1. Deuteronomy 1 and the Journey of Faith
Deuteronomy chapter 1 contains Moses' core message to the Israelites in his final moments: "Go in and possess the land" (Deut. 1:8). This directive and promise from God was clear-yet it was not simply about ownership by force, but rather about possessing the land by faith. While we might typically think in terms of conquests or warfare, the Bible continually emphasizes obedience to God's command and trust in Him. Pastor David Jang (장다윗) repeatedly stresses that the land given by the Lord must be taken in the manner the Lord prescribes, with no room for human strength or unbelief, relying solely on God.
Deuteronomy is generally understood to consist of three sermons, often referred to as Moses' farewell addresses. In its opening chapter, Deuteronomy 1 looks back at Israel's journey so far: why they had to spend forty years in the wilderness, and why an 11-day journey dragged on for so long. Deuteronomy 1:2 notes, "It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea," pointing out that the Israelites ended up wandering for forty years because of unbelief and grumbling. This reveals human weakness and, at the same time, the consequences of rejecting God's guidance.
Numbers 13 and 14 give a detailed account of the attitude of the twelve leaders sent to scout Canaan. One representative from each tribe surveyed the land; ten of them returned with a disheartening report, while only Joshua (Hoshea) and Caleb gave a faith-filled report. Their certainty was: "They are our bread. The battle belongs to God, so we will surely win." In contrast, the ten spies described the inhabitants as the descendants of Anak and regarded themselves as mere grasshoppers. Their negative report caused the entire nation to fear and complain against God. Even though they had received the solemn covenant at Mount Sinai-"I will be your God, and you will be My people"-they chose fear over faith at the crucial moment.
Pastor David Jang places special emphasis on the "responsibility of leaders" in this passage. All twelve scouts were leaders; yet their single report swayed the entire people. Even though Canaan was "a land flowing with milk and honey," the Israelites cried out, "How can we possibly defeat them? Let's go back to Egypt! Why did you bring us here to die?" As a result, as recorded in Numbers 14:29 and 14:32, everyone aged twenty and older perished in the wilderness, and only the next generation entered Canaan. This was not an arbitrary curse from God but the judgment upon violating an already established covenant and promise. It echoes the fall of humanity in Eden, where Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil despite God's warning that they would surely die.
The Bible highlights the concept that "one day is counted as a year," which is particularly evident in Numbers 14:34. Because the leaders had scouted the land for forty days and brought forth unbelief, they were condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years. This underscores the significance of certain numbers in Israel's history. God does not operate history at random; He leads time and space according to a clear plan and purpose. Hence, if one wastes time through unbelief, that loss might return multiple times over. When a leader is not spiritually awake, the entire people bear the consequences. Pastor David Jang draws from this lesson to urge church leaders or those serving in any community not to fall into "faithless negligence" but to remain continually vigilant in prayer and press forward with conviction grounded in the Word.
Israel's history includes 400 or 430 years of enslavement in Egypt. Even before that, God had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land, but due to Abraham's partial mistakes and unbelief, his offspring ended up living as strangers for four centuries. In Genesis 15, Abraham cut animals in half and waited; God, appearing as a "smoking firepot," passed between the pieces to seal the covenant. A warning accompanied it: break this covenant, and you will be torn apart like these animals. Indeed, Abraham's errors and incomplete obedience introduced sin, causing his descendants to endure a long and painful period of suffering.
Looking back on all these events, one realizes that salvation is wholly by God's grace, yet we cannot enjoy that grace without obedience. What turned an 11-day journey into forty years in the wilderness was "unbelief." In Deuteronomy 1, Moses reminds the people of this truth, lamenting that they had already received the promise of the land and should have entered it by faith, but they forfeited that chance due to grumbling and unbelief. This cautionary tale does not apply merely to the Israelites; it remains an enduring warning and lesson for all believers across every era. Even today, Christians frequently set goals or visions only to become mired in fear, resentment, or doubt about God's power.
In reflecting on the scene where the people feared the land of "giants" while Joshua and Caleb declared, "They are our bread," Pastor David Jang highlights the difference in outlook. When one truly grasps that the battle belongs to God and that He is on our side, no obstacle is insurmountable. Through their faith, Joshua and Caleb actually entered Canaan in the end. On the other hand, the other ten tribal leaders died in the wilderness for their unbelief, and the people who echoed their despair and cried, "Let's return to Egypt!" also perished without ever seeing the Promised Land.
