Notes
He brought us out of Egypt so he could give us this land he had sworn to give our ancestors.
Deuteronomy 6:23
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
Times of transition are important. In this passage in Deuteronomy, the people of Israel were in a time of transition out of slavery. Then 1 Peter 2:9 is talking about us as Christians. When we come to follow Jesus, we transition out of slavery and into God’s light.
“When we were at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River. Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’”
Deuteronomy 1:6-8
After being freed from Egypt, the Iraelites spent 38 years wandering in the wilderness. When we’re transitioning, we can get stuck because we want to follow our feelings instead of trusting and obeying God. And that’s why the Israelites were stuck for nearly four decades without making it to the Promised Land. God brings us out of darkness not to leave us unattended, but to take us into His provision.
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
“The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 6:4-12
Today can be the day you get back on track! From these verses we learn four principles about how to successfully navigate times of transition:
1) Remember God’s faithfulness
God does not change; He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Love Him above all else, and put Him first.
2) Commit to God’s plan and principles
God’s Word reveals His character. Ultimately, all of His commands point us back to either loving God or loving people.
3) Collaborate often
Talk about the goodness of God over and over. What you repeat becomes a habit, so make it a habit to bring God’s love wherever you are. Talk about the good things He is doing!
4) Don’t forget
It’s human nature to focus on the gift and not the gifter, or the blessing and not the blesser. Remember who God is, what He has done for you, and what He is doing through you.
Group Questions
- What are some times of transition you have experienced in your life?
- What made those times easy? What made them difficult?
- Why did the Israelites wander in the wilderness?
- What are some modern-day ways we can remember God’s commands often?
Prayer
Thank you for your provision in times of transition. It can be difficult, but we want to trust you over what we feel in the moment.