Deuteronomy 32:5-105They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. 6Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee? 7Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. 8When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 9For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. (Deuteronomy 32:5‑10)
The children of Israel are reminded again of how good the Lord had been to them. He had brought them and established them, and yet they were perverse and crooked in their ways, and seemed to forget how He had been a Father to them. If they had not heard of His goodness, they could ask their fathers who would tell them of God’s wonderful works on their behalf. He then told them that when God divided to the nations their inheritance, when He gave to each their place to live, He set the boundaries of each according to the number of His people Israel. Israel is God’s earthly people, and His purpose is to make their land the center of earthly blessing in a coming day. Jerusalem is yet to be “the joy of the whole earth” (Psalm 48:22Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2)). Any person or nation who persecutes them comes under the judgment of God, for even though they themselves are now a scattered people because of their rejection of Christ, they are still “beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Romans 11:2828As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. (Romans 11:28)). Their land, the land of Palestine, is called “the glorious land,” and the Lord has already begun to work in bringing them back, though as yet they are going back in unbelief. It is, however, a remarkable sign that “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:88Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)). When as a nation they turn to the Lord in repentance, God will bless them in their land, but before that time comes we, the church, will have been called to “meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). The way unsaved men act, one would think the world belonged to them, but let us not forget what the Lord said to Nebuchadnezzar when he became occupied with his own importance and greatness. He told him “that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will” (Daniel 4:2525That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Daniel 4:25)). How foolish of the nations to leave God out of their plans!
The Lord’s Portion Is His People
How precious the words that follow. “The Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance.” They might forget what He had done for them, but He still loved His people, and the Lord will never rest until His own are fully blest. Yes, God Himself will find His eternal joy in the blessing of those who are the subjects of His grace, whether it be Israel on earth or ourselves in heaven. We often think of our joy, but His joy in blessing us is far deeper. And not only in the future, for just as He wanted His people Israel to walk in obedience then so that He might lead and bless them in all things, so He would have us walk in the enjoyment of His love now. The enemy will do all he can to rob us of this precious portion, as we all know. May we be kept looking to the Lord for strength to walk in His ways.
The Lord had proved His goodness to Israel. “He found him in a desert land ... He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye” (verse 10). And has He not done this for us, too? We think of how He found us wandering far from Him in all our guilt and sin. Like sheep we had gone astray, but the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd sought after us until He found us. Then He led us about. How many mistakes we would have made, how often we would have missed the path, if He had not graciously taken us by the hand and led us about. And yet, sadly, sometimes we have resisted His leading to our own loss. But He has always been faithful, always near at hand to hear our call.
Further Meditations
1. What must happen before God will bless Israel in their land?
2.The Lord’s joy and satisfaction can be our motive for doing something. In Revelation chapter 2 the Ephesian saints were reproved for just one thing, What was it?
3. A good atlas really helps in seeing the land that the children of Israel will possess one day. In fact it would be a big help in understanding many references throughout the Bible. One that is pretty thorough is The New Moody Atlas of Bible Lands by B. Beitzel.