Battle some more

Deuteronomy 3

On Sunday we taught from Deuteronomy 2 and saw the events that took place during the 40 years Israel was in the wilderness. Towards the end of the chapter Israel faces war against King Sihon. God was with Israel and they defeated the King.More war awaits Israel before they can enter into the Promise Land. King Og and his army came against Israel. God told them not to fear because he was with them and would fight for them. They defeated King Og and his army and overtook all 60 cities that were in his kingdom. All the inhabitants in the land died and Israel destroyed the cities and kept the livestock and spoil. The land of Og was split between the tribe of Reuben and the half tribe of Manassah.

Bad News

The Bible is awesome because it shows the flaws of people. It does not just give nice words about men and women who died but tells the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here Moses is being honest with the 2nd generation and he tells them how even he is not allowed into the Promise Land because of his sin. God allowed Moses to view the land but he could not cross the Jordan into it. God then commanded the Moses have Joshua be the one who leads Israel across the river into the land.Moses would be approaching 120 years old. He has been in the wilderness for 40 years with these people all to get them into the Promise Land but he does not get to enter into it himself. I do not know how frustrated Moses might have been or even how he pleaded with the Lord, but God said, “I do not want to hear anymore about this.” This was it, Moses could see it but not cross into it. Moses was going to die soon and needed to be ready to have the next man in charge to lead the people into the land. God has a plan with everything and we know Moses not entering into the land was for a perfect reason and also that God is just. May we know that God will not forbid us, his children to enter into the promise of heaven because we are marked with the blood of Christ. We are able to enter in, which should be so reassuring. Remember next time your parents won’t let you do something, they have a purpose to their answer. More importantly when you think life is not far, just think about how it is not far that we get to go to heaven because Jesus had to die.  I am thankful for that and since I got the good end of that deal, I am not going to say that’s not far. I know I do not deserve it, so I am going to be ever so thankful.