Title: The Author of Life and Death

Deuteronomy 30:11

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.

"not too difficult for you"
"not beyond your reach"

What does that mean? You can handle this. There's nothing you won't be able to handle. God is going to throw something at you, allow you to do something, or get you involved in something and says, "you can handle it." Again, I'm going to compare all of this to the New Testament. You'll see that what God tells you to do in the Christian life is not too difficult and it's not beyond your reach. That's how I want to apply this.

Deuteronomy 30:12

It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"

Some of you may remember that we read this in Romans 10 last week. This is the scripture we read last week before we started Deuteronomy. You may want to make a note in your Bible to reference Romans 10:1-10.

Deuteronomy 30:13

Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

"the word is in your mouth and in your heart"

Notice that he does not say, "it is on tablets of stone." What does he say? "It's in your mouth and in your heart." It's the same thing for us today. The Word of God is in our hearts and minds. It's not somewhere remote. It's not beyond your reach. It's not too difficult. It's not something that you can't understand. And he's talking about your Bible, the Word of God. This is your Word today. The way I read this, it is not beyond your understanding, not too difficult, and not beyond your reach. It's in your mouth and your heart. Nothing in here is beyond you and it's not too difficult for you.

Deuteronomy 30:15

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.

God is laying it out here.

Deuteronomy 30:16-18

For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

"live and increase"

We're going to see that. They're not going to stick to it and they will be destroyed. We'll read that throughout the rest of the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

"life and death"

In the Christian's life, what is death? There are all kinds of death in the Bible, not just physical death. We, as human beings, get hung up on physical death. We do anything we can to avoid physical death. God looks on the physical death of a Christian as nothing, really. The death He looks on as being the most serious is spiritual death, also known as the "Second Death", the eternal separation from Him. That's what death is. This kind of death will be experienced by non-believers at the end times.

When you becomes a Christian, your spiritual "state" is the same as the righteousness of Christ. God sees you as righteous as Christ - all of your sins (past, present, and future) have been removed because of Christ. HOWEVER, your spiritual "condition" changes as we live on this earth. When you are disobedient (sin), your condition is separation from (or death to) God and you have a broken fellowship with God. Your "condition" is temporal and bounces up and down as you go from "walking in the Spirit" to "walking after the flesh" and back. In other words, when you are not obedient to God, you cannot have fellowship with Him and God sees you as spiritually dead. You are not listening to the Holy Spirit within you and you cannot act with the power of the Holy Spirit. It's as if you are dead. Now, during these times of broken fellowship, God never leaves you - the Holy Spirit has not left you. It is you that have left Him. You have broken fellowship and you're dead to Him. You must come back and, like 1 John 1:9 says, "If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you of those sins and make you righteous again."

Deuteronomy 34

Moses dies. He can't live forever. He dies. I can't read chapter 34 without thinking of a white-haired, white-bearded Charlton Heston, standing on that mountain with a white glow around him. If you've seen "The Ten Commandments", you know what I'm talking about. That's what chapter 34 is about.

Deuteronomy 34:5-9a

And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. Now Joshua son of Nun

I know you've heard this before: Joshua is the only person who never had parents. Ha ha. (Joshua, son of "none.")

Deuteronomy 34:9-12

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Amen. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

That's what God did through Moses. God revealed Himself like never before through the instrument (man) we call "Moses."

Joshua 1:1-5

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

God has told them this. What do they have to do? Just go in and take it. God has already delivered it. God has already given it. He will not leave them or forsake them.

Joshua 1:6-7a

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous.

"be strong and very courageous"

Joshua 1:7b-8

Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The Law is internal (in your mouth) not external (on stone tablets).

Meditate on the Word of God day and night.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

"do not be terrified or discouraged"

Does everybody see where I’m headed with this? Is it intuitively obvious to the most casual observer? You should be able to see this setting up beautifully for a New Testament Christian.

