When Giants Fell …
Recalling more of the history of the last 40 years, Moses speaks of
I. Edomites (2:1-7)
Don’t meddle with them (5).
God has blessed you; God knows where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing; God has been with you; you have lacked nothing (7).
II. Moabites (2:8-18)
Don’t distress them, nor contend with them (9).
Emim and Anakim – giants. Remember Numbers 13:33!
The men of war, who wouldn’t go to war, died without war or reward (16).
III. Ammonites (2:19-23)
Don’t distress them, nor meddle with them (19).
Zamzummim – giants. Remember Deuteronomy 2:10 and Numbers 13:33!
IV. Amorites (2:24-3:11)
Sihon, king of Heshbon (2:24-37)
The Lord has hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate (Dt 2:30).
Not one city was too strong for them (Dt 2:36)
Og, king of Bashan (3:1-11)
A giant himself (Dt 3:11)
V. Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh (3:12-20)
Fight until everyone has rest (18-20)
VI. Distant sites (3:21-29)
As God has done to Sihon and Og, so shall He do to your enemies everywhere you go (21)
God’s answer to Moses’ prayer: “Speak no more to me of this matter” (Dt 3:26)
Encourage and strengthen Joshua and the others who will survive you (28)
Meditation Points:
- Don’t fight with everybody.
- God’s blessing is for Him to be with us, and that we lack nothing.
- The giants, which had seemed formidable 40 years earlier, are easily defeated by God’s grace. And this would not soon be forgotten (Joshua 2:10; 9:10; 12:2-5; 13: 10, 21, 27; Judges 11:19-21; Nehemiah 9:22; Psalm 135:11; 136:19)
- God is able to, and does, harden the hearts/spirits of men. Remember Pharaoh, and Romans 1.
- Remembering past victories should encourage us to expect God to fight for us in the future, too.
- Not every prayer, even of the best of men, receives a “yes” answer.
- Some prayers should never be repeated.
- Older and experienced saints should encourage their younger counterparts.
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