President's Report: In The Word — Deuteronomy

By David Jamieson

UCC President

Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible and the final book in the Torah. Deuteronomy means the second law and is comprised of three sermons.

It’s 1400 BC, and 40 years have passed since the Exodus took place. Moses is 120 years old and is about to give the law to a new generation of Israelites 40 years later, just before they enter the Promised Land. First of all, he reminds them of their journey: 

1. Israel had been delivered from slavery in Egypt.
2. They spent one year at Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments.
3. After accepting the report of the 10 spies, they wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years.
4. Once again, they are on the border of the Promised Land, ready to go in.

Moses gives this new generation of Israelites a pep talk, which, in reality, is the gospel of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is all about Jesus, and I hope you will encounter Jesus in Deuteronomy like never before.

Let me begin by saying that we live in a world that is out of control; a world that is full of trouble, turmoil, and wars. There are difficulties on all sides and uncertainty all across our planet. Many times, we can become blinded by our circumstances, and we forget Who is really in control.

The good news of Deuteronomy is that there is Someone who is in control. It’s not the Republican party. It’s not the Democratic party. It’s not the President, Congress, Senate, or the Supreme Court. There is only one Person who is in control, who has complete control over all things on planet Earth. 

Deuteronomy 9:1-3 says it is the Lord God Almighty, the One who is the Beginning and the End; the Alpha and the Omega; the First and the Last. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the God of the galaxies. So, no matter what your situation is, God is still in control.

I know that sometimes when we walk through the challenges of life, it may be hard to see that God is in control, but we must not forget that God is there, and He has all power in heaven and earth in His hands. If you believe this, then you are on the right path for God to do something special in your life and world.

Like the children of Israel of old, God was about to make a way where there was no way. God was up to something. The question is: Do you believe in this God? It’s easy to trust God when things are going well, but do you trust God when things are in Turmoil? Trouble? Temptation?

The truth is that sometimes God allows us to go through something to test us and to allow us to become a testimony. He did that for Moses, the children of Israel, Job, and He does this for you and me.

Yes, there are giants on the other side; a people who are tall and strong and mighty. Their cities are fortified. They are stronger than you, mightier than you. This is the same story of the 10 spies 40 years earlier. You know who they are, but this time there is a reminder that if God is for you, who can be against you? 

It’s time for us to go to the other side! But if you have any doubt in your mind: The Lord your God will go ahead of you like a consuming fire. The battle belongs to the Lord. He will consume anything in His path, for fire is the picture of the holiness of God.

If you are a child of the heavenly King, remember that troubles will come into your life. But there is a Holy God who sits on high, and He is well able. God is about to do something!

It’s time for us to stop sitting around. It’s time for us to go to the other side. God will go before us as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 

Is there anyone here who is ready to break camp and go to the other side? Are you ready to step into the water and go to the other side? Are you ready to give God praise, to give God glory? No matter what your situation is, God is able.

Notice something incredible about this passage that speaks to the gospel of Deuteronomy and the grace of God. Just like Leviticus, this is a strange place to find grace! He says, “I love you just because I love you.

You are a small nation, a poor nation, a weak nation, but I will go ahead of you because I love you.” God’s love is the love of grace, not the love of merit. Even though we break God’s law, He will not break His word. Rather, He will come and break all of our brokenness. 

“Hear, Israel: 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 know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?” But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you.”

—Deuteronomy 9:1-3

David Jamieson

President, Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

I wanted to share what happened at our recent executive committee in my President's Report with you, along with how God continues to bless in our Conference. We are also including additional information regarding the upcoming Biblical Sexuality Symposium, hosted by our Office of Education. We prepared the report as a pdf that will allow you to share it with your church, school, or friends easily. You can view my report by going to news.uccsda.org/presidentreport324.