Deuteronômio 1
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Deuteronômio 1
Guzik - The journey from Mount Horeb to Kadesh Barnea only took eleven days. But from Kadesh Barnea (the threshold of the Promised Land) back to Kadesh Barnea (back to the threshold of the Promised Land) took forty years. (Deuteronomy) The HCSB Study Note adds "Forty years had passed since Israel's exodus from Egypt. Though the journey from Horeb (Sinai) to Kadesh-barnea was normally 11 days (Dt 1: 2), Israel, because of its sin, had spent 40 years on the not-much-longer route from Egypt to Moab (Dt 2:7; Dt 8:2,4; Nu 14:33). [Holman Bible Editorial Staff (2018). The HCSB Study Bible. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com] THOUGHT - Dear reader, are you wandering around in circles (so to speak) in a "wilderness" today? Perhaps you have disobeyed God in some critical area of your life. Ask God to show you if you have at some point have left your first love (Rev 2:4+). Then remember, repent and return as Jesus warned the church at Ephesus (Rev 2:5+) We need to remember that when we study the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is often a sad picture of the fallen flesh and we have the same fallen flesh as Israel! So we do well to not just read about Israel's mistakes, but to heed the warning of their mistakes, for "these things happened to them as an example (tupos), and they were written for our instruction (nouthesia - admonition, warning), upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (1 Cor 10:11+, cf 1 Cor 10:6+) Do you need to make a "course correction" in your life journey? If the Word and the Spirit are clearly telling you to make a correction, confess and repent, make an "about face." How sad for 38-40 years to pass by and only then to realize that you had missed out on God's best for your life because of stubborn, willful disobedience. Israel paid a high price for their rebellion! Life Application Study Bible - Your spiritual pilgrimage may be lengthy, and you may face pain, discouragement, and difficulties. But remember that God isn't just trying to keep you alive. He wants to prepare you to live for service and devotion to him. C H MacIntosh - Eleven days, and yet it took them forty years! How was this? Alas! we need not travel far for the answer. It is only too like ourselves. How slowly we get over the ground! What windings and turnings! How often we have to go back and travel over the same ground, again and again. We are slow travelers because we are slow learners. Our God is a faithful and wise, as well as a gracious and patient Teacher. He will not permit us to pass cursorily over our lessons. Sometimes, perhaps, we think we have mastered a lesson and we attempt to move on to another, but our wise Teacher knows better, and He sees the need of deeper ploughing. He will not have us mere theorists or smatterers; He will keep us, if need be, year after year at our scales until we learn to sing. (Deuteronomy) NET Bible Technical Notes - Horeb is another name for Sinai. "Horeb" occurs 9 times in the Book of Deuteronomy and "Sinai" only once (Dt 33:2). "Sinai" occurs 13 times in the Book of Exodus and "Horeb" only 3 times. (Horeb - 17x in 17v in Bible (note most uses in Deuteronomy) - Ex 3:1; Ex 17:6; Ex 33:6; Dt. 1:2; Dt. 1:6; Dt. 1:19; Dt. 4:10; Dt. 4:15; Dt. 5:2; Dt. 9:8; Dt. 18:16; Dt. 29:1; 1 Ki. 8:9; 1 Ki. 19:8; 2 Chr. 5:10; Ps. 106:19; Mal. 4:4) Kadesh Barnea. Possibly this refers to in Qudeis, about 50 mi (80 km) southwest of Beer Sheba, but more likely to in Qudeirat, 5 mi (8 km) NW of in Qudeis. See R. Cohen, "Did I Excavate Kadesh-Barnea?" BAR 7 (1981): 20-33. (Kadesh Barnea 10x in 10v - Num. 32:8; Num. 34:4; Deut. 1:2; Deut. 1:19; Deut. 2:14; Deut. 9:23; Jos. 10:41; Jos. 14:6; Jos. 14:7; Jos. 15:3) Mount Seir is synonymous with Edom. "By way of Mount Seir" refers to the route from Horeb that ended up in Edom Cf. CEV "by way of the Mount Seir Road"; TEV "by way of the hill country of Edom." (Seir in Deuteronomy -Deut. 1:2; Deut. 1:44; Deut. 2:1; Deut. 2:4; Deut. 2:5; Deut. 2:8; Deut. 2:12; Deut. 2:22; Deut. 2:29; Deut. 33:2) Related Resources: Kadesh-barnea - 10x in OT - Nu 32:8; Nu 34:4; Dt. 1:2; Dt. 1:19; Dt. 2:14; Dt. 9:23; Jos. 10:41; Jos. 14:6; Jos. 14:7; Jos. 15:3 What is the significance of Mount Horeb in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What is the significance of Kadesh Barnea in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Deuteronomy 1:3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that the LORD had commanded him to give to them, Deuteronomy 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Numbers 20:1+ Then (SECOND GENERATION - 40th YEAR AFTER LEAVING EGYPT) the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. Numbers 33:38+ Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor (SEE MAP OF HOR VERY CLOSE TO KADESH-BARNEA) at the command of the LORD, and died there in the fortieth year after the sons of Israel had come from the land of Egypt, on the first day in the fifth month. THE DATE OF THE BEGINNING OF DEUTERONOMY Having established the location (the WHERE) in the previous verse, Moses now describes the WHEN and the WHAT (what he spoke).