Joshua 1:10-11

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: "Go through the camp and tell the people, `Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'"

Could it be clearer? "Take possession of what God has given." Does everybody see that? God is giving you this Land. Go and take possession of it. It’s like someone said, "I’m giving you a car. Here are the keys." It’s not yours until you take the keys, start it up, and drive it to your house. It’s yours. You have it. But it’s not yours until you take it.

Joshua 2:1

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

This is a little side story to the possession, but I can’t skip this.

Do you all find it interesting that God has told them all about these idols and gods and staying clean and they go to Rahab, a prostitute? Isn’t that interesting? Rahab is a prostitute. She’s also a Gentile. She lives in Jericho. She’s a Canaanite. They’re going to save her. Does anybody know why they save her? Let’s keep reading.

The king finds out the spies are there so he goes after them. Rahab takes care of them.

Joshua 2:8-9

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.

Can you picture this? Here are two spies entering the Land. They stay with her. What does she tell them? She says, "I fear God and the whole country is melting in fear because of your God." Word has come before these two spies arrived. People are talking. They heard what happened in Egypt. They heard all the things that happened around Mt. Sinai and in the wilderness. Now they are melting in fear.

The people living there are in fear. What did God tell the Hebrews? Don’t fear. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be terrified. The other people are going to be terrified.

Joshua 2:10

We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.

This goes back to Genesis 15 where He says that the measure of the Amorites’ cup of sin is not yet full. Now it’s full and God is using these people to judge them.

Joshua 2:11

When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

What would you call Rahab? Spiritually? Does she believe in God? Yes. She’s heard about God and believes in God but she’s practicing prostitution. This is what’s interesting about Rahab. Here’s a Gentile, Canaanite prostitute who believes in God and who has said really strong words, "the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." She’s heard enough about God to know he’s the One God (we don’t need all the idols) and that He’s God everywhere. Don’t miss this. Think about the concept she has of God. I’ve been telling you that when you read about people in the Old Testament, think about their concept of God. How do they view God?

Joshua 2:12-13

Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."

She has professed belief in God and now she’s saying, "because I’ve done this for you, swear that you’ll save me." Does everybody see that?

I’m skipping a lot but you can read it.

Joshua 2:24

They said to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."

The spies go back and give a good report. Notice what they said. What did they say? "The Whole Land." "God has given us the whole land and the people are melting in fear." If you heard that and you were an Israelite, how would you feel? Pumped up. Ready to go. "Let’s go! We’re on the winning side!" It’s a done deal. If I were a betting man, I’d go all out for the Israelites. They have everything going for them. Does everybody see that?

Matthew 1:1

A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Matthew 1:5a

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab

Who do we have in the genealogy of Christ in verse 5? Rahab, the prostitute. As a matter of fact, she was the great, great, grandmother of David. Rahab, the prostitute, a Canaanite (not even from the desert or Egypt), is in the lineage of Christ. That astounds me. Anybody else who wanted to be Messiah, the savior of the world, Mr. Righteousness, would clean up their ancestry act and make sure they were all special kings and queens. What does Jesus have? A Canaanite prostitute. A female, Canaanite, prostitute! Does that amaze you? I think the reason the story’s here is not for the spies but for Rahab, the prostitute. If this hadn’t happened, who is Rahab? But it doesn’t stop there!

Go to Hebrews, chapter 11. What is that chapter called? The Hall of Faith. The Faith chapter. It’s a list of all the faithful people who existed including Abraham, Moses, Noah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, etc. Guess who else is in here? Rahab. Can you believe that?

Hebrews 11:31

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute, is in the Hall of Faith. Notice it was because of her faith. Also notice they (people in Jericho) were killed because of their disobedience, not because they were Canaanites. What does the Bible call the people they are going to destroy? Disobedient. We’re back to God judging people, not because this or that, not because of His disfavor or displeasure, but because they’ve been disobedient to Him.

Joshua 5:1

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Who took the courage away from them? God.

Joshua 5:2-3

At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.

