Deuteronomy chapter 1

vs 23

See, there was nothing wrong with this idea - or at least Moses didn't see anything wrong with it. And it had the opportunity to be a great thing - the spies come back saying how great the land was, and everyone goes, "Ooooh, I want to live there," and, "Wow, God is giving us an awesome land."

vs 24

Good to know.

vs 25

See! Good report! That's what you want to hear. Moses is of course being light on with the rest of the report, and is preferring the words of Caleb and Joshua there.

vs 26

See, it wasn't Moses saying, "Right lads, I'm sick of sand in me underpants." God had said that this was to be the appointed time to go. So not going showed a distinct lack of faith in God. Not the happiest memory in the history of this young nation.

vs 27

Yes, of course he did. That's exactly what God's motivation was. I mean, that makes perfect sense.

The problem is, when we don't get what we want, and we start to grumble, we forget how to think about God properly. So we attribute things to God that aren't really fair or theologically accurate.

vs 28

Ahhh yes, those famous Anakites. I'd be shaking in my boots too.

And that's the thing - the report was a scary one. And in worldly circumstances, it would be well and good to be scared. But if God has specifically said, "Do it, and I'll make it go well," then you don't really have a choice.

Actually, that's the problem - you do. All that free will and such. You do have a choice, and by ignoring God you can easily make the wrong one.

vs 29

Moses is instructing them to get back into the right mindset. Fear of something other than God is actually saying that God isn't worth fearing. Of course, we don't see it that way because we're usually too scared to think about it.

vs 30

That's the thing - Israel had seen God do the awesome plagues, the parting of the sea, and the wiping out of Egypt's army. It hasn't been that long since that happened, but people have short memories.

vs 31

That's a nice picture. The thing is, like a child carried by its father, it still whinges about being tired even though it doesn't have to walk.

vs 32

We are not cold, calculating, mechanical, mathematical, logical beings. Even when the truth is pointed out, and we have something explained in reasonable terms, we can still fold our arms and pout. I know, I do it all the time.

vs 33

Even miraculous events aren't enough to break this attitude, because it's an attitude of sin, and it has to be repented of.

vs 34

When God gets angry and solemnly swears something, you know it's not going to be good. You thought there was something to be afraid of before? Well, now there certainly is.