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Moses brings the covenant with Abraham forward to the people of Israel, then points through that covenant to a coming kingdom and dynasty by which, and in submission to whom, they would realize the precious and very great promises of God.
Kingdom and covenant continue to come together and be enlarged under the teaching and leadership of Moses. And this is especially so as Moses points forward to an earthly king, a dynasty of kings, and a coming Ruler for Whom all this kingdom and covenant have been especially prepared.
A dynasty of kings
Through Moses, God instructed His people to embrace the notion of kingdom and kingship, and He promised to give them a king when they came into the land (Deut. 17.14-20).
The kings who would rule in Israel, however, were not to be anything like the pagan kings Israel had known. They were not to be motivated by selfish ambition or the desire for wealth. They were not to take advantage of the people for their own aggrandizement. And they were live and rule according the just and holy statutes and precepts of the Law of God. The Law of God would keep the hearts of Israel’s kings humble, so that they could serve the people well.
The kings Israel was to know in the land of promise would thus be regents of God, obedient to His Law, and devoted to serving His people for the fullness of covenant blessings. They would be descendants of Judah, and would begin a dynasty that would only end with One Whose name is Shiloh – a word that means, “Him Whose It Is.”
Thus, Moses reported to the captives in Israel that God had great Kingdom purposes in mind for them, and they must trust Him, enter fully into His promises, live as His Kingdom people according to His Law, and look forward to the day of Shiloh’s coming, when all kingdoms and nations would come under His authority and rule.
A reminder in the wilderness
When, just as the generation born in the wilderness was preparing to enter the land, the report was brought to Moses of the prophecy of the false prophet, Balaam, he must have been encouraged to see how God had impressed on even this pagan the certainty of these regal and covenantal matters. Balaam acknowledged, quite against his will, that God was King in the midst of His people, and that He would lead and sustain them against every attempt to frustrate His purposes (Num. 23.22-24: note how Balaam’s words echo those of Jacob in Gen. 49.8-11). In language pointedly reminiscent of God’s promise to Abraham, Balaam declared that God’s stated purpose for His people is sure, and all nations would be wise, therefore, to seek His blessing from the kingdom of God’s people (Num. 24.8, 9).
Fortified with the recovered stories of their forebears, observers of destroyed kings and realms, and recipients of promises directly related to kings and a Kingdom where blessing and prosperity were to be known by all, Israel was much encouraged to follow Joshua in the work of conquest.
The kingdom vision Moses received reached back to Israel’s beginnings and forward to the land of promise and beyond to a final, coming King. It situated the people of Israel as citizens in a nation ruled by God, but overseen by earthly kings, submitted to God’s Law. It saw the nations as seeking the favor of God by blessing His people, and knowing the curse of God in opposing them. And, throughout their journey through the wilderness, God gave His people ample evidence that what He had promised, He was well able to provide.
Next steps
Meditate on Genesis 49.8-10 and Deuteronomy 4.5-9. How should we understand the relationship between earthly kings and the Kingdom God has appointed for us His people? How does God’s promised Kingdom come to expression in your Personal Mission Field? Share your thoughts with a Christian friend.
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Additional Resources
Download this week’s study, Kingdom Visionaries 1: Adam, Abraham, and Moses.
Sign up for ViewPoint Leaders Training and start your own ViewPoint discussion group.
For a concise explanation of the Kingdom of God, and help in learning how to proclaim it, order a copy of T. M.s little book, The Gospel of the Kingdom from our online store, by clicking here.
Men, join the movement of men at prayer! Download our free brief paper, “Men of the Church: A Solemn Warning,” by clicking here.
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.