Respect & Defeating Giants 03.02.08

Hello my Friend/Guest,

It is March 2, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Dueteronomy. Please read Deuteronomy 3 -- 4 in your Bible or Click Here to read online. In today's study we will read about the division of land east of the Jordan; Moses' prayer; and the Israelites defeat a giant king. This message focuses on blessings through respect for God and His ability to help us through any problem, big or small.

Before the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River,they turned and went northwards where they were confronted by Og, the King of Bashan. He was a powerful ruler who controlled over sixty separate communities built with high walls. The area was thickly populated and powerfully defended by giants. Doubtless, King Og and his united forces of Amorites fought fiercely to keep their kingdoms. Nevertheless, Israel defeated and then destroyed them. "Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city." (Deuteronomy 3:1-6). Giants are only pygmies before God who enables us to overcome insurmountable problems in order that the glory and praise may be to Him.

The defeat of the united Amorite forces encouraged the faith of the Israelites as well as struck fear in surrounding nations. God had promised to permit the tribes of Reuben and Gad to remain outside the promised land, however this was not the perfect will of God. It points out that God will not force anyone to do His will and allows us to choose second best. In doing so we fall short of His perfect will for our lives. Why settle for less when you can have an abundace simply by following God's will. We will face many giant problems in our lives but, as we trust in the Lord and follow His Word, He will give us victory over each and every one of them.

Moses reminded the new generation of Israelites that living according to God's Word would bring lasting fulfillment. He began to explain the Law that God had given their parents 40 years earlier at Mount Sinai. To declare this Law meant more than merely "repeating" the Law; it meant to explain its meaning. Moses' first message highlighted the importance of keeping all the Word of God. "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." (4:1-6)

"That ye may live" meant that the Israelites would enjoy the best in life. The one essential requirement for remaining in the land of promise was obedience to God's Word. "Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed." (4:23-26). God desires that we seek Him with all our heart and with all our soul no matter what we are faced with and He promises that through it all we will be blessed. "But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them." (4:29-31).

Obedience to the One True God would have enabled Israel to be successful and morally and spiritually unique among all other nations. The Bible provides our only source of knowing the will of our Creator. "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever." (4:39-40).

We too need a daily reminder to remain faithful to God and to teach our children the word of God. Children begin developing respect for God by first being taught to behave in a respectful way toward their parents, teachers, and all in authority. Unless children learn respect for their parents, they seldom learn to respect and obey God. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through Joshua, who led the Israelites into their inheritance (Deuteronomy 3:28). Through Jesus we receive His promised inheritance among them which are set apart by faith that is in Jesus. "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." (Acts 26:16-18).

Today's Psalm: 101:41-43
"He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river. For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:"

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
You have given us Your Word for a light to shine upon our path; Help us to meditate on that Word, and to follow its teaching, that we may find in it the light that shines more and more until the perfect day through Jesus Christ our Lord. In Jesus's name, I pray.....Amen.

Have a wonderful Lord's Day.
God Bless you,
Christina

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