Deuteronômio 1
Guzik comments - Essentially, the ten spies and all Israel said, “We went into the land of Canaan and found it to be a wonderful land, just as the Lord said it would be. God’s word was true on that point. Nevertheless (essentially saying, ‘despite all that’), we don’t believe God when He says He will enable to overcome the enemies of the land and to posses it.” Nevertheless! Despite the fact we have seen that God’s word is true, we will not trust Him for great things in the future. This is a terrible testimony.(Deuteronomy) THOUGHT - Despite all the positive aspects. Despite the fact that what they saw about the goodness of the land was exactly what Yahweh had promised it would be like. Nevertheless is a strong term of contrast in this context. Yes the land is fruitful BUT it is fortified. It is fruitful BUT impregnable according to their natural, human logic. If our mind is not renewed by God's Word, we begin to think worldly thoughts. God's Word had already given then a sure promise, but they either forgot God's Word or despised God's Word, always a dangerous thing to do! You were not willing to go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God - Note that the command to GO IN and POSSESS the Land is repeated in Dt 1:8+ and Dt 1:21+. They deliberately, defiantly defied the clear command of God to possess the land (Nu 14:1-9). He had not given them any "exceptions" to this command, such as if you find big walls or big people don't go in and possess it. ESV Study note points out that "Moses does not repeat all the details of what the spies said, particularly their “bad report” (Nu 13:32+), or describe Caleb’s positive minority report. Rebelled (04784)(marah) means to be contentious, rebellious, and openly defiant to an authority by not obeying commands. Most of the uses of marah refer to rebellion by Israel or Judah against Jehovah. There is repeated focus on Israel's rebellion in the wilderness after being set free from slavery in Egypt (Nu 20:10, 24; 27:14; Deut 1:26, 43; 9:7, 23), summed up by the statement "You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day I knew you." (Deut 9:24) Marah in Deuteronomy (8 times) - Deut. 1:26; Deut. 1:43; Deut. 9:7; Deut. 9:23; Deut. 9:24; Deut. 21:18; Deut. 21:20; Deut. 31:27; Warren Wiersbe makes an interesting point that "There's a difference between unbelief and doubt. Unbelief is a matter of the will; it causes people to rebel against God and say, "No matter what the Lord says or does, I will not believe and obey!" Doubt, however, is a matter of the heart and the emotions; it's what people experience when they waver between fear and faith (Mt. 14:31; Jas 1:5-8). The doubter says, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" God seeks to encourage doubters and help them believe, but all He can do with rebels is bring judgment. At Kadesh, He decreed that the nation would wander for the next thirty-eight years (they had already been in the wilderness two years) until all the people twenty years and older had died. Then He would take the new generation—the children and teenagers whom the leaders said would be devoured by the enemy—and lead them into the land where they would conquer the enemy and claim their inheritance. (Be Equipped)
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Guzik - They were not persuaded of the love of God, and they found it hard to trust a God they did not believe loved them. Christians today also need to be persuaded of the love of God. Many believers are hindered in their walk with God because they are not genuinely persuaded of the love of God for them. They should ask, “What would it take me finally convince me that God really loves me?” We don’t wait for God to give us everything we want before we love Him. That is the selfish demand of a short-sighted child, like the child who thinks mommy doesn’t love him because he can’t have all the candy he wants. God has already given the ultimate demonstration of His love: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) The death of Jesus for guilty sinners is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love; He can do nothing greater than what He has already done in Jesus. Now we can simply receive His love. (Deuteronomy) A B Simpson - you did not trust in the LORD your God” (1:32). This is the root of all disobedience and sin. The fall of man at first sprang from doubting God. Salvation begins with the recovery of our lost faith, as apostasy always originates in some form of faithlessness. Let us “see to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). Trust (believe) (0539) aman Some sources consider the primary root meaning of aman to be "to prop" or "to support", a meaning which is literally portrayed in the use in 2Ki 18:16 where aman is used to depict the doorposts, clearly emphasizing the ideas stability or support. Another picture of the meaning of 'aman is seen in the related (derivative) noun 'emunah in Ex 17:12 "But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady (emunah derived from 'aman) until the sun set." We see a good picture of aman in the belief of Abraham in Ge 15:6+. The use of