Sermonette: Wilderness wanderings

For the next three weeks, we will wander together through the early verses of Deuteronomy chapter 30. Wander deeply.

First, the context: the Israelites have been led by Moses through the Red Sea (Exodus 13-15), out of the land of Egypt where they were held as slaves of Pharoah. For 40 years, they’ve been wandering. For 40 years, they’ve witnessed miracles, been in battles, done their fair share of complaining, obeyed and strayed, all holding onto the promise that they’ll eventually be gifted and led to the Promised Land.

That’s where Deuteronomy 30:1-6 picks up. They’re about to enter the Promised Land. But they’re not there yet, which is why God’s word to them is so interesting.

God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, God, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again.

Deuteronomy 30:3-5

The Israelites aren’t even in the Promised Land yet, and God is already giving them a way back. He knows they’re going to stray. He knows they won’t obey perfectly. He knows they’ll be scattered and hard hearted. But God’s already giving them a way back.

We also stray easily. We depend on our own understanding. We trust in earthly things. We complain. We don’t see the blessings right in front of us. We think the grass will be greener somewhere else. We don’t listen. And God always gives us a way back. Before we know we need it, God has prepared a way back to Him.