“Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.”
Deuteronomy 10:22 is part of Moses’ address to the Israelites, recounting their history and reminding them of God’s faithfulness. In this particular verse, Moses is highlighting God’s fulfilment of His promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham.
The verse begins by referring to the Israelites’ ancestors, their fathers, who went down to Egypt. This is a reference to the time when Joseph and his brothers settled in Egypt during a severe famine (Genesis 46:5-7). The phrase “threescore and ten persons” indicates that there were seventy individuals who initially migrated to Egypt. This number is recorded in the book of Genesis (Genesis 46:27; Exodus 1:5) and includes Jacob (Israel), his sons, and their families.
However, despite starting as a small group, God had blessed the Israelites and multiplied them abundantly over the years. Moses emphasises that the Lord their God has made them as numerous as the stars of heaven. This imagery represents the vastness and immeasurable quantity of the Israelites’ descendants.
This verse serves as a reminder to the Israelites of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to their ancestors. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation (Genesis 12:2; Genesis 15:5), and this verse in Deuteronomy reaffirms that promise. It shows how God’s covenant with Abraham has been fulfilled and how the Israelites have become a numerous and mighty people.
Furthermore, this verse also carries a broader theological significance. It highlights God’s power and ability to fulfil His promises. It demonstrates that God can take a small, insignificant group and multiply them into a multitude. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His capacity to bring about extraordinary transformations in the lives of His people.
In summary:Deuteronomy 10:22 showcases God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham. It serves as a reminder to the Israelites of their ancestral history, starting with a small group that went down to Egypt and eventually becoming as numerous as the stars of heaven. It underscores God’s power to fulfil His promises and His ability to bring about remarkable transformations in the lives of His people.
