Duet 2:1- 3:29
Key Verse 3: 25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you."
Introduction: In the ch 1, Moses reviewed what happened up to the time of an end of Israel’s roaming in the desert. The central message of this history lesson was that they did not trust and honor God who led Israel out of Egypt with his mighty hand when their faith was challenged in regard to His promise of the land of blessing and as the result God punished them to die in the desert and fell out of the blessing to the promised land. Now as the time of discipline was about to over, God directed his people to set their journey to the land of God’s blessing again.
So today’s passage is about the journey starting from the wilderness to the eastern side of the Jordan river. In this journey, three things marked out this period. First death of all first generation, second, passing through three kingdoms, Edom, Moabites, and Ammonites, lastly defeating of the two Amorites kings, Sihon and Og on the east side of Jordan river. This part of Israel journey serves us as the example of how to go about our journey to the land of God’s blessing for God planned, directed, and carried out, resulting in an enormous success for His chosen people Israel.
1. Set the journey toward the land of God’s blessing (1)
1: 46 And so you stayed in Kadesh many days—all the time you spent there. 1 Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea, as the LORD had directed me. For a long time, we made our way around the hill country of Seir.
After the rebellion at Kadesh Barnea, Israel roamed in the wilderness and near the end of 38 years of roaming, God directed to set their journey toward the Promised Land. But at this time, God planned to lead them to the eastern side of the land. So they had to go toward east crossing Arabah valley( this is an extension from the south of the dead sea to the Red Sea) through the land of Edom (Num). But when Israel asked Edom to give them a pass through their land, she refused even though Israel persuaded that they would not do any harm to them. So Israel had no choice but to go around the land of Edom. It meant a long journey. The first leg of this journey was to go down south toward the Red Sea along the Arabah valley. When they got to Ezion-Geber, a village at the northern tip of Red Sea, God told them;
2 Then the LORD said to me, 3 "You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.
So they crossed the Arabah valley there, moving to the eastern side of Edom. From this point on they headed toward the north. This side was more likely a desert stretching up all the way to Zered valley (northern end of the eastern border of Edom). At this time God gave a specific instruction on how to go about as they were passing through the eastern border of Edom.
4 Give the people these orders: 'You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful. 5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own. 6 You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.'"
2. Israel had to deal with the three kingdoms that were not hostile (2-23)
God told them two things; God gave Esau the hill country of Seir and Israel wouldn’t get even an inch of their land. So they were to be careful not to provoke them to war and to pay them for water and food.
As we look at the map, the land of Edom spread along the region of Jordan rift valley from north to south. As they passed the region of Edom, they got to the border of Moab.
8 So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and traveled along the desert road of Moab. 9 Then the LORD said to me, "Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession."
The land of Moab was just northern part of Edom at the east of the valley. As Israel was heading north, the came to the land of Moab. God told them that this land was given to Lot and his descendants and God would not give any part of their land to Israel. So Israel must not harass them or should not provoke them to war. So Israel passed them and got to the Zered valley, which makes the boundary between Moabites and the Ammonites.
19 When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot."
Along the border of Moab was the Ammonites. Ammonites were also descendants of Lot. God did not give the land to Israel; since God had given the land to another descendant of Lot, the Ammonites. So Israel should not harass or provoke them to war.
In this way, Israel passed by three nations. Esau’s descendants, the Edomite, and Lot’s descendants, the Moabites and the Ammonites. Though they all were in great fear of Israel, she should treat them kindly and must not provoke them to war. What was God’s purpose for these nations? Though God did not address His purpose for these nations, we can see a glimpse of it through the editorial notes (10-12 and 20-23). God helped these nations to drive out Rephaites, the most powerful nation that occupied over the most of the land of God’s promise. Rephaites was one of a list of the nations that God promised to destroy (Gen 15). This was the nation that Israel feared so much after the exploration of the land for they were giants.