aman in this passage indicates that Abram did not just give mental assent to God's promise (Ge 15:5), but that he relied on that promise and made a personal commitment. In other words Abram's faith was not only cognitive (the mental act of acquiring knowledge) but also personal for he believed God’s word of promise (Cp the NT "commentary" on this OT use of "aman" -- Hebrews 11:8- = His faith was the root of the fruit of obedience, which is a sign that one's faith is genuine saving faith and not just mental assent! {See obedience of faith and separate discussion of faith and obedience} Note the depth of his faith which led to the ultimate act of obedience in Heb 11:17, 18, 19+) and he committed his soul to the God Who had revealed Himself. Considering that "amen" (truly, it is certain) is derived from "aman", it is as if Abram heard God's promise in Ge 15:5 and said "Amen!" Jesus repeatedly used the Hebrew word "amen" ("Truly") to express the trustworthiness and abiding certainty of His sayings. Paul’s use of Genesis 15:6 in Ro 4:3+, Ro 4:9+, Ro 4:22+ and Galatians 3:6 demonstrates that this Old Testament verse is foundational for our understanding of what it means to "believe" God. Aman is used 5 times in Deuteronomy - Deut. 1:32; Deut. 7:9; Deut. 9:23; Deut. 28:59; Deut. 28:66; G Campbell
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Guzik- Significantly, two men could see the exact same sights—the same grapes, the same men, the same land, the same cities—one can come away singing in faith, and the other is filled with a sense of certain doom. Ultimately, faith or unbelief does not spring from circumstances or environment, but from our hearts, which God must change. (Deuteronomy) QUESTION - Who is Caleb in the Bible? ANSWER - The story of Caleb, a faithful man of God, begins in the book of Numbers. After being delivered from bondage in Egypt, the Israelites were led by God to the border of the land of Canaan, a land “flowing with milk and honey” that God had promised they would inherit (Exodus 3:8, 17). Moses had chosen twelve men, one from each tribe, to scout the land before entering. Among them was Caleb, representing the tribe of Judah. The twelve men spied out the land for forty days and then came back to Moses. They reported that the land was indeed fruitful but its inhabitants were the mighty descendants of Anak. Terrified by the size and strength of the Canaanites, ten of the spies warned Moses not to enter Canaan (Numbers 13:23–33). Caleb silenced the murmuring, fearful men by saying, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30). Caleb took his stand because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly (Joshua 14:8–9). Caleb knew of the promises of God to the Israelites, and, despite the evidence of his own eyes regarding the obstacles, he had faith that God would give them victory over the Canaanites. Unfortunately, the people of Israel ignored Caleb and listened to the report of the other spies. They were so frightened that they wept all night and even wished they had died at the hands of their slave masters in Egypt (Numbers 14:1–4). They turned on Caleb and Joshua (the spy from Ephraim) and wanted to stone them on the spot (Numbers 14:6–10). God was exceedingly angry with the people and threatened to destroy them until Moses interceded for them. God relented, but He decreed that the people would wander in the wilderness until all of that faithless generation had died. But God said that “my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly” and gave him the promise that he would own all the land he had seen as a spy (Numbers 14:11–24). The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all of that generation, except Joshua and Caleb, died (Numbers 14:29–30). After the forty years of wandering and five more years of war within Canaan, Caleb was 85 years old; yet he was as strong as ever and able to fight the same Anakites that had frightened his countrymen. His confidence was born out of his absolute faith in the promises of God (Joshua 15:13–14). Caleb’s territory in Canaan included “Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher)” (Joshua 15:13–15). Othniel, a nephew of Caleb, captured Kiriath Sepher and was given Caleb’s daughter Aksah to wed (verses 16–17). Later, Aksah asked her father to include some springs of water as part of her inheritance (verses 18–19), and Caleb gave them to her. Later still, Othniel, Caleb’s son-in-law, became Israel’s first judge (Judges 3:7–11). From the accounts of the life of Caleb, we see a faithful man who trusted God to fulfill His promises when others allowed their fears to override their small faith. Even into his later years, Caleb remained steadfast in his faith. God blessed Caleb for his faithfulness and patience, an encouragement to us to believe God. Like Caleb, we should be prepared to follow God in every circumstance, patiently waiting for Him to fulfill His promises and ready to take action when the time is right. GotQuestions.org Related Resources: What is the story of Joshua and Caleb in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Mattoon - What is the difference