Admit Your Struggle with Sin - Deuteronomy 1:6-8, 26-33, 42-46 and Numbers 13:17-33 - June 3, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Admit Your Struggle with Sin – June 3, 2007

We begin a new series of study entitled “Putting Passion in Your Relationship with GOD.”

Our scripture for the month of June will be in the Book of Deuteronomy:
June 3 – Admit Your Struggle With Sin.
June 10 – Practice Obedience Diligently.
June 17 – Remember the LORD is GOD.
June 24 – Renew Your Devotion Today.

Our scripture is Deuteronomy 1:6-8, 26-33, 42-46 and Numbers 13:17-33. (Background scripture is Deuteronomy 1:1-33:29.)

Every Christian struggles with sin. Our first step to deal with sin in our lives is to admit that we struggle with it and seek GOD’S power to overcome it. Sin is missing the mark. It carries the idea of an archer shooting an arrow at a target and missing. In today’s society rather than admitting we missed the target, we change the target. We redefine ethics.

We must keep in mind that GOD’S Word is our standard and most of us have to be reminded that GOD is GOD and HE has not changed. Neither has HIS expectations for HIS children changed. Our lesson is a reminder for us to remember what GOD has done and is doing for us and through us. GOD wants us to respond when HE asks us to be obedient.

The Book of Deuteronomy is a review of what GOD did for the Israelites as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses preached to the new generation of Israelites to prepare them to go into the Promised Land. They have been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 1:6-8:

6 “The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb (HOH reb), ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7 Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites (AM uh rights) and their neighbors in the Arabah (AH ruh bah), the hill country, the lowlands, the • Negev and the sea coast—to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon as far as the Euphrates River.[5] Lit the great river, the river Euphrates 8 See, I have set the land before you. Enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants after them.’[6] Gn 15:18–21; 26:3; 35:12

Moses is preaching to the new generation of Israelites. He is reminding them of the past and preparing them to enter the Promised Land. They are on the east side of the Jordan River in sight of the Promised Land. He is reminding them that GOD had prepared the way for their forbearers to enter the Promised Land about forty (40) years sooner but their unbelief prevented them from entering. Now they will have another opportunity. Will history repeat itself or will their faith in GOD be strong enough for them to obtain what GOD had already provided for them? All their forbearers had to do was to be obedient to GOD and claim what GOD had promised them. But they did not because of being discouraged by a negative report.

Let’s read the account of the events as recorded in Numbers 13:17-33:

17 When Moses sent them to scout out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up this way to the • Negev, then go up into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 Is the land they live in good[5] Nm 14:7; Dt 1:25 or bad? Are the cities they live in encampments or fortifications?[6] Dt 1:28; 3:5; 9:1; Jos 14:12 20 Is the land fertile or unproductive?[7] Neh 9:25,35; Isa 30:23; Ezk 34:14,20 Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous. Bring back some fruit from the land.” It was the season for the first ripe grapes.[8] Nm 13:23 21 So they went up and scouted out the land from the Wilderness of Zin[9] Southern border of the promised land as far as Rehob[10] Northern border of the promised land near the entrance to Hamath.[11] Or near Lebo-hamath 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak,[12] Nm 13:28,33; Dt 1:28; 2:10–11,21 were living. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan[13] Ps 78:12; Isa 19:11; 30:4; Ezk 30:14 in Egypt. 23 When they came to the Valley of Eshcol,[14] Nm 32:9; Dt 1:24 they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which was carried on a pole by two men. [They]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. also [took]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. some pomegranates and figs.[15] Nm 20:5; Dt 8:8 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol[16] = cluster because of the cluster [of grapes]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Israelites cut there. 25 At the end of 40 days[17] Nm 14:33–34; 32:13; Ps 95:10 they returned from scouting out the land.
Report about Canaan
26 The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land.[18] Nm 32:9; Dt 1:24–25 27 They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey,[19] Nm 14:8; 16:13–14; Ex 3:8; Lv 20:24 and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified.[20] Dt 1:28; 3:5; 9:1; Jos 14:12 We also saw the descendants of Anak[21] Nm 13:33; Dt 1:28; 2:10–11,21 there. 29 The Amalekites[22] Nm 14:25,43,45; Ex 17:8–16; Dt 25:17–19 are living in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb[23] Nm 14:6,24,30,38; 26:65 quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!” 31 But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t go up against the people because they are stronger than we are!” 32 So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. 33 We even saw the Nephilim[24] Possibly means “fallen ones”; traditionally, giants; Gn 6:4 there.” (The offspring of Anak were descended from the Nephilim.[25] Dt 2:10–11,20–21 ) “To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”


The sins of disobedience and discouragement prevent many Christians and the Christian body (The Living Church) from entering into the Promised Land that GOD had provided for them here upon earth. Our ultimate destination is the Promised Land of Heaven but in my opinion we can experience the Promised Land here upon earth. To me the ultimate Promised Land upon earth is to find peace, harmony and fellowship with our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST and to get to really know HIM. Then as we fellowship with HIM we see HIS handiwork and power manifested through our lives as we are obedient to HIM. To me it does not get any better. Have I arrived? NO! But such a relationship is possible for all Christians. But the flesh must be brought under the authority of our LORD. This is easy to say but hard to let go of the things of the world.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 1:26-28:

26 “But you were not willing to go up, rebelling against the command of the Lord your God. 27 You grumbled in your tents[12] Ps 106:25 and said, ‘The Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites so they would destroy us, because He hated us. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have discouraged us, saying: The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, fortified to the heavens. We also saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’

Keep in mind Moses is reviewing with the new generation the things GOD had dealt with the former generation.

