SCRIPTURE: DEUTERONOMY 3
BIBLE VERSE:
“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.” (Deuteronomy 2:2)
DEFEAT OF OG KING OF BASHAN (vs. 1-11)
The Lord handed the whole armony and land of Og, king of Bashan to the Israelites leaving no survivors. They took all the 60 cities which were fortified with high walls, gates and bars. They also destroyed all the unwalled villages. But they carried off all the live stocks and plunders. They took all the towns in the plateau, all Gilead, and all Bashan. Only Og, king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaites.:
DIVISION OF THE LAND (vs. 12-20)
- To Reubenites and Gadites – territory north of Aroer by the Arnon Gorge, including half the hill country of Gilead, and out to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites.
- To Manasseh – the rest of Gilead and all of the Bashan. Jair, a descendant of Manasseh took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites.
Those lands will be given but all their able bodies men must join brother Israelites to fight the enemies until all the lands had been taken. However, they could leave their wives and children. They could return to possess the land after all the battles had been fought.
MOSES FORBIDDEN TO CROSS THE JORDAN (vs. 21-29)
Moses commanded Joshua to fight the kingdoms and assured him of God’s presence and assistance. Moses wanted to cross over the Jordan but God only alloed him to look at the land with his own eyes. He had to commission Joshua to lead His people cross the land.
THOUGHTS:
Despite of the well-trained army of Og, king of Basha, the Israelites were able to win the battle because God fought for them. No matter how insurmountable the obstacle may seem, remember that God is sovereign and He will keep his promise to deliver us from all our problems.
When God won’t allow Moses to enter into the promised land, He told Moses to commission Joshua s the new leader. This is an example that church must follow. They should choose potential leaders and provide the necessary training to replace those retiring.