How Edom, Moab, and Ammonites got their land is described in the two parentheses (10-12; 20-23) God helped them drive out the people who lived there, mostly Rephaites, who were giants like Anakites for the purpose of giving them those lands.
In the journey, we have to handle three kinds of people; one is our companions for the journey, the other is friendly people. They do not share with us the same goal for life, they do not obstruct our way to the final destination. The last one is the enemies who hamper and obstruct our ways our effort to the final destination.
These three nations belong to the second group. To this group, though we do not know God’s purpose for them, we must acknowledge that God has particular purpose for them as much as for us. Ow far should we honor their way of life? This is revealed in God’s instruction on how to deal with Edom;
6 You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.'" 7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.(Deut 2)
Edom rejected Israel’s friendly request to pass through their land. Because of this they had to go around so long journey. In the minds of the ordinary, one would hate such rejection of a small favor. In some aspect, it might be well justified to count them as their enemy. Nevertheless, God told Israel to do everything to keep peace with them even by giving sliver for food and water. In other words, Israel must be as generous as they could be for Edom. The reason? Because God supplied them enough while they were roaming in the wilderness. God has His purpose for these nations, though how and when that purpose would be revealed fully. I think that the implication is that God put them within the frame of His salvation plan. Will you go around so long journey for the sake of non-hostile people? God is teaching Israel and us as well that we should be willing and do it for God’s purpose is in them as well.
3. Israel passed through two important landmarks (13-15)
At the northern boundary of Edom was Zered Valley. The other side of this valley was Moab and then Ammonites. As Israel crossed this valley, God gave them this word;
13 And the LORD said, "Now get up and cross the Zered Valley." So we crossed the valley. 14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. 15 The LORD's hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.
God prompted the time for them to get up and cross the valley. The implication is that Israel was there for a while to wait for something. This something is in v14. God wanted to make sure that no fighting men who joined in the rebellion against God at Kadesh Barnea might cross the valley. God’s hand was actively against them so that they might be completely eliminated from Israel’s camp. We may understand this purely in respect to God’s fierce anger against their rebellion (Num; Deut 1:34-35) and fulfillment of His solemn declaration on judgment. Before making such hurried assumption, I like to look at what happened next. Soon after passing the land of Moabites, they came to the boundary to the Ammonites. This boundary was marked by a prominent landmark, called the Arnon Gorge. As soon as they cross the Gorge, they would meet the Ammonites. But there also were the Amorites of which God had said that He would give them to Israel. God gave Israel a clear message on what to do with the Ammonites. They should not do anything to provoke them to war. But in some part of the land of Ammonites were also Amorites. This was a very important information for God’s purpose for the Ammonites was totally different from the Amorite King Sihon. His purpose was revealed in what he said at this time;
24 "Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. 25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you."
Zered valley was marked by the end of discipline and/or purification of Israel. Only after this, i.e. purification of His people, God could put the terror and fear of Israel on all the nations under heaven. In other words, at this time, God’s holiness came upon Israel in strength that all nations of the world would be captured by terror and fear of Israel. What was the real meaning or significance that God would put terror and fear of Israel on all other nations?
4. God’s holy hands delivered the two Amorite kings in to the hand of Israel. (2:26-3:11)
Immediately after this, Israel asked King Sihon for a peaceful passage of the land. But King Sihon refused this request. Because of this, a war between Israel and Sihon was inevitable. But at this time, the fact that God made his heart hardened noted. The reason was obvious. God wanted to destroy him for his hostility against God. This will of God well revealed in this word;
31 The LORD said to me, "See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his country over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land."
As he harbored hostility toward the Lord, God made this become evident by hardening his heart. While all the nations of the world were gripped with terror and fear of Israel, Sihon dared to come to fight Israel.
32 When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz, 33 the LORD our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army.
The destruction of his army was thorough; Israel took all his towns and destroyed them completely including women and children. The destruction was thorough and there were no survivors. It was God’s will to eradicate all that rebelled against him. He would not leave anyone behind, not even a child.
