Deuteronomy 2:7 — “You Lacked Nothing”? Reconciling Israel’s Wilderness Complaints

Episode 294 examines the apparent tension between Deuteronomy 2:7—“you have lacked nothing”—and Israel’s complaints about their difficult wilderness experience recorded in Exodus and Numbers. Lance Smith looks at the context of Deuteronomy 2:7, the Hebrew wording, and several explanations for how Israel could experience hardship while still lacking nothing God needed to provide. The episode concludes that Israel’s wilderness experience was certainly difficult, but difficulty does not mean divine abandonment. God provided for Israel throughout their journey, even when the circumstances were harsh. The passage reminds us that having what we need from God does not necessarily mean having an easy life. References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following: buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith  The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page Email Address: [email protected]  Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI  “‘Lacked Nothing in the Wilderness’: Divine Sufficiency and the Verb חָסַר in Deuteronomy 2:7.” Biblical Hebrew. https://biblicalhebrew.org/lacked-nothing-in-wilderness-divine-sufficiency-and-verb-khasar-in-deuteronomy2-7.aspx “Deuteronomy 2:2–7 – You Lacked Nothing.” Thinking Torah. https://thinkingtorah.com/deuteronomy-2-2-7-you-lacked-nothing/ Guzik, David. “Deuteronomy 2 – Moses Remembers the Wilderness.” Enduring Word. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/deuteronomy-2/ DiMattei, Steven. Contradictions in the Bible. https://contradictionsinthebible.com/ “The Opening of Deuteronomy: A Recounting or Different Version of the Wilderness Experience?” TheTorah.com. https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-opening-of-devarim-a-recounting-or-different-version-of-the-wilderness-experience Bruins, Hendrik J., and Johannes van der Plicht. “Radiocarbon Dating the ‘Wilderness of Zin.’” Radiocarbon 49, no. 2 (2007): 481–497. https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/7B5A0AD62D7137535957CB916F019AE6/S0033822200042417a.pdf/radiocarbon-dating-the-wilderness-of-zin.pdf BibleInterp articles on archaeology, biblical research, and ancient Israel. https://bibleinterp.arizona.edu/articles/archaeology-biblical-research-and-ancient-israel