Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Next, the people turned and went toward Bashan, the territory of Og. King Og and all his people came out to do battle with the Israelites, but God told Moses not to be afraid. Fear is not a flight or flight response, but a choice based on what’s in our hearts. If all we have is flesh, we fight or flee. When we have the Word in our heart, we can disregard fear and regulate it to the sensory input that it really is. God told Moses He would deliver the king, his people, and all his land just as He had with king Sihon. And He did.

They defeated Og, his people, and took all his territory. God let them keep the plunder and the livestock – but the people were all killed so that their spiritual cancer would not spread (they had had more than enough chances to repent, but were lost in their demonic paganism which could not be redeemed until Jesus came and died). Og was another giant and had cities with high walls, gates, and bars – another reason the ten spies gave for not entering the land previously (Numbers 13:28). The Lord was showing them that all their ‘reasons’ had only been excuses for their unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). He could give victory to anyone regardless of who or what stood against them (Romans 8:31). Having the Lord on your side always tips the scales in your favour – which is why He tells us to always stay in harmony with Him (Exodus 20:3).

Of this conquered territory (Og’s and Sihon’s), some was chosen by and given to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The condition was that their men of valour (twenty years old and up) would enter the land and fight with their brother tribes until ALL the Land of Promise was theirs – though their wives, children, and livestock could remain behind in the cities they had been given.

Moses pleaded at this time with the Lord (They were being given victory over their enemies, victory over the giants, so maybe God would repent? He had done it before – Exodus 32:14 – so Moses was probably hopeful.) to be allowed to enter the land, but for the sake of the people of Israel, he was NOT permitted. The Lord reprimanded Moses and told him not to ask about this again. Moses had a bad habit of doing what he wanted, not what God asked (killing the Egyptian and costing the Israelites thirty years of extra slavery – Exodus 2:11-12; striking the rock twice instead of speaking to it – Numbers 20:7-11). These actions didn’t bring glory to God. Moses was not the example the people would need in the land. God wouldn’t repent and left His judgment in place because it was the best for the people. Moses was told to train up Joshua – who had also witnessed the signs, wonders, and miraculous things of God – so that Joshua would be ready to lead the people when they entered the land. Which Moses did.

“And Yahweh spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard a sound of words, but you did not see a form—only a voice.” (Deuteronomy 4:12)

Therefore Moses commanded and pressed upon the people the need for OBEDIENCE. Obedience would enable them to take possession of the land. Obedience to the Word without adding or taking away from it was wisdom and understanding. Not just head knowledge or taught precepts, but active teaching our offspring and active reverence for God. Holding fast to Yahweh no matter what.

Moses warned them not to try and depict Yahweh with images or pictures. Not to ascribe deity to animals of any kind; or the sun, the moon, or the stars (which are also suns). Moses reminded them that Yahweh spoke to them out of fire, clouds, and darkness – but showed them NO image. The created is not greater than the Creator. God brought His people out of the furnace of bondage and they were to be true and reliant on Him in every way.

Moses reiterated why he could not enter the land and warned them again not to forget their covenant. Not to worship in idolatry with things their hands had made. God was a consuming fire (Leviticus 10:1; Hebrews 12:28-29) and they were not to think that they could trifle with His feelings (1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10; Luke 16:15).

Moses called Heaven and the Earth to witness (Deuteronomy 19:15) to his prophetic utterance. Moses prophesied that in time to come they WOULD fall away. They WOULD engage in idolatry. They WOULD be driven out and WOULD be scattered. BUT also that God would not abandon them, or totally destroy them, or forget His covenant with them; NOT because of their acts or because they deserved it, but because Yahweh is Merciful and Gracious.

Yahweh let them (the Israelites) hear His voice (Romans 10:17), showed them wonders, miracles, and supernatural works and deeds. He collected them from out of the inside of another nation, intervened in their lives PERSONALLY, and gave them His Laws and Commands. Who else had He done this with? The Word clearly shows interactions between God and humanity (positive and negative), but not in the same way as He had with the Jews. They were His SPECIAL, DEDICATED people. And through this relationship and by these acts, His request for obedience was just and right (in the New Covenant, it is by the acts of Jesus and His accomplished works that Yahweh has this same right towards us, the engrafted Gentiles). He had chosen to EARN them as His own (Exodus 13:12; Isaiah 43:1; Psalm 100:3; 1 John 4:5-6). If the people stuck with God and did as He asked, then it would go well with them. Which also means that if things aren’t going well with us, we should be looking to see if we’re obeying Him. First we listen, and if we’ve heard, then we DO (James 2:14-26).

Moses set apart the three cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9-15) that would be needed by the three and a half tribes who were staying on this side of the Jordan. Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan were the cities. This again showed that although the people were not choosing to walk in total trust with Yahweh, God was not forgetting them. He was keeping to His Law and His covenant with them, regardless of where THEY were at. He was still providing for them.

Summary

Key Players: God, Moses

Key Themes: Obedience, Victory, Worship

Key Verse(s): Deuteronomy 3:2-7, 18-20; 4:1-2, 15-20, 40