Ken Garrison

One of the most popular Biblical topics is prophecy. Often overlooked is prophecy which has already been fulfilled. One such prophecy occurs in this week’s section. Moses prophesied that when Israel entered the land that they would demand a “king” in order to be like all the other nations (Deuteronomy 17:14). Almost 400 years later in the days of Samuel, Israel made this demand. God told Samuel that Israel had not rejected him (Samuel) but had rejected God.

It took Israel almost 400 years to begin to see themselves as a nation like others. This, I believe, is a function of the fact that Israel had been slaves for an extended period in Egypt. Slavery destroys self confidence in the individual and in the community at large.
Also, in this section, Moses specifically prohibited some activities by a future king.

“Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, “You shall never again return that way.” Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.” (Deuteronomy 17:16-17)

Solomon violated all these prohibited acts. Solomon is said to have been the wisest man, but his wisdom somehow didn’t envelop Moses’ exhortation.
Finally, this future king would be required to personally write the law and read it continually.

“Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left; in order that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)

Do you suppose it would be wisdom for the U.S. to require the president to personally hand write the constitution and to review it continually? Perhaps it would be wise if the Israeli Prime Minister was required to write out the commandments.

A famous rabbi once declared that “God is spirit” (John 4:24). This means that God must be discerned spiritually not through our natural senses (ancient idolatry) or through intellectual deduction (modern idolatry). With Israel, God began revealing Himself through a record of communications between Himself and specifically chosen vessels within Israel who apparently had the capacity to discern God’s voice. We presume that this capacity was due to a gift given to the individual by God Himself.

At Mt. Sinai, the people of Israel chose to have a “prophet” to function between themselves and God because they were terrified at the awesome manifestation of God (Exodus 20:18-21). This prophet was, of course, Moses. Moses interacted directly with God. He heard God’s voice and communicated His word to Israel. Moses declared that Israel

“heard the sound of words, but you saw no form—only a voice” (Deuteronomy 4:12).

Later, the prophet Elijah described this “voice” as a “small, silent voice” (I Kings 19:12). In addition, the prophet stood in a very special position to intercede (speak to God) on behalf of God’s people. So, a two-way communication link was established between God and His people through a specially chosen vessel. The Bible came into existence is this way. Moses declared that another was coming after him who would function in this same capacity. This is, we believe, the Messiah.

Since God’s voice and presence must be discerned spiritually, God prohibited a number of practices which could lead to confusion in the process of discerning His voice. These practices include: (a) causing sons and daughters to pass through the fire (practiced in the worship of Moleck), (b) divination, (c) witchcraft, (d) interpreting omens, (e) practice of sorcery, (f) casting spells, (g) functioning as a medium, (h) functioning as a spiritist, and (i) calling up the dead (Deuteronomy 18:9-13). Many of these practices seem to overlap but all deal with probing into the unseen spiritual universe attempting to establish communications with some entity there. We believe that the primary reason why these practices were forbidden by God is that they serve as counterfeits of real communication with God.

My experience tells me that any person who has been deeply involved in these practices will have a very difficult time discerning the voice of the Lord. Often, we “wait on the Lord” with fasting and praying to enhance our ability to “hear from God” concerning a matter. The person accustomed to occult practices will be doubled minded is such efforts and is easily deceived. Frequently, spiritual pride accompanies occult experience. Therefore, God prohibited these practices because He was separating a people who would “hear and obey” His word without occult interference. God is still looking for people for the same reason.

From the time that God made a covenant with Israel, He began to indicate that He would eventually designate a specific place where He would establish His name. This would become the unique place of worship for Israel, His people. This site would also designate the future seat of God’s Kingdom on earth. The Bible section that we are considering today repeats that declaration again and again. We know that spot would ultimately be the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. But at this point in the revelation, the exact location that the Lord had in mind had not been established. Israel moved about led by the “cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night” which dwelled over the Tent of Meeting in their midst.

We can begin to appreciate the importance of the specific place that God would designate by the number of times that He repeats His command. Without quoting the specific verses, I will simply list them here. They include: Deuteronomy 12:5, 12:11, 12:14, 12:18, 12:21, 12:26, 14:23, 14:24, 14:25,15:20, 16:2, 16:6,16:7, 16:11,16:15, and16:16.

By my count, this is sixteen references to “the place which the Lord will choose”. Someone has said that if the Lord states something once, it is important. If it is repeated twice than it is sure to be fulfilled. What should we conclude if a statement is repeated 16 times in four short chapters? There must be a very special meaning involved.

When Israel entered the land, the Tent of Meeting was located at the base camp near Jericho at Gilgal. Later, after the conquest, it was relocated in the highlands at Shiloh. It remained there for something like 300 years. The location seems to become somewhat obscure after that. We know that in the time of King David, it was located at Gibeon (I Chronicles 16:39).

God judged David because he acted presumptuously by numbering the people contrary to the commandment of the Lord. In the interaction that followed, David realized that the “threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite” was the “altar of burnt offering for Israel (I Chronicles 22:1)”. David bought the site which was to become the location of the Temple in Jerusalem. Later, Solomon built the Temple there and the Lord announced that this was the site that He had been speaking of for hundreds of years. God declared, “Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually (II Chronicles 7:15-16)”. Two points need to be emphasized in this statement. Firstly, God’s eyes and ears would be uniquely attentive at this place. Therefore, we conclude that God’s chose to establish His presence at this place in a special way unlike any other. Secondly, this situation is perpetual or eternal. It is as true today as it was 3000 years ago.