The Israelites were in the very heart of the miracles that GOD provided as they escaped the Egyptian bondage. However, even after being intimate with the handiwork and power of GOD their faith and trust in GOD quickly vanished. They grumbled and spoke against GOD. They saw huge obstacles and rather than reflecting on the fact that GOD had already proven that HE was sufficient, they relied upon their ability. HE is THE ONE WHO overcame all the obstacles they faced but the people lost confidence and trust in GOD.

Many Christians do the very same thing. Often we say “Well GOD did all those miracles in the Old Testament and JESUS did miracles in the New Testament but not today.” If you believe that, then that is why your walk with the LORD is powerless. Our GOD is the same and HE has not changed though all the ages. HE is still in the business of performing miracles and displaying wonder working power. But HE is not in the business of entertaining us or doing tricks.

We must keep in mind that JESUS said HE always does and says what the FATHER tells HIM. For us to know and see what the FATHER and JESUS are doing, we must have an intimate loving relationship with THEM. It is no longer us but CHRIST living through us. It is HIS power.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 1:29-33:

29 “So I said to you: Don’t be terrified or afraid of them! 30 The Lord your God who goes before you will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt. 31 And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place. 32 But in spite of this you did not trust the Lord your God, 33 who went before you on the journey to seek out a place for you to camp. He went in the fire by night and in the cloud by day to guide you on the road you were to travel.

Moses continues his sermon, reminding the people of GOD’S care for them. We have the Bible which is our reminder of GOD’S care and provisions for HIS children. HIS care and provisions are just as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. GOD does not and has not changed. HE preserved HIS Word in the Bible so all Christians through all the ages will know of HIS power and care. HE says believe it. I AM the same today as yesterday!
Keep in mind this is not us testing GOD but trusting in GOD that all things are possible as HE directs.

Even today GOD goes ahead of us showing the way and preparing the way. Our part is to be obedient. Natural obedience comes from our relationship with our LORD. First, seek to know HIM and fellowship with HIM and obedience will follow. We will then learn and see that HIS yoke is easy.

When we try to muster up obedience on our own, obedience is hard and difficult. Stop trying on your own. Seek the relationship by asking the LORD to show you what you need to do for you to have the best possible relationship with HIM. Get to know HIM. We cannot be obedient to someone we do not know and trust. We must have unwavering confidence in the ONE WHO leads us. Neither can we serve GOD riding on someone else’s faith or relationship.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 1:42-46:

42 “But the Lord said to me, ‘Tell them: Don’t go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from being defeated by your enemies.’ 43 So I spoke to you, but you didn’t listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and defiantly went up into the hill country. 44 Then the Amorites who lived there came out against you and chased you like a swarm of bees. They routed you from Seir as far as Hormah. 45 When you returned, you wept before the Lord, but He didn’t listen to your requests or pay attention to you. 46 For this reason you stayed in Kadesh as long as you did.[17] Lit Kadesh for many days, according to the days you stayed

Still keep in mind Moses is still reflecting on the time when this new generation’s forefathers were leaving Egypt. The Israelites had refused to go into the Promised Land because of giants in the land.

Then Israelites had second thoughts and decided that they would be obedient and go fight. But GOD told Moses to tell them not to go now because they had missed their opportunity. HE would not help then and they would be defeated. That is exactly what happened.

GOD provides the opportunity and we need to be so trusting and confident in GOD that we respond as HE gives us the opportunity.

I know there have been times that the LORD has prompted me to say or do something and I hesitated or wanted to think about it a little longer. When I tried to recapture the moment or opportunity, I found it very difficult, awkward or impossible to recapture. There was an opening for a split second and the door closed. It breaks my heart when I am not obedient. Sometimes HE allows us to stump our toe to get our attention. Then later HE gives us another opportunity. Guess what? We usually respond!

When we are disobedient the LORD needs to let us wander in the wilderness, so-to-speak, for us to get our priorities in order. In the wilderness HE will equip us and draw us into a closer relationship with HIM, if we let HIM. HE prepares us so the next time HE gives us an assignment, we will be obedient.

Sin is an obstacle and barrier in serving our LORD. We must confess our sins, repent and HE will cleanse and restore us. Disobedience and discouragement are serious barriers as we journey with our LORD. Ask HIM to search your heart and reveal anything that prevents you from serving HIM completely.