Deuteronomy 1:21
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The command to "go up, take possession" isn't just about claiming land, but about entering into what God has already placed before them. It's a reminder that God's promises are not distant hopes, but tangible realities waiting for their courageous faith to claim.
See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey from Mount Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, reminding them of the vast wilderness they traversed. He then presents God's clear command and promise: the land of Canaan is before them, ready to be possessed, a promise first made to their ancestors. This address comes just before the people’s fearful request to send spies, highlighting God’s direct instruction versus their subsequent hesitation.
God doesn't ask us to conquer the impossible. He sets the stage and invites us to step forward.
When God tells us to 'go up and possess' a land, it's not just a future possibility. The verse says the LORD 'has set the land before you.' This means the provision and the opportunity are already present, laid out by God. Our journey isn't about creating the path or the destination; it's about responding to what God has already made available. Think of it like God handing you a map where the treasure is already marked. Your part is the faith to follow the map.
Fear and dismay are natural responses to challenges, but God's command overrides them.
The command to 'go up, take possession' isn't a suggestion; it's a divine imperative. But it’s immediately followed by 'Do not fear or be dismayed.' This shows the tension we often live in: God’s promises are real, but so are the obstacles. The antidote to fear isn't the absence of threats, but the presence of God's command and His assurance. He calls us to step out even when we feel apprehension, trusting that His power is sufficient to see us through. This isn't about being fearless, but about being faith-filled in the face of fear.
Our faith isn't brand new; it's connected to a long history of God's faithfulness.
The phrase 'as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you' is crucial. Moses isn't just referencing the current promise; he's reminding them of God's covenantal relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This grounds their present calling in God’s past faithfulness. When we face our own 'wilderness' moments or daunting promises, remembering that we serve the same God who was faithful to our spiritual ancestors can be incredibly strengthening. His character doesn't change; His promises endure. This connects us to a legacy of faith, encouraging us to trust Him in the same way.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful relationship with His people.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
A state of anxiety, panic, or terror, often forbidden in Scripture when God commands His people to trust in His presence and promises.
chathath · Hebrew Verb
To be shattered, broken, or discouraged in spirit, often due to overwhelming external circumstances or the loss of trust in God's power.
erets · Hebrew Noun
A specific geographic region promised by God to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) as an inheritance for the people of Israel.
yarash · Hebrew Verb
To take, inherit, or dispossess, signifying the active process of receiving what God has rightfully granted to His people.
ab · Hebrew Noun
The ancestral leaders of Israel—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—with whom God established the covenantal promises that define the identity and hope of the nation.
This command comes after a generation's failure due to fear and disobedience. Moses is reminding the new generation of the same promises and empowering them to succeed where their parents failed, emphasizing that God's provision and presence are the keys to overcoming obstacles.
c. 1446 BC
Israel Departs Mount Sinai
After receiving the Law at Mount Sinai (Horeb), the Israelites begin their journey towards the Promised Land. They travel through the vast and challenging wilderness.
c. 1445 BC
Arrival at Kadesh-Barnea
The Israelites reach the oasis of Kadesh-Barnea, on the border of the Promised Land. This is the staging point from which they were meant to enter Canaan.
c. 1445 BC
Reconnaissance Mission to Canaan
At the people's request, Moses sends twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. They explore as far as the Valley of Eshcol, returning with grapes and a report of a fertile but heavily fortified land.
c. 1445 BC
Israel Rejects God's Command to Enter
Despite a positive report from two spies (Joshua and Caleb), the other ten spies instill fear by emphasizing the strength of the Canaanite peoples and cities. The Israelites panic and refuse to enter the land, leading to a forty-year period of wandering in the wilderness.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Moses' Final Address to Israel
Forty years later, as the new generation stands on the brink of entering Canaan, Moses recounts their history. He delivers this address, including the charge in Deuteronomy 1:21, urging them to courageously claim the land God has promised.
This passage echoes the command given to Israel to 'Go in and possess the land,' reinforcing the theme of taking possession with God's assurance, similar to Deuteronomy 1:21.
Hebrews 4:1This New Testament passage directly references the promise of entering God's rest (which is entering the promised land), warning believers not to fall short due to unbelief, connecting the fear and discouragement in Deuteronomy 1:21 to a similar spiritual danger.
1 Corinthians 10:13This verse assures believers that God will not let them be tempted beyond what they can bear, and will provide a way out, which directly counters the 'fear not, neither be dismayed' command by showing God's consistent provision for His people in difficult circumstances.
John 14:27Jesus' words 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid' directly parallels the command 'fear not, neither be dismayed,' showing the continuity of God's peace and encouragement through Christ.
gillDeuteronomy 1:21: "Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged."
Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee,.... The land of Canaan, on the borders of which they then were; See Gill on Deuteronomy 1:8 , go up; the mountain, by that way of it which was the way the spies went, and up to which some of the Israelites presumed to go when forbidden, they not complying wit…
calvinDeuteronomy 1:19-25: "And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea."
And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
Profecti de Horeb perambulavimus totam solitudin…
The command to "go up, take possession" isn't just about claiming land, but about entering into what God has already placed before them. It's a reminder that God's promises are not distant hopes, but tangible realities waiting for their courageous faith to claim.
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey from Mount Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, reminding them of the vast wilderness they traversed. He then presents God's clear command and promise: the land of Canaan is before them, ready to be possessed, a promise first made to their ancestors. This address comes just before the people’s fearful request to send spies, highlighting God’s direct instruction versus their subsequent hesitation.
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey from Mount Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, reminding them of the vast wilderness they traversed. He then presents God's clear command and promise: the land of Canaan is before them, ready to be possessed, a promise first made to their ancestors. This address comes just before the people’s fearful request to send spies, highlighting God’s direct instruction versus their subsequent hesitation.
"See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’" — The command to "go up, take possession" isn't just about claiming land, but about entering into what God has already placed before them. It's a reminder that God's promises are not distant hopes, b…
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Last reviewed October 2026