in Caleb? His focus is upon the power and greatness of God Almighty. Let me ask, "Can you take a stand for God like Caleb? When you are in the minority or when people think you are crazy, can you stand for Christ?" True faith and confidence in the Lord will lead to prompt obedience. There will be no "wondering" if you should do what the Lord commands or trying to make up your mind. You will just "obey." Doubt and disobedience to the Lord... • denies the promises of God. • distracts from godly priorities. • delays or discourages disobedience to the Lord. The evidence of God's promises is in front of them, but they reject the evidence. Unbelief pays no attention to evidence. It refuses to obey and for this reason, men reject Christ, in spite of the evidence that He is the Son of God. Brian Bell - Caleb was a man of faith who didn’t worry about the size of the problem because he trusted a great God! The question in life is not “How big is the problem?” Or, “How big am I?” But, “How big is my GOD?” :) This is another case where there is a majority report & a minority report. And it was the minority report that was right! Remember, “Noah, went in a minority & came out a majority!” The Majority saw the excellencies for the land, but they had seen the difficulties and beyond these they had seen nothing. The Minority first saw Jehovah, & then excellencies, & finally the difficulties. The essential difference is the vision of God! (Obstacles? oh you sure see them, but they become nothing, after seeing God! (ED: cf "Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full, in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace ). What was the promise in Nu 13:2? Was Israel a great people? Nope, but they were loved by a great God, who did great things for them, & thereby led them to marvelous achievements.. Do not look at God through circumstances, but at circumstances through God! Recipe For Victory The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. —Hebrews 4:2 Today's Scripture: Numbers 13:1-2,26-33 A visitor was taking a tour of a mill where power was generated by a fast-flowing river that ran close by its walls. All the gears inside, however, were inactive. “How do you make things work?” the visitor inquired. She was told to pull a handle that the guide pointed out. Immediately the wheels turned and the place was alive with motion. In a similar way, the power of God surges into the heart of those who reach out by faith. Our belief or unbelief determines whether we receive or reject those things that the Lord promises. For example, when the children of Israel were confronted with the problem of advancing against the Canaanites, most of them were terrified by the strength of the enemy. Caleb, however, was not alarmed by the giant opponents and their walled cities. With a courage born of faith he said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13:30). The promise of God that Israel was to inherit the land was mixed with faith in his heart, and he did not shrink back from what seemed to be impossible odds. Increase our faith, and clear our vision, Lord; Help us to take Thee at Thy simple Word, No more with cold distrust to bring Thee grief; Lord, we believe! Help Thou our unbelief. —Sherwin Faith is the link that connects our weakness to God's strength. Streams in the Desert - Deut. 1:36 EVERY hard duty that lies in your path, that you would rather not do, that it will cost you pain and struggle or sore effort to do, has a blessing in it. Not to do it, at whatever cost, is to miss the blessing. Every hard piece of road on which you see the Master’s shoe-prints and along which He bids you follow Him, surely leads to blessing, which you cannot get if you cannot go over the steep, thorny path. Every point of battle to which you come, where you must draw your sword and fight the enemy, has a possible victory which will prove a rich blessing to your life. Every heavy load that you are called to lift hides in itself some strange secret of strength.—J. R. Miller. “I cannot do it alone; The waves run fast and high, And the fogs close all around, The light goes out in the sky; But I know that we two Shall win in the end, Jesus and I. “Coward and wayward and weak, I change with the changing sky; Today so eager and bright, Tomorrow too weak to try; But He never gives in, So we two shall win, Jesus and I. “I could not guide it myself, My boat on life’s wild sea; There’s One who sits by my side, Who pulls and steers with me. And I know that we two Shall safe enter port, Jesus and I.” Deuteronomy 1:37 "The LORD was angry with me also on your account, saying, 'Not even you shall enter there. De 3:23-26 4:21 Dt 34:4 Nu 20:12 27:13,14 Ps 106:32,33 Deuteronomy 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Deuteronomy 3:23-26 I also pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, 24 ‘O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? 25 ‘Let me, I pray, cross over and see the fair land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ 26 “But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; and the LORD said to me, ‘Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter. Deuteronomy 34:4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” Numbers 20:1+ Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. 