Four Weeks Before... For this study,
open your Trip Bible, mark it with your
trip highlighter, Deuteronomy 11:1-32
open your Trip Bible, mark it with your
trip highlighter, Deuteronomy 11:1-32
A Personal Bible Study: Four Weeks Before Our Visit to Israel...
"Trust and Obey" Open your Trip Bible to Deuteronomy 11:1-32
Let's take a look at...
"The Land of Israel - God's Testing Ground of Faith"
A. God's Expectations (Read Deuteronomy 11:1-12)
1. God expects us to love and obey Him because of what He has done
for us in the past (11:1-7)
God rehearses Israel's history from their bondage in Egypt, through their
deliverance at the Red Sea . . . to their judgment in the wilderness.
2. God expects us to trust & obey Him because of His promises to us for
the future (11:8-12) God vividly describes the Promised Land to a nation
that has not yet seen it.
a. It's a land of promised blessing (v.9)
b. It's a land unlike anything experienced before (v. 10)
c. It's a land under God's care (vv. 11-12)
B. God's Response (Read Deuteronomy 11:13-21)
1. God will bless those who trust and obey (11:13-15)
a. God will provide the needed rain (vv. 13-14a)
In the winter of 2010, the Sea of Galilee water level was very low. Citizens of Israel rejoiced in an unusually
rainy month of January. Even though Israel's "rainy season" runs from late November to early March,
January rains are rare. The "early rain" and "latter rain" usually refer to springtime rains and autumn
rains. Additionally, they signal abundant rainfall, filling of the Sea of Galilee, early greening of the
Galilee area and two good harvests!
b. God says He will provide needed food for the people and for their animals (verses 14b-15)
"Grain" refers to wheat and barley, Israel's main food source. The "wine" comes from the vineyards,
and the "oil" from the olive tree. Theses are four of the seven main products of the land that God
promised Israel (see Deuteronomy 8:7-8)
2. God will judge those who turn away from Him (11:16-21)
a. God's warning against turning from Him (vv. 16-17)
b. God's remedy for turning from Him (vv.18-21)
1. Know His Word (v. 18)
Orthodox Jews today take this literally, wrapping Scripture boxes on arms & foreheads when praying.
2. Teach His Word (v. 19)
3. Exalt His Word in the home & in the city (vv. 20-21) Orthodox Jews take this literally too, placing a
mezuzah (small box containing a portion of God's Word) on the door frames of their homes, their
businesses and on the gates of the city of Jerusalem. You'll notice them on your hotel room door.
C. God's Reminder (Read Deuteronomy 11:22-32)
1. God reminded the people of His promises before they entered the land. Not a bad idea for us. (22-25)
a. Obedience brings us victory over opposition (vv. 22-23)
b. Obedience brings us victory over limitations (v. 24)
c. Obedience brings us victory over obstacles (v. 25)
2. God commanded the people to remember His promises after they entered the land (11:26-32)
Israel fulfilled this command in Joshua 8:30-35.
Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim today stand guard over the Arab city of Nablus.
The Bottom Line:
The land of Israel was God's "testing ground of faith" for His people. From Moses’ and Joshua’s day, God expected His people to move ahead by faith, to do their part to take the land He had promised them, by His power, to achieve the victory and for them to celebrate His faithfulness!
But their walk of faith did not end once the land had been entered, or even conquered.
Throughout intervening history and even today, God wants His children to live out His command to "trust
and obey." As the Bible shows and the hymn-writer says, “there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.”
Our trip through the Land, the Book and the Faith can also be a journey of personal faith for you.
Place after place, site after site will remind us of the wisdom of trusting the Lord and obeying Him.
[My thanks to the unknown author from whom I've drawn some ideas for this study. -David]
"Trust and Obey" Open your Trip Bible to Deuteronomy 11:1-32
Let's take a look at...
"The Land of Israel - God's Testing Ground of Faith"
A. God's Expectations (Read Deuteronomy 11:1-12)
1. God expects us to love and obey Him because of what He has done
for us in the past (11:1-7)
God rehearses Israel's history from their bondage in Egypt, through their
deliverance at the Red Sea . . . to their judgment in the wilderness.
2. God expects us to trust & obey Him because of His promises to us for
the future (11:8-12) God vividly describes the Promised Land to a nation
that has not yet seen it.
a. It's a land of promised blessing (v.9)
b. It's a land unlike anything experienced before (v. 10)
c. It's a land under God's care (vv. 11-12)
B. God's Response (Read Deuteronomy 11:13-21)
1. God will bless those who trust and obey (11:13-15)
a. God will provide the needed rain (vv. 13-14a)
In the winter of 2010, the Sea of Galilee water level was very low. Citizens of Israel rejoiced in an unusually
rainy month of January. Even though Israel's "rainy season" runs from late November to early March,
January rains are rare. The "early rain" and "latter rain" usually refer to springtime rains and autumn
rains. Additionally, they signal abundant rainfall, filling of the Sea of Galilee, early greening of the
Galilee area and two good harvests!
b. God says He will provide needed food for the people and for their animals (verses 14b-15)
"Grain" refers to wheat and barley, Israel's main food source. The "wine" comes from the vineyards,
and the "oil" from the olive tree. Theses are four of the seven main products of the land that God
promised Israel (see Deuteronomy 8:7-8)
2. God will judge those who turn away from Him (11:16-21)
a. God's warning against turning from Him (vv. 16-17)
b. God's remedy for turning from Him (vv.18-21)
1. Know His Word (v. 18)
Orthodox Jews today take this literally, wrapping Scripture boxes on arms & foreheads when praying.
2. Teach His Word (v. 19)
3. Exalt His Word in the home & in the city (vv. 20-21) Orthodox Jews take this literally too, placing a
mezuzah (small box containing a portion of God's Word) on the door frames of their homes, their
businesses and on the gates of the city of Jerusalem. You'll notice them on your hotel room door.
C. God's Reminder (Read Deuteronomy 11:22-32)
1. God reminded the people of His promises before they entered the land. Not a bad idea for us. (22-25)
a. Obedience brings us victory over opposition (vv. 22-23)
b. Obedience brings us victory over limitations (v. 24)
c. Obedience brings us victory over obstacles (v. 25)
2. God commanded the people to remember His promises after they entered the land (11:26-32)
Israel fulfilled this command in Joshua 8:30-35.
Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim today stand guard over the Arab city of Nablus.
The Bottom Line:
The land of Israel was God's "testing ground of faith" for His people. From Moses’ and Joshua’s day, God expected His people to move ahead by faith, to do their part to take the land He had promised them, by His power, to achieve the victory and for them to celebrate His faithfulness!
But their walk of faith did not end once the land had been entered, or even conquered.
Throughout intervening history and even today, God wants His children to live out His command to "trust
and obey." As the Bible shows and the hymn-writer says, “there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.”
Our trip through the Land, the Book and the Faith can also be a journey of personal faith for you.
Place after place, site after site will remind us of the wisdom of trusting the Lord and obeying Him.
[My thanks to the unknown author from whom I've drawn some ideas for this study. -David]