This narrative brings to mind the well-known concept of "fear and trembling" in religious discourse. Such fear and trembling refers to the reverent awe and corresponding attitude one adopts upon confronting one's own sinfulness and frailty. When we stray from God or topple His holy order through disobedience, the unavoidable outcome is judgment. At the same time, when we turn to God and stand in faith, He can part seas, halt the sun, and even reverse the movement of a sundial, demonstrating His omnipotence throughout Scripture.
When King Hezekiah prayed with tears, his life was extended (2 Kings 20); when David trusted wholly in God before the giant Goliath, he achieved victory (1 Samuel 17). All these accounts align with the same principle: the young shepherd boy prevailed not by his own strength but by relying on the name of the Lord of hosts. Likewise, in Deuteronomy 1, we hear the directive: "God has planned it all, and He has promised to give us this land as our inheritance, so believe His promise and go in." Nonetheless, the leaders who returned from scouting the land forgot that promise.
Leaders in contemporary churches or ministry settings can gain profound insight from the events recorded in Numbers 13 and 14. One day of misguidance by a leader can cost the community a year, a decade, or even forty years. Some may even collapse in a wilderness of their own making. Preaching on this text, Pastor David Jang emphasizes that above all, leaders must stay alert in prayer and remain firmly grounded in God's Word, discerning who God is and what His Word is aiming to accomplish. God's work unfolds with precision beyond human comprehension, and in that process, a single moment of unbelief or negligence can yield monumental loss and suffering.
Deuteronomy 1:15 describes the appointment of commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. This points to the need for organized community structure and implies that each leader has a God-given sphere of responsibility. Some may be tasked with leading 1,000 people, others 50, and still others just 10. The key is for each one called to fulfill their responsibility and, within that calling, to trust God unwaveringly as they guide the people. If a captain of hundreds or thousands, for instance, declares, "We cannot handle the enemies in Canaan," everyone under him may succumb to doubt and end up wandering in the wilderness. The situation in today's church is not so different. No matter how well-designed our systems and institutions may be, if unbelief and complacency creep in, we will often end up with empty nets.
Pastor David Jang frequently recommends interpreting Israel's history through two lenses: "backsliding through unbelief" and "advancing through faith." When human weakness collides with God's omnipotence, the true path to victory is revealed by trusting God rather than confining Him to our limited experience and fears. In Deuteronomy 1, Moses asks the people to remember why their journey took so long, pinpointing "grumbling and unbelief" as the prime culprits. Humans easily become discouraged by minor challenges, but God unceasingly offers chances for redemption.
Even so, Deuteronomy 1 is not the end of Israel's disobedience. Still, God never completely abandons His people; He continues to raise leaders, deliver His Word, and give opportunities for repentance and obedience. Within God's guidance, there is always a "chance to turn things around." When we choose to trust God in such moments, the prolonged delay can suddenly be redeemed. Israel's 400 years of slavery eventually ended with the Exodus, and after the 40 years in the wilderness, Canaan was ultimately conquered.
Pastor David Jang regularly poses the question, "What choices should we make in this day and age?" Believers often struggle to distinguish between seasons of wilderness and the moment to enter Canaan. However, God consistently says, "There is a land I will give you; go in and possess it." We must remember that the land is not seized merely by human effort; it is taken by faith. The promise to the Israelites was not an empty, symbolic covenant, but a real land of restoration and salvation where they would set foot and live.
The greatest hindrance to entering that land, then, is not the imposing army outside but rather the fear, grumbling, and unbelief within. That unbelief can start with the leader and contaminate the entire people. Therefore, Deuteronomy repeatedly urges God's people to "remember" and "do not forget." Do not forget how you were delivered from slavery in Egypt, how you were provided with manna and quail in the wilderness, and how water sprang forth from the rock when you were thirsty. Once we forget the grace already given to us, we quickly fall into grumbling and unbelief.
2. The Responsibility of Leaders and the Work of God
Deuteronomy 1 explicitly addresses the appointment of leaders: "So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as heads over you" (cf. Deut. 1:15). Here we read about commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, a structure devised to govern the Israelite community in stages. Each of these was considered a "leader" with the crucial tasks of representing God's Word, ruling the people justly, and guiding them to the Promised Land.
Numbers 13 and 14 vividly illustrate how a leader's faith can drastically alter the outcome. Although all twelve spies witnessed the same land, they reached diametrically opposite conclusions. Ten of them warned, "The people in that land are strong, and their cities are fortified. We look like grasshoppers to them," whereas two (Joshua and Caleb) declared, "With God on our side, they are our bread. Do not fear." How could the same situation yield such different interpretations? The answer lies in "faith." Pastor David Jang explains that a spiritual leader must have the faith to foresee God's promised future. A path deemed impossible through human calculation becomes possible when God has ordained it. Since leaders effectively set the direction of the people, their faith and perspective determine the entire community's destiny.