You can read this. These were the people who had been born in the wilderness but never circumcised. Remember that circumcision was a sign. There wasn’t anything sacred about it. It was a sign that you belonged to God. They had to be circumcised before doing God’s work.

Joshua 5:13-14

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"

Who is this? Jesus Christ, pre-incarnate. You know, when I ask that question now, you all are like the five-year-old class. "Who loves you?" "Jesus." Well, I think it is. Does anybody not believe it’s Jesus? Let’s keep reading.

Joshua 5:15

The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Where have you heard this before? God in the burning bush. I think this is part of the trinity. Again, it doesn’t say, "Jesus Christ," but I think this is part of the trinity, the Son of God, in the Old Testament, working and carrying out God’s commands and His will. Here He is in the Old Testament.

Joshua 6:1

Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Has anyone heard Carman’s "Jericho"? I might bring that in next week. That’s good stuff. When he says, "Now Jericho was tightly shut up. No one went in and no one came out." It’s powerful. It gives me chills.

Joshua 6:2

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.

Notice "I have delivered." Has it happened yet? No. But what is God (or Jesus, pre-incarnate) saying? "I have delivered. It’s already done."

You’re standing there, as an Israelite, saying, "Wait a minute. The walls are still there. The people are still there. How can He say it’s delivered?" You can see it, but through faith, it’s already been delivered. It’s the faith that is working.

Joshua 6:3-5

March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."

Amen! Praise the Lord! How much faith does that take? Can you picture the men on the walls of Jericho? How many of you have seen the "Veggie Tales" version of this? It’s a cute interpretation. They threw grapes down on them or something. But they’re up on the wall and what are they seeing? People marching around for seven days. If you’re an Israelite, what are you thinking? "Why are we doing this?" Can you see the faith it takes to do something that doesn’t make sense to the world? The "wisdom" of the world is like foolishness to God. This would look foolish, but it is by faith they are doing what God told them to do. It’s all about faith.

F – orsaking
A – ll
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Joshua 6:15-17

On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.

"Devoted" is the "charam" devotion of something to be destroyed for God.

Here’s Rahab again.

Joshua 6:21

They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it--men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

Just like God said. It’s His judgment. This is where all of you will have to grapple with God’s judgment. He says, "I will judge the world. I give all the chances in the world, but I will judge it."

Joshua 13:14

But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.

The Levites do not have Land. God gave them cities. He gave them no inheritance because they were priests.

Joshua 15:63

Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

Did they destroy everybody? No.

Joshua 16:10

They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.

They learned the consequences of disobedience at Ai. They keep fighting and fighting and they get to the point where they forget. They didn’t kill everybody. Somebody said, "Oh, let’s leave them alone." They didn’t do what God told them to do. They didn’t carry out His judgment. They didn’t wipe them out. We’re going to see that that is their downfall. When we get over to Judges, we’re going to see all kinds of problems they have.

1 John 5:1-3

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

This is you, as a Christian.

Doesn’t this sound like what He said to the Israelites? But this is You. He’s talking to You.

1 John 5:4a

for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

God has given you the world. You are an overcomer of this world. All He says to do is go and take possession of it. God challenges you just as He did the Israelites. "I have given you the Land." He says to you, "I have given you the world." Anybody born of God has overcome the world. What does this world throw at you? Job losses, financial problems, health problems—you name it. It’s thrown at you. What does God say about you, as a child of God, sitting here today? "You are an overcomer of that. That is not bigger than what God has already given to you." Do you believe it and are you willing to take possession of that promise? God has said it. You are in the same boat as the Israelites before they entered the Land. God asks, "Are you going to believe me? When I tell you, ‘I’ve given it to you,’ are you going to believe me?" It’s over and done with, child of God. There’s nothing in this world. You are an overcomer!

1 John 5:4b-5

This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

This is what the people in the world want to see. They want to see someone who has overcome the world. You can only do it because you are an overcomer through what God has given you through Jesus Christ. This is the faith that we have. We have a faith that says, "I am an overcomer. I don’t see it, but God says it. That settles it. I believe it." You go on from there.