Even after seeing what happened to Sihon and his kingdom, Og, the king of Bashan, another Amorite king, dared to come out to fight against Israel.
3:1 Next we turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan with his whole army marched out to meet us in battle at Edrei.
But God said this to Israel
2 The LORD said to me, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon."
As God said, Israel defeated Og and all of his army. Thoroughness of the destruction was vividly noted:
3 So the LORD our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan and all his army. We struck them down, leaving no survivors. 4 At that time we took all his cities. There was not one of the sixty cities that we did not take from them-- the whole region of Argob, Og's kingdom in Bashan. 5 All these cities were fortified with high walls and with gates and bars, and there were also a great many unwalled villages. 6 We completely destroyed them, as we had done with Sihon king of Heshbon, destroying every city-- men, women, and children.
About thirty-eight years before, the ten leaders of Israel feared the giants and fortified cities. Og was the last Rephaites and the biggest man of all. His bed was 9 cubits long. But God handed them all to the army of Israel. In this way, God led Israel to a victory of the two mighty kings of Amorites. This is what he meant when he said, “This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you." The result of defeating these two mighty kings of Rephaites was remarkable.
8 So at that time we took from these two kings of the Amorites the territory east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge as far as Mount Hermon.
What did God want to tell Israel through this two wars?
5. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going.(3:12-22)
We will discuss this in four parts.
a. Israel distributed the land to two and a half tribe (3:12-17).
Moses allotted this part of the land (the east of the Jordan River from Arnon Gorge to the mountain Hermon) to the two (Reuben and Gad) and a half tribe (Manasseh). This was an exuberant moment because they had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Israel had suffered slavery in Egypt for a long time (more than a hundred years?). Even after they got out of the slavery, they went through so many hardships in the desert life. Many times, they faced death or near death and their lives were pushed to their limit beyond the ability to tolerate. For the first time, they had their own land, the land blessed by God. In it they would settle and enjoy the richness of the land, having all peace and joy. This was not just for the two and a half tribe but also for the other tribes as well as seeing and sensing the reality of having their own land. Also, it was amazing that God led them to victory over such fortified cities and mighty warriors. Literally, they got to the land of God’s blessing and the abundance of that blessing was ready at hand to enjoy.
b. All fighting men are to go ahead to fight all the enemies until all settles at the Promised Land. (3:18-20)
In an address to the two and a half tribes, Moses told them that all able-bodied men must go ahead of his brother tribes to help them to conquer for their land. This ‘able-bodied men’ were another description of those who were the age 20 above (Exo 38:26; Num 1:3, 45). We may say that this particular group of people was conscripted to fight. But this may not reflect the full significance of ‘the people above twenty’. They represented all who were mature, having an able body to fight, must participate in the war to conquer the land of God’s promise. Simply speaking, the nation as a whole was an army united to engage in the wars to conquer the land of God’s blessing while only women, and children were exempt to engage a direct fight.
Strategically, it is not wise to leave the women and children uncovered. But Moses said to them that they all must go ahead of the other tribal men, leaving their wives and children behind. This would not be possible if God did not put the terror and fear of Israel on all the nations of the world (2:25). In other words, God would be the protector for their families left behind while ‘all the able-bodied men’ were engaging in fight against enemies. They should fight until God gives all of their fellow tribes rest. The ending point is the time when God gives rest to the entire nation, driving out or eradicating all the enemies of the land completely. Until that time, these two tribes must fight along with the rest of the tribes.
c. The Lord will do the same thing as He did to the king Sihon and Og to all the kingdoms of the land of God’s Promise. (21-22)
Before they were to engage in the war against the enemies, God told them that he would put terror and fear of Israel on all nations. This ‘terror and fear’ from God set the tone of the wars. That word would be still effective and God would continue help Israel to defeat all the enemies thoroughly as he had done. The one thing that they had to keep in mind as they were to engage the wars is this;
22 Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.