2 There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! 4 “Why then have you brought the LORD’S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? 5 “Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them; 7 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. 12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them. MOSES' PERSONAL LAMENT The LORD was angry with me also on your account, saying, 'Not even you shall enter there - With me is first in the Hebrew text for emphasis, so the NET is more accurate "As for me..." (Dt 1:37NET). This is righteous anger! The tragedy is that Moses almost made it into the Promised Land. Moses' unbelief happened at the return to Kadesh after 38 years of wandering (cf. Num 20:1 ff.). Moses is not "passing the buck" when he says on your account, but simply saying their grumbling spurred him to commit a wilful act of sin. Sin is always our personal responsibility! The psalmist records this event Psalms 106:32-33+ They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, So that it went hard with Moses on their account; 33 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, He spoke rashly with his lips.
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Guzik - It is sobering to consider how easily, how quickly, and how completely, God sees through our excuses. We often feel confident in our excuses, because other people can’t really challenge them – but God sees right through them. NET Note - Do not know good from bad. This is a figure of speech called a merism (suggesting a whole by referring to its extreme opposites). Other examples are the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen 2:9), the boy who knows enough “to reject the wrong and choose the right” (Isa 7:16; 8:4), and those who “cannot tell their right hand from their left” (Jonah 4:11). A young child is characterized by lack of knowledge. (Deuteronomy 1) Pulpit Commentary - to know good and evil came to mean to be intelligent, and not to know good and evil to be unintelligent, as is a babe. The children here referred to knew nothing, and consequently could not be held as morally responsible; comp. Isaiah 7:15. Little ones (02945)(taph from taphaph = to trip, take small quick steps) masculine singular noun meaning child, little one, children beginning to walk Emphasis seems to be on the younger ages; thus, the KJV rendering of "little ones" is frequently given. It is distinguished from young men, virgins (Ezek. 9:6), and sons (2 Chr. 20:13, "children"). It is often used in the formulaic pattern "men, women, and children" (Deut. 2:34; 3:6; 31:12; Jer. 40:7; 43:6), meaning everyone. Complete Biblical Library - The Ethiopian noun, taff, means "infant," and the Arabic verb, tff, means "to trip." It has been suggested that taph refers to those who "trip along," "leap" or "dance." Children were a hindrance to travel on foot. At times, the noun appears in a broader context, denoting all who hinder movement (including the aged). Scholars suggest this nuance occurs in Deut. 2:34 and Jer. 40:7. This noun is also used to designate women who have never had sexual relations. After defeating the Midianites, Moses commanded the people of Israel to kill all the Midianite male children and all the women who had slept with a man. However, every "girl" who was a virgin was to be spared (Num. 31:17f). Often in the OT, "men," "women" and "children" are used to designate the entire population. The Israelites took the cities of Og and destroyed the entire population, all the men, women and children (Deut. 3:6). Vine - Basically this word signifies those members of a nomadic tribe who are not able to march or who can only march to a limited extent. The word implies the "weaker ones." Thus we read of the men and the ṭapîm, or the men and those who were unable to move quickly over long stretches (Ge 43:8). This nuance is clearer in Ge 50:7-8. They left the women and the aged to take care of the beasts and babies. These verses certainly make it clear that only men went along. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words) Taph - 42v - children(11), girls*(1), infants(1), little children(2), little ones(27). Gen. 34:29; Gen. 43:8; Gen. 45:19; Gen. 46:5; Gen. 47:12; Gen. 47:24; Gen. 50:8; Gen. 50:21; Exod. 10:10; Exod. 10:24; Exod. 12:37; Num. 14:3; Num. 14:31; Num. 16:27; Num. 31:9; Num. 31:17; Num. 31:18; Num. 32:16; Num. 32:17; Num. 32:24; Num. 32:26; Deut. 1:39; Deut. 2:34; Deut. 3:6; Deut. 3:19; Deut. 20:14; Deut. 29:11; Deut. 31:12; Jos. 1:14; Jos. 8:35; Jdg. 18:21; Jdg. 21:10; 2 Sam. 15:22; 2 Chr. 20:13; 2 Chr. 31:18; Ezr. 8:21; Est. 3:13; Est. 8:11; Jer. 40:7; Jer. 41:16; Jer. 43:6; Ezek. 9:6 Question - Where do I find the age of accountability in the Bible? ANSWER - The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by God for their sins until they reach a certain age, and that if a child dies before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of God, be granted entrance into heaven. Is the concept of an age of accountability biblical? Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence”? Frequently lost in the discussion regarding the age of accountability is the fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. The Bible tells us that, even if an infant or child has not committed personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents. In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” David recognized that even at conception he was a sinner. The very sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin, since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam’s original sin. Each person, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of God. The only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ. Christ is the only way. John 14:6 records what Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, except through Me.” Also, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Salvation is an individual choice. What about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make this individual choice? The age of accountability is the concept that those who die before reaching the age of accountability are automatically saved by God’s grace and mercy. The age of accountability is the belief that God saves all those who die never having possessed the ability to make a decision for or against Christ. One verse that may speak to this issue is Romans 1:20, “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this, mankind’s guilt before God is based, in part, on the fact that people reject what they can “clearly see” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. This leads to the question of children who have no faculty for “clearly seeing” or reasoning about God—wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason provide them with an excuse? Thirteen is the most common age suggested for the age of accountability, based on the Jewish custom that a child becomes an adult at the age of 13. However, the Bible gives no direct support to the age of 13 always being the age of accountability. It likely varies from child to child. A child has passed the age of accountability once he or she is capable of making a faith decision for or against Christ. Charles Spurgeon’s opinion was that “a child of five can as truly be saved and regenerated as an adult.” With the above in mind, also consider this: Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient for all sins, not just the sins of those who specifically have come to Him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would allow the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the LORD where no requirement was imposed on a male child to be included in the covenant other than circumcision, which was performed on the eighth day after his birth (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3). The question arises, “Does the inclusive nature of the Old Covenant apply to the church?” On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself” (Acts 2:38–39, NAS). The word children here (teknon in Greek) means “child, daughter, son.” Acts 2:39 indicates that forgiveness of sins is available to one and all (cf. Acts 1:8), including future generations. It does not teach family or household salvation. The children of those who repented were also required to repent. The one passage that seems to identify with this topic more than any other is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context of these verses is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the Lord would take the child in death. David responded to this by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to King David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” David’s response indicates that those who cannot believe are safe in the Lord. David said that he could go to the child but could not bring the child back to him. Also, and just as important, David seemed to be comforted by this knowledge. In other words, David seemed to be saying that he would see his baby son (in heaven), though he could not bring him back. Although it is possible that God applies Christ’s payment for sin to those who cannot believe, the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be adamant or dogmatic. God’s applying Christ’s death to those who cannot believe would seem consistent with His love and mercy. It is our position that God applies Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped, since they are not mentally capable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior, but again we cannot be dogmatic. Of this we are certain: God is loving, holy, merciful, just, and gracious. Whatever God does is always right and good, and He loves children even more than we do. GotQuestions.org Deuteronomy 1:40 'But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.' Deuteronomy 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Numbers 14:25+ “Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.” SINCE YOU WON'T GO IN GO BACK! But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea (See Utley's topic - The Red Sea) - You refers to the first generation - Moses is still giving