Deuteronomy
chapter 3 continues describing the victories God granted Israel
leading up to the preparation to cross the Jordan into the Promised
Land. “Og
king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet us… the Lord
said to me, “Do not be afraid of him for I have handed him over to
you with his whole army and his land”…we struck him down, leaving
no survivors… we took all of his cities… all of his cities were
fortified… we completely destroyed them… men, women and children,
but the livestock from the cities we carried off“.
So the army of Israel took all of the territory east of the Jordan.
And what was different from forty years earlier when they did not
enter in as God had commanded? The only difference was obedience to
God. Many people put off their decision to follow Christ because of
what they fear they will have to give up. Being lost in the desert
creates a selfish need to cling to what little you have, and fear of
letting go of the known. It is to the hesitant that Jesus said,
“Come
to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”
(Matthew 11:28).
Moses
then reviews the cities that were given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad
and half of Manasseh on the western side of the Jordan. He also
reminds all the people of the promise of these tribes, “All
your able-bodied men, armed for battle must cross over ahead of your
brother Israelites… until they too have taken over the land that
the Lord your God has given them, across the Jordan… after that you
may go back to the possession I have given you“.
What a good reminder to us that we also have an obligation to one
another. Jesus explained to His followers, “As
I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will
know that you are My disciples, if you love one another”
(John 13:34). Jesus demonstrated the example of love by serving,
selfless-giving and putting others first. We are not to get inside a
Christian cocoon and isolate ourselves from friends, neighbors and
family. 1 Peter 2:12 tells us to “live
such good lives… that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they
see your good deeds and glorify God“.
Moses
next reminds everyone that he will not be allowed to enter the
Promised Land, but God allowed him to see it. “Go
to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east.
Look at the land with your own eyes.”
Then Moses must give the responsibility to Joshua. Moses is told to
do two things for Joshua, “encourage
him and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and cause
them to inherit the land that you will see“.
Throughout the Bible the older are told to instruct the younger in
Godly wisdom. Titus chapter 3 explains that, “We
too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of
passions… but when the kindness and love of God our Savior
appeared, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had
done, but because of His mercy“.
Sharing our experience creates the expectation and hope of eternal
life in others. “These
things are excellent and profitable for everyone“.
Is there someone you can encourage and strengthen today?