申命記以摩西的三篇演講揭開序幕，回顧國家的歷史，強調上帝的作為。他提醒百姓，因著他們的不信，失去得地為業的祝福，還受罰漂流四十年，他向新的一代耳提面命，免得重蹈覆轍。最後他再次強調：順服帶來祝福，不順服帶來滅亡。

        你有沒有讀過精簡的故事卻被改寫成冗長沉悶的長篇小說？有沒有聽過長篇大論的演說，其實五分鐘就可講完。若有，你可想見讀者、聽眾的不耐煩。
        上帝對以色列征服迦南地計劃是簡潔的：從加低斯前行一段路，幾次憑信心的爭戰，然後是完全的勝利。但百姓因著不順服，將原本十一天的路程拉長為四十年的悲劇。有人說的不錯，以色列民實在遲鈍，原本幾星期就可學會功課，卻花了幾十年！
        最近上帝有沒有教你一些功課是你所不喜歡的？或是交代一些工作，你卻推說信心不夠、動機不強而和上帝拖延？在一張紙上寫下上帝今天要你做的事，帶在身邊，提醒自己著手辦理。

巴珊王噩—以色列人所打敗殺死的（民21：33─35）──
        是最後的利乏音人（3：11）。猶太人習慣把體格魁梧的人叫做噩。根據聖經可靠的記錄，他的牀長十三英呎半，寬六英呎。

絕對的順服是「立刻」的順服。

English

        Deuteronomy opens with the first of Moses' three sermons—a review of the nation's history, with particular emphasis on God's dealings with His people. Moses recalls Israel's failure to claim the land because of the people's unbelief, and the 40 years of judgment that followed. He reviews Israel's history for the benefit of the new generation, which has already shown some distressing similarities to their parents. Finally, he reminds them of the primary lesson from Israel's history: Obedience brings blessing; rebellion brings ruin.

        Have you ever read a 500-page novel that should have been a short story, or heard a speaker stretch a 5-minute talk into 45 minutes? If so, then you know how irritating it can be to drag out a task longer than necessary.
        God's plan for Israel's conquest of Canaan was straightforward: a short march from Kadesh-barnea, a series of faith-inspired battles, and total victory. But Israel took God's simple plan and through disobedience turned an 11-day trip (1:2) into a 40-year tragedy. Someone has said that the Israelites were slow travelers because they were slow learners. It took them 40 years to learn a lesson they should have mastered in less than two weeks.
        Has God been trying to teach you a lesson in recent days that you've been resisting? Or do you have a task you need to do, but you've been putting it off, dragging it out because of a lack of faith or motivation? On a 3 x 5 card, write one thing you know God wants you to do today, and carry it with you as a reminder of your commitment to the task. When Cod says "March!" make short work of it.

King Size ... in Every Sense of the Word Og, king of Bashan—
        whom the Israelites defeated and killed (Numbers 21:33-35)—was the last of a race of people called Rephaim (Deuteronomy 3:11). Jewish tradition describes Og as a physical giant, a fact seemingly verified by the Biblical record which states that his bed was 13 1/2 feet long by 6 feet wide!

Postponed obedience is disobedience.