Deuteronomy 1 - James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

we might expect to find emphasised in it the lessons of these books. And this we do find.

I. The Divine election of Israel, so prominent in Genesis, we might expect to find emphasised in it the lessons of these books. And this we do find.

I. The Divine election of Israel, is here emphasised. Israel is bidden to remember it again and again,

KADESH-BARNEA

‘We came to Kadesh-barnea.’

Deuteronomy 1:19

The Hebrews had a wonderful preparation that should have led to a right decision at this crisis. Cowardice and distrust turned them back when only one march would have put them in Canaan. They turned back, and only two ever came so near again.

I. Many here have all needful preparation for stepping over the line.—Christian birth and training, convinced all their lives, under great stress of conviction time and again. Now you may be at your Kadesh.

II. What prevents right decision? Nothing better than (1) moral cowardice like that of Pilate, who dared not risk being accused of lack of loyalty to Cæsar. Or (2) some sin like that which kept Herod from obeying John the Baptist, whom he heard gladly, but finally murdered. (3) Worldliness, like that of Judas, whose case shows how near a man may come to salvation and be lost. So with the Young Ruler who only lacked one thing; but lacking that, lacked all. (4) Pride, like that which so nearly carried Naaman back to Syria to die a leper, turns many the wrong way when they come to their Kadesh. Don’t dictate to God how He shall heal you. You can’t have your own way about a single thing and be a Christian. (5) Procrastination has ruined multitudes, as it did Felix. He had many another opportunity, perhaps never a better; and, mark it, we do not read that he trembled again! Sad for a vessel to go down in mid-ocean, but sadder if home and safety are just in sight. (6) Distrust, like that which led the Israelites to send in spies to see if God had told the truth. This prepared them to accept the wrong majority, instead of the right minority report. The wrong one was true as to the goodness of the land. Can you bear to go back to the desert? How many dying Hebrews, as their children bent to catch last words, urged them, if they ever came to Kadesh, to go in without waiting! (7) Some want a voice from beyond the veil. Well, we have one—that of Dives—and does it not urge immediate surrender? A more weighty—Abraham’s—declares that whoever disobeys the light he has, would not be persuaded, even though one rose from the dead. How much more you have than those brothers of Dives had! (8) Some may say, ‘I’ll wait.’ Few make their final rejection all at once. Its elements were in every previous one. Wait till this service closes? It is closing now! If you go down to death, you will remember this service—those who did take the one step to Jesus, the tender invitation of the hymns, such as ‘Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.’ He will have passed by for ever?

Illustration

‘Although it was only eleven days’ journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea by way of Mount Seir (Deuteronomy 1:2.), it would naturally take the Israelitish host much longer to cover the distance. Their route probably lay along the western shore of the Gulf of Akaba. In three days’ time they reached the desert of Paran—“that great and terrible wildernes s.” The exact route can no longer be traced. All we know is that they encamped first at Kibroth Hattaavah, and then at Hazçroth (possibly ‘ Ain Haderah,’ between Sinai and Akaba), as they journeyed “by way of the mountain of the Amorites” to Kadesh-barnea, the southern boundary of Canaan (Deuteronomy 1:19).’