After the grim pronouncement in Numbers 14 that everyone aged twenty and above would die in the wilderness, the Israelites wandered for the next forty years. A journey that could have taken eleven days took forty years, not simply due to physical obstacles but because of unrelenting unbelief and grumbling. Yet those four decades were not merely a period of lost time; they also served to "purge" the nation of its sin born of unbelief. Despite their inclination to flee into the wilderness in defiance, God continued to feed them with manna and quail, kept their clothes and sandals from wearing out, and led them with pillars of cloud and fire. Hence, the forty years in the wilderness represented "judgment" and "training," "death" and "the birth of a new generation." God's dealings are multifaceted, and leaders must grasp this reality and guide their people accordingly.
Pastor David Jang cautions today's church leaders-whether pastors, ministry staff, or small-group leaders-that even a single day of poor leadership can trigger repercussions for a year, ten years, or even forty years, impacting the entire congregation. God does not incinerate every small mistake but shows abundant mercy. Yet if a leader persists in spreading unbelief until the whole community rejects God's promise, the aftermath is no longer in God's hands but must be borne by those leaders. Indeed, when the Israelites clamored, "If only we had died in the wilderness!" God responded, "I will do to you the very thing I heard you say" (Num. 14:28). Those who grumbled indeed perished in the wilderness. Scripture often warns us to watch the words that come out of our mouths because words reflect the heart, and the heart is the channel revealing our faith.
This point invites us to revisit Abraham's covenant story. In Genesis 15, Abraham entered a blood covenant with God, cutting animals in half and witnessing the appearance of a torch passing between them. The warning was that if one broke this covenant, one would suffer the same fate as the divided animals. This mirrors God's command in Eden, "You shall surely die if you eat of this fruit." In other words, God's covenants are roads to our salvation by grace, but a rejection or violation of them inevitably results in judgment. During Abraham's time, the foretold 400-year captivity was partly the consequence of previous generations' failure to embrace God's promise fully. After the Exodus, the Israelites repeatedly displayed unbelief on the brink of entering Canaan, so they underwent another forty-year training period in the wilderness.
These spiritual lessons are very much alive today. When life is difficult, the future seems blocked, or external obstacles appear insurmountable, we instinctively sink into complaint and doubt. "Why is God pushing us into this situation? Is He trying to kill us?" However, Scripture consistently teaches us to find all our answers in the covenant: "I will be your God, and you shall be My people." God keeps emphasizing, "Go in and possess the land I am giving you," reminding us that the land is "already prepared" for us. Therefore, we have no reason to fear or complain. Pastor David Jang underscores at this juncture, "What we need is a decision of faith to step into that land."
Numbers 13:30 records Caleb's words, "We should go up and take possession of it right now, for we can certainly do it." This was not an argument that they were physically strong or had superior strategy; it was purely rooted in faith in God's promise. The same principle applies to David's battle with Goliath, where David proclaimed he came against Goliath "in the name of the Lord of hosts." A slingshot would hardly be a legitimate threat to a giant in human terms, but because the battle belongs to the Lord, David emerged victorious. Leaders are to embody and share this faith narrative, enabling the community to unite in that story. Even in failure or sin, a leader must encourage a fresh start in faith, reaffirm God's promise, and guide the community along that path.
Pastor David Jang repeatedly emphasizes in various sermons and seminars that "God definitely has a plan for our lives." He urges believers to connect with that plan through prayer and the Word. Abraham's covenant, Hezekiah's repentance, and Joshua's command to halt the sun all represent "miracle moments" within God's grand, meticulous plan. These people asked for what seemed impossible, and God opened the way. Faith discerns and holds onto this divine intervention in history; above all, leaders must guide the faith community to experience it together. Hence, ongoing prayer, worship, and meditation on God's Word are indispensable for leaders to remain attuned to His intentions.
What happens if a leader is ignorant, lazy, or preaches unbelief? Like the unfaithful spies in Numbers 13, such a leader spreads despair and fear within the community: "They are too strong; we can't do it. Let's just go back to Egypt." This perpetuates an endless wilderness journey. Numbers 14 shows the consequence of this mindset: "Your bodies will fall in this wilderness." The leader's words can ignite unbelief and grumbling or cultivate hope and faith. Therefore, Scripture exhorts leaders to "awaken the dawn, keep watch through the night, and pray without ceasing." In the New Testament as well, Paul encourages church leaders to "pray continually" and "give thanks in all circumstances." The timelessness of prayer's importance is evident.