the second generation an important history lesson. Note the two commands are identical to those in Numbers 14:25+. God said it was time for the rebels to "go south!" Here in a sense God gives them their wishes and so they wandered for the next 38 years and all ended up as corpses in the wilderness! They did not choose to believe His promises, so God sends them in the opposite direction. THOUGHT - Sin is costly and will take you backwards, not forwards, in your spiritual growth! NET Note on you - The Hebrew pronoun is plural, as are the following verbs, indicating that Moses and the people are addressed (Deuteronomy 1) Merrill points out that "The sea referred to here (yam-sup lit., "Reed Sea") is not the one crossed by Israel in the Exodus but the eastern branch of that sea now called the Gulf of Eilat or the Gulf of Aqaba." (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary) NET Note on the the Red Sea - "Heb “the Reed Sea.” “Reed” is a better translation of the Hebrew סוּף (suf), traditionally rendered “red.” The name “Red Sea” is based on the LXX which referred to it as ἐρυθρᾶς θαλάσσης (eruthras thalassēs, “red sea”). Nevertheless, because the body of water in question is known in modern times as the Red Sea, this term was used in the translation. The part of the Red Sea in view here is not the one crossed in the exodus but its eastern arm, now known as the Gulf of Eilat or Gulf of Aqaba. (Deuteronomy 1) Deuteronomy 1:41 "Then you said to me, 'We have sinned against the LORD; we will indeed go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.' And every man of you girded on his weapons of war, and regarded it as easy to go up into the hill country. We have sinned: Nu 14:39-45 Nu 22:34 Pr 19:3 Deuteronomy 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Numbers 14:39+ When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40 In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, “Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised.” 41 But Moses said, “Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD, when it will not succeed? 42“Do not go up, or you will be struck down before your enemies, for the LORD is not among you. 43“For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the LORD. And the LORD will not be with you.” 44 But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down, and struck them and beat them down as far as Hormah. Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the LORD. CONFESSION TOO LATE TO REVERSE THE CONSEQUENCES Then - Marks sequence in a series of events. You (first generation even though he is addressing second generation) said to me, 'We have sinned against the LORD - Hollow, self-serving confession, not true brokenness. Regret without repentance. The fruit of repentance is a change of behavior. Merrill says "they donned a cloak of hypocritical repentance." (cf Nu 14:40+) They were not sorry for their sin, but for the consequences of their sin! Had Israel stopped with this confession it (and it had been genuine) it would have been a good thing. But their subsequent actions showed their confession to be a sham. They foolishly thought they could escape God's righteous judgment (and/or consequences) against them! They had a superficial "change of heart" but went forth in their flesh not in faith (for if they had had faith they would have obeyed Dt 1:42). Of the two choices, either return to the wilderness or enter the Promised Land, they now favored the latter, but it was too late! They were using their human reason, not faith and in so doing proved their heart was still rebellious. Now they would disobey the command to return the wilderness, following one act of rebellion with another! John Maxwell - They still were filled with unbelief. They disbelieved God’s threats. And they still were filled with self-will. They did not ask, “Will God permit us?” but arrogantly exclaimed, “We will go up and fight.” THOUGHT - Believers must always be careful not to fall into this trap. Apparent obedience to the Word of God may be the result of choosing the path which seems best for us but is lacking in faith. Such a choice is founded on what is our desire and not on what is His command. A pathway of feigned obedience to the Lord that is pursued in the power of the flesh will always end in disaster. (What the Bible Teaches) We will indeed go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us - As a general rule arrogant men who are confident in themselves are destined ultimately for destruction and defeat as happened to these men. This action by Israel is an illustration of the principle of delayed obedience which is direct disobedience! John Maxwell - The test of obedience is a willingness to do what God requires at the time He requires it and not when it is convenient for us. A distraught pilot, experiencing trouble landing his plane, listened as the control tower radioed instructions. “But there is a pole there,” the pilot objected. The answer came back, “You take care of the instructions and we’ll take care of the obstructions.” What good advice for the Israelites. They were allowing the obstructions to bog them down. J