Back To The Future Series

August 16, 2025

Moses began the next section of his 2nd Speech with “Shema” = “Hear, O Israel.”

Remember that behind this call to “hear” is the expectation of action – of response.

As James would later admonish, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

So far, Moses has spent a lot of time calling the people to remember. Why? Some would say, “forget the past – there’s nothing to be done about it now.”

True enough. We can’t do anything about the past, but the past does have the power to inform our future – either by crippling us or by empowering us to make different choices going forward.

George Santayana said, “Those who don’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

C.S. Lewis said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Moses starts – In the Future (9:1-6).

You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky.

The people are strong and tall – Anakites! You’ve heard it said: "Who can stand up against the Anakites?"

But be assured today that Yahweh is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them and you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as Yahweh has promised you.

After Yahweh your God has driven them out, do not say to yourself, "Yahweh has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness."

It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, Yahweh your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

And there you go…. God’s promises have little to do with our righteousness and integrity and everything to do with his righteousness and integrity.

He was not taking the Children of Israel into the Land because they deserved to go in, but because he made a promise and he can always be counted on to keep his promises.

Moses went a step further – Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that Yahweh is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

Webster definition: “stiff-necked” is defined as haughty and stubborn and describes someone who is obstinate or inflexible in attitude or behavior.

Synonyms: mulish - headstrong - willful - strong-willed - self-willed - pigheaded - bull-headed - difficult - contrary - perverse - recalcitrant - inflexible - iron-willed - uncooperative - unbending - unyielding

Exhibit A – The Past = What you did (9:7-10:11)

Remember this and never forget how you provoked Yahweh your God to anger in the desert. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against Yahweh:

At Horeb you aroused his wrath so that he was angry enough to destroy you….. Why? Because you sinned against him; you had made for yourselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. You turned aside quickly from the way that he commanded you. Yahweh was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too.

(Moses interceded on behalf of the people).

You also made Yahweh angry at Taberah, at Massah and at Kibroth Hattaavah. And when he sent you out from Kadesh Barnea, he said, "Go up and take possession of the land I have given you." But you rebelled against his command - you did not trust him or obey him. You have been rebellious against Yahweh ever since I have known you.

And yet …. He said to me, "Go and lead the people on their way, so that they may enter and possess the land that I swore to their fathers to give them."

The Present (10:12-11:1)

And now, O Israel, what does Yahweh ask of you but to fear him, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe his commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

To Yahweh your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet he set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today.

Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.

For Yahweh is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.