Sunday, November 8, 2020

Do Not Fear

Deuteronomy 3:1-29

The Lord said to the sons of Israel, “Do not fear Og, king of Bashan, with all of his people, for I will deliver them into your hands, just like I did with Shihon king of the Amorites;” the Lord delivered them into the hands of the sons of Israel just as he promised. Thus the sons of Israel took the land of two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan. The Reubenites, the Gadites and one-half the tribe of Manasseh took possession of the land as their inheritance. They could leave their families in these lands, but the men of war must cross the Jordan, with the others, to aide their brothers taking of the land beyond the Jordan. The Lord promised to do to the kings beyond the Jordan, what he did to the two kings of the Amorites; therefore, Moses said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for the Lord you God is the one fighting for you.” Moses asked the Lord if he could cross the Jordan, but he told him no; however, the Lord allowed Moses to see the land at a distance, from a mountain top, and charged Joshua as head of the people crossing the Jordan.

The three aspects of covenant keeping is loyal-love, obedience and trust. When the sons of Israel were loyal to the Lord, obedient to his commandments and trusted his promises, they were victorious in battle. This is not to say that we should assume that the Lord is on our side in everything, when there is something that we want. What are the promises that the Lord has given us in his word? The Lord has promised to deliver us from the two kings who rule this world: sin and death; therefore, we should not fear sin and death, for the Lord has promised our deliverance. We must be loyal to the Lord, observe all that he commanded (even when we do not understand the reason) and trust his promise of deliverance. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor 15:56-58)