This site, the Temple Mount, is truly the only site for national Israel to worship. As a Christian, I understand that we may worship anywhere in the world. When worship is conducted in a Biblical manner, we are often blessed with an awesome sense of God’s presence. People get saved, delivered, healed and receive Godly direction on such occasions. But worship at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is unlike anywhere else in the world. In spite of the false claims of Islam concerning this site, true believers from Israel and the whole world must demand that Israel exercise dominion over this site and consecrate it to the Name of the Lord. Nothing that I can imagine will sanctify the Name of the God of Israel more than this.

Many of my Israeli friends believe that consecrating the Temple Mount especially by building the Third Temple is the final step in preparing the way for the Messiah and completion of the “Redemption Process”. Others believe that the Messiah will build the Third Temple. These are points dealing with Jewish theology of which I do not have expert knowledge. What I do know is that such consecration of the Temple Mount will have an awesome impact on Christian believers. Before Israel became a visible nation in 1948, a popular Christian theological position was “God is dead”. As Israel became a visible nation, there was a great revival in Christianity. Evangelists like Billy Graham and Oral Roberts appeared with nationwide, if not international, ministries. Millions either came to faith or renewed their faith. In 1967, with the awesome victory of Israel in the Six-Day War, the modern “Charismatic Revival” swept across the Church. Many millions more experienced a deeply spiritual renewal. Since that time Evangelical Christians have become a strong supporter of Israel. Now Christianity awaits the next move of God in Israel. That move will be, I believe, the consecration of the Temple Mount leading ultimately to the building of the Third Temple.

Today I read of more and more calls in Israel to recognize the importance of the Temple Mount to Israel. Islamic dominance of the site is becoming more and more odious to many Israelis. Eventually, this voice will be heard and actions will be taken to return this site to its Biblical significance. I whole-heartedly join my Israeli friends in looking with great expectancy for such an advance in the “Redemption Process”.

At the beginning of the war in Gaza, I hoped and prayed that Israel would take the step of establishing their absolute authority over the Temple Mount. I understand the political reasons why this has not happened, however, I believe this is so near the heart of God that He will bless and protect Israel when they become bold enough to take this step. It is easy for me to encourage Israel to be bold in this regard since I live 8000 miles away. Still I am reminded of the action taken by King David 3000 years ago. Israel had been at war with the Philistines (centered in Gaza) for five generations. In spite of the long war with the Philistines, David’s first action after being made king of all Israel was to capture and secure Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the final site to be taken in the conquest of the land initiated by Joshua ben Nun almost 400 years earlier. After securing Jerusalem, David defeated the Philistines and brought peace to Israel. I pray that we will see this same thing in our own day.

Please see my book “Israel – God’s Interdimensional Portal” available at Amazon for a discussion of the importance of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and modern Israel in general.

At the close of the account given in Numbers, Israel has spent 38 ½ years wandering about in the wilderness. This resulted from their unbelief in response to the majority report brought by the spies which had entered the land. That generation had died off and a new generation was prepared to enter the Promised Land. Moses was nearing the end of his ministry and gave his parting exhortation in what we know as the book of Deuteronomy.

As Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, God instructed Moses saying,

Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places;…” (Numbers 33:51-52)

And,

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land in which you live. And it shall come about that as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.” (Numbers 33:55-56)

Of course, Israel failed in this commandment and God’s judgment fell upon them. This dominated Israel’s history for about 800 years during the First Kingdom Era (~ 1447 – 586 BC/BCE). Do you suppose that this could still be a problem in Israel?

Representatives of the tribes of Reuben and Gad (and evidently a portion of the tribe of Manasseh) sought Moses and requested to receive their inheritance on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Moses interpreted their petition as rebellion in the likeness of that of the spies that had brought an evil report earlier in the journey. It appears that Moses reluctantly agreed to their request with the provision that the armed men from these tribes cross over the river with the others and participate in the battle to conquer the land.

The conduct of these tribes demonstrates an important truth that we need to comprehend. Reuben, Gad and portions of the tribe of Manasseh saw what they wanted and went for it. They obviously were not seeing themselves in terms of God’s greater plan. They could find everything that they thought they needed on the East Bank of the Jordan but God’s plan was for all the tribes to conquer and inhabit the land between the Jordan and the western sea. This was the land that God had chosen for His redemptive purposes and was first identified as such to Abraham some 600 years earlier. (Note! Please see my book – “Israel: God’s Interdimensional Portal” for a discussion of why this area is so important to God’s plan – available at Amazon.) Israel, at least these tribes, had little understanding of a greater plan or they simply didn’t care.

Many believers today have done the same thing. Sometimes they are referred to as “carnal Christians”. I don’t believe this is a Biblical concept; nevertheless, I hear the expression used today. I believe that God has a specific plan for each believer who confesses that Jesus is Lord and for each local congregation that makes the same confession. Unfortunately, many are grazing their cattle on the hills of Gilead rather than living a bold, fruitful life on the mountains of Israel. They can see God’s will from a distance but are not really entering into it. This is also true of many of our Jewish brethren. The settlements of Reuben, Gad and portions of the tribe of Manasseh are in America today. Israel can be seen at a distance through Arutz Sheva or the Jerusalem Post yet most are not fully engaged in the redemption process that is taking place in the land of Israel.

Over hundreds of years, the tribes who received their inheritance on the East Bank of the Jordan appear to have become less and less significant in terms of Biblical revelation. The main prophetic, priestly and royal lines would come through their brethren to the West specifically from the tribes of Judah and Levi. In other words, Reuben, Gad and portions of the tribe of Manasseh had an opportunity to be participants in the most important events in human history but settled for something far less significant.

Are we doing the same thing today? Are we just looking for plush pastures for our cattle or are we seeking to understand and do God’s will? A famous rabbi once said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34b).