6. In taking the land of God’s blessing, He demands for all men to follow Him with a wholehearted spirit (3:23-28)
Those that rebelled at Kadesh Barnea was called, ‘generation of fighting men’. They were the people above 20 at that time for all people above 20 were conscripted to the war, to conquer the land of God’s promise. So it is more proper to understand this group of people not as those who were above 20 but as those who were to fight. If God called one to be his people, then he is to engage in a war against those who ‘occupy’ the land of God’s blessing. In this regard, God’s people are to be fighters engaging in many wars. In warfare that God called them for, their genuine character or quality to be God’s chosen people are to be revealed.
First, those who were above 20 rebelled at Kadesh Barnea because they were to engage in wars. They feared for their lives as they saw might men and fortified cities. When one has to engage in a war, the very survival of his life was always at the forefront of consideration in deciding how or whether he has to engage in the war. In other words, the context of a war is the place whereby one’s faith in God would be tested and proven to be genuine. In this regard, God considers that a war is an essential part of life in faith. That war is to defeat those who occupy the land of God and who demean the kingship of the Lord Almighty. So we can say that the genuine faith will be revealed if people are actively engaged in the war and how they engage in the war. Even we might say that when one’s faith is not tested in a war for the kingdom of God, then his/her faith is a long way to grow.
Second, God chose Joshua over Moses.
Israel was about to enter the Promised Land after she conquered the eastern side of Jordan river. Moses pleaded with God;
24 "Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? 25 Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan-- that fine hill country and Lebanon."
Since it would not be unreasonable for Moses to ask God such a small request to enter the land of God’s promise for God was fully able to do so if He was willing. But this was rejected and Moses assessed the reason in this way;
26 But because of you the LORD was angry with me and would not listen to me. "That is enough," the LORD said. "Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. 28 But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead these people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see."
Because of the unbelief of Israel, God was angry with Moses. The implication is that there was some weakness or failure of Moses’ leadership or faith that resulted in the rebellion of Israel. About which event did Moses failed to lead Israel? It might be about what happened at Kadesh Barnea or what happened at the waters of Meribah (Num 20:9-13).
At Kadesh Barnea, Moses was silent;
Numbers 14:4 And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. (Num 14:4 NIV)
When his leadership was brought into question, Moses did not do much and remained in silence. But Joshua rebuke the unbelief of Israel.
When Israel complained against Moses at Water of Meribah,
Numbers 20:10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." (Num 20:10 NIV)
Here God pointed out that Moses did not trust enough the Lord at His word when He told him to say to the rock.
On the other hand, Joshua expressed his anger against the unbelief of his fellow Israel at Kadesh Barnea.
24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. (Num 14)
This was noted in his address to his people;
Joshua 14:8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever because you have followed the LORD, my God, wholeheartedly.'
Here the word; wholeheartedly is a translation of two Hebrew words;”מלא”[‘mille’=filled or full or ordained or consecrated ] and אַחַ֫ר [‘ahar’= follow or after]. We can get a real picture of these words; “follow after fully to what God said”. Trusting one is trusting one’s word and honor his word. Moses failed to do so at Water-Meribah and this was also exposed at Kadesh-Barnea as well in his silence while a rebellion was going on. Who can get into the land of God’s promise? He must trust God’s power, he must trust God’s love and he must trust God’s promise of blessing. All these trusts must be expressed by his actions based on God’s word. This is the kind of person that God wants to welcome to the land of God’s promise and this kind of person should lead His people. Moses represented the model for holiness, but Joshua, the man who followed God’s word with wholehearted spirit, had the character of faith that God is eager to welcome to the land of God’s blessing. So Joshua’s faith, expressed in his spirit to conquer the land of God’s blessing, embodied all these three facets of faith; trust in God’s power, in God’s love, and in God’s promise. It is very encouraging and heartwarming to see many Joshua’s among us, not only in name but also in action.
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