in your place. It wasn’t anything you did that set you free. It was what Jesus did on your behalf that set you free. Because of his actions, you have been justified before the Almighty judge. This, my friends, is grace.

Read Ephesians 2:8-9.

How are you saved?

Why is it not because of something you have done?

Read Deuteronomy 8:14 from yesterday’s lesson.

How are Deuteronomy 8:14 and Ephesians 2:8-9 similar?


You need salvation because you are a sinner. You don’t do anything to earn it. Salvation is a gift. All you have to do is realize you need it, confess this to the Lord, then reach out and take the free offering of forgiveness purchased for you by the work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus did this freely for you. Why? Because He desires for you to be with Him. He has already accomplished all the work, paid for all your sin, and justified you before the Father. Now he stands there holding out this free gift. Reach out. Take it. He is faithful. He will do what He has promised.

Lesson to Remember: God is faithful.
A Way to Walk: Walk in faithfulness and thankfulness before Jesus. He is worthy of all praise and honor and glory because he accomplished what you could not.