What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 12:20? When the LORD your God expands your territory • Moses anticipates the day Israel will live beyond the tight camp of the wilderness, settling the full inheritance God pledged to Abraham (Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31). • Growth in land equals growth in flocks and herds; God’s blessing is tangible and geographical (Deuteronomy 11:24; Joshua 21:43-45). • The verse reminds us that increase comes from the Lord, not human ingenuity (Psalm 75:6-7; Proverbs 10:22). as He has promised • God’s covenant reliability undergirds every command; He keeps His word (Numbers 23:19; 1 Kings 8:56). • Israel’s confidence to enjoy future provision rests on past faithfulness—rescue from Egypt, manna in the desert, water from the rock (Deuteronomy 8:2-4). • The same pattern appears later: believers trust Christ’s promise of eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:3-5). and you crave meat and say, “I want to eat meat,” • Desire itself isn’t condemned; God acknowledges normal human appetite (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; 1 Timothy 4:3-4). • In Numbers 11:4-34 Israel’s earlier craving became sinful because it mixed complaint and distrust. Here, in the context of obedience, the same craving is acceptable. • The difference is heart posture—gratitude rather than grumbling (Philippians 2:14-15). you may eat it whenever you want • Under wilderness conditions, meat eating was mostly tied to sacrificial offerings at the tabernacle (Leviticus 17:3-5). Once the people spread across the land, daily logistics change. • God now permits ordinary slaughter at home, provided blood is not consumed (Deuteronomy 12:21-25; Acts 15:19-20 echoes the principle for Gentile believers). • This shows divine flexibility: moral absolutes remain (no idolatry, no blood), but ceremonial regulations adjust to new settings (Colossians 2:16-17). • Freedom is granted within boundaries—liberty anchored to reverence (Galatians 5:13). summary Deuteronomy 12:20 assures Israel that expanding blessing brings expanding freedom. When God enlarges territory—just as He promised—His people may satisfy normal desires, like eating meat, without guilt, provided they remain grateful and obedient. The verse celebrates God’s faithfulness, legitimizes wholesome enjoyment of His gifts, and models how liberty and reverence walk together. |
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