For forty years I led you through the desert … yet your sandals did not wear out." Duet. 29:5
“You must not have any other god but me.”
Take inventory. Are there any “gods” in your life? In my life? Something (or even someone) that influences/colors every attitude, every decision, every action and reaction? Isn’t that what a god is for?
The true and living God wants to be the only “god” you have. Our idols – our material possessions, our selfish ambitions, our tendency to worry – are very poor (and sinful) substitutes.
“For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is to us?”
This is the heart of the Old Testament gospel: God, the only true and living God, wants to dwell with his people, and bless them.
The Lord was with the armies of Israel. They completely destroyed King Sihon of Heshbon and his kingdom – every village and every man, woman and child in every village. They did the to King Og of Bashan.
It was brutal, yes. But what an encouragement to the Israelites who were about to cross the Jordan into the land of Caanan. No army would be able to stand before them!
“The Lord your God made [King] Sihon stubborn and defiant, so He could help you defeat him.”
The Lord God does rule over the affairs of men, albeit mysteriously. Here the curtains are pulled back, so to speak, and we see that God hardened an already hard heart, so that His plan to destroy the wicked people of Heshbon could be accomplished.
“But even after all He did, you refused to trust the Lord your God.”
Trusting God is an act of obedience, an act of surrender.
“The daughters throughout the tribes of Israel who are in line to inherit property must marry within their tribe.”
In all of our decisions it is important to remember whose we are. We are redeemed people. Our lives are not our own.
“You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.”
This is a most remarkable statement. The Lord of heaven and earth, time and eternity, describes Himself as living in the same land as his chosen people. Not above them, but among them!
Before the Israelites had fought even a single battle, the Lord outlined for Moses the northern, southern, eastern and western boundaries of the promised land.
Moses kept a record of the encampments during the forty-year journey through the wilderness.
“All the way my Savior leads me…”
“Please let us have this land as our property, instead of giving us land across the Jordan River.”
The tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Mannaseh asked Moses to give them land on the east side of the Jordan.
Moses agreed, provided they first go and fight with the other tribes across the Jordan.
For the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Mannaseh, the east side of the Jordan would be their promised land.