Pastor David Jang also cites examples in which churches undertake large building projects or initiatives and discover that "if we believe God will make a way, we often see that faith rewarded." If one confines oneself to human calculations, there is invariably a shortage of resources or manpower, but if it is a cause that pleases God, resources, manpower, and circumstances can come together in a miraculous fashion. Hence, church leaders must recall Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," and instill in their congregations the conviction that "God will surely accomplish it." This goes beyond mere optimism or encouraging words; it is about preaching wholeheartedly that "the omnipotent God actually works in our lives."
Certainly, balance is crucial. Blind optimism is not the goal; rather, one must discern God's plan and vision for that community through a process of earnest seeking. Pastor David Jang often says, "A leader is one who listens." A leader listens to the Word and to the Holy Spirit, accepts warnings, and observes the situation of the congregation, all while moving in God's timing. Human zeal alone can lead to burnout or failure if we rush ahead of God's timing. Thus, a leader should constantly pray for the specifics-the timing, method, and plan-before God.
Moreover, "the leader cannot do everything alone; the entire community must pray and participate together." The system outlined in Deuteronomy 1:15-appointing commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens-was not arbitrarily established by Moses but reflected divine wisdom. Representatives from each tribe oversaw different groups, handling disputes and guiding the people. Yet in Numbers 13, those leaders sank into unbelief and declared, "We cannot enter Canaan," causing the entire community to stumble. Hence, it is clear that not only is a shared network of faith necessary, but also that just one or two leaders riddled with unbelief can quickly destabilize everyone. This underscores the huge responsibility borne by leaders.
In many sermons and lectures, Pastor David Jang reaffirms that "a leader must remain awake," which is accomplished through diligent study of the Word, devotion to prayer, and faithful worship and fellowship in the community. A leader cannot do everything singlehandedly; rather, the leader's role is to pray, "Lord, use me and this community in accordance with Your will." When one places full trust in God, He grants wisdom and breakthrough solutions. Importantly, a leader's position is not guaranteed perpetually. Biblical and church history reveal that when a leader fails to serve appropriately, God may raise someone else in that role, or at times remove the unfit leader altogether. All of this reflects the interplay of God's justice and grace.
The first chapters of Deuteronomy are part of Moses' farewell sermon, focusing on the Israelites yet also delivering a warning and an encouragement to future leaders. Moses intimately knew the challenges of shepherding this people in the wilderness and had seen the dire consequences of their unbelief. Thus, throughout Deuteronomy he repeatedly urges, "Be sure you obey and remember this law. Do not forget God's Word. When you get to Canaan, do not fall into idolatry. Continually teach this to your children." Underlying these exhortations is the stark truth: "Without faith, you will fail even in the Promised Land that God gave you." If they do not seek God's glory and instead bow to idols or trust in worldly power and riches, they could find themselves in another forty-year wilderness, or worse.
We face similar challenges today. Keeping faith is not just internally whispering, "I believe in God," but actually making decisions and living by His Word. Pastor David Jang teaches that this means "never ceasing in prayer, never abandoning the meditation of Scripture, treasuring worship as our lifeblood, and collaborating in service within the church." Such is the life of genuine faith. This is precisely the path Joshua and Caleb chose when they declared, "Let's go up at once and possess it, for we can surely do it," despite the intimidating reality. In other words, no matter how bleak the circumstances appear, if God is with us, all things are possible.
Deuteronomy 1:8, which states, "Go in and possess the land," was a command for the Israelites of old but remains equally valid today. When God's direction and promise are in place, stepping out in faith opens the door to the inheritance He has already prepared. Time and again, Pastor David Jang reminds pastors, leaders, and congregations of this principle. One must remember that a leader's faith profoundly influences the entire community. If the leader's faith is pure and firm, even a people wavering in unbelief can be restored. On the other hand, if a leader succumbs to unbelief and broadcasts it, the congregation can easily be swept into despair.
From Deuteronomy 1 and Numbers 13 and 14, we learn just how meticulously God orchestrates history and how leaders should respond to that divine plan. The forty years in the wilderness was not simply wasted time; it was God's way of purging unbelief and preparing a new generation. Today, if we wish to avoid the wilderness of unbelief, we must fill each day with faith. Leaders must remain vigilant in prayer, proclaiming God's promises in their entirety. Always remember that "losing one day can cost the people an entire year." Leaders must guide their flocks in such a manner that the word "Go in and possess the land" truly comes to pass, bringing the community into the fulfillment of God's promises. We must not forget that God continually extends opportunities to each of us and that when we seize those opportunities by faith, what once seemed impossible can become a living reality in our midst.
