Deuteronomy 2 · Grade 5
Forty Years, Lacking Nothing
Read and Think
Deuteronomy 2 sums up nearly four decades in a few lines. After Kadesh, Israel circled Mount Seir until every fighting man of that generation had died, fulfilling God's word. Only then did God say, You have circled long enough. Turn north.
Along the way, God marked out lands He had already given to other peoples. Edom was for Esau's children, Moab and Ammon for Lot's. Israel must not provoke them, but buy food and water with money. Even Israel's march toward the promise was bounded by God's justice toward their neighbors.
Moses offered peace to Sihon king of Heshbon, but Sihon refused, and God gave Israel the victory. The text presents the destruction of Sihon's cities as God's judgment. Yet the heart of the chapter is verse 7: God knew their walking through that great wilderness, and for forty years they lacked nothing.
Show What You Know
Whose death had to happen before Israel turned north?
What lands had God given to other peoples?
How was Israel to get food from Edom?
What did Moses offer Sihon first?
What is the heart of the chapter, in verse 7?
Crossword
Across
- You have ____ nothing.
- Mountain where the children of Esau lived.
- God was with them ____ years.
Down
- They bought ____ to drink.
- King of Heshbon.
Think About It
God honored the borders He gave to other nations. How should Christians respect people who are different from them?
Looking back, where can you see that God supplied what you needed?
Memory Verse
“For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has known your walking through this great wilderness. These forty years, Yahweh your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”
Deuteronomy 2:7 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for being with me every day. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- Why do you think Israel had to wait forty years?
- How has God provided for you in a hard season?
- What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.