Wed.’s Devo - Building Up our Faith

Read: Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29; Luke 6:12-38; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverbs 11:27 The children of Isreal had to turn around and go back toward the Red Sea. This had to be disheartening to say the least. They had come to the end of their destination and because of their unbelief, they had to go back to the wilderness. This time God sent them north to the country belonging to their relatives the Edomites. They were not to take any of their land and were to pay for anything food they needed. God reminded them that He had watched over their every step through the wilderness and they had lacked nothing they needed. As they passed through the land of Moab, God instructed them not to start a fight because He had given them that land. Ar was a city where giants used to live but God had driven them out for the sons of Lot. They were not to try to take it either. They were to cross the Zered Brook which marked 38 years of wandering. All the men of fighting age had died by then. They were told to peacefully pass through Ar, the land of their relatives, the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot. God continued his tour of places that He had driven out strong enemies for his people to live and occupy. He was trying to build up their faith so they would enter into their land this time and not be afraid of their enemies. God had them pass Seir, the land of the Hornets that he had destroyed so the descendants of Esau could live. Finally, God told them to cross the Arnon Gorge to the land of the Amorite king of Heshbon. He told them to attack them and occupy his land. Through this victory, God would put fear throughout the earth of them. King Sihon was the king of Heshbon so they sent him letters asking permission to pass through his land. God hardened his heart so that the king would refuse to let them. God told them that they could have his land. King Sihon declared war against Israel and the Lord gave Israel a complete victory. They then headed for the land of Bashan where King Og lived and told them to do to Og as they had done to King Sihon. They conquered all 60 of his towns and the entire Argob region of his kingdom. King Og was the last survivor of the Rephaite giants. He had a bed 13 feet long and 6 feet wide. (That is twice the size of a normal mattress.) Since Jair from the tribe of Manasseh led the charge against the king of Og, God gave the land to the tribes of Reuben, and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh. Even though their land was east of the Jordan, they had to send their armies over the Jordan and help the other tribes conquer their land also. Then they could return home and live. Now that God had shown them what He would do for them, they were ready to cross the Jordan and take their land. God gave Joshua the command to lead them across to their promised land. Moses pled with the Lord to let him cross over too, but God refused and took him to the top of Pisgah Peak and let him see the land from there. His job was to commission and encourage Joshua to lead from here. In Luke, Jesus spent the whole night communing with God. Jesus must not have trequired much sleep! God gave him the 12 names of the men he was to disciple. He came down to a multitude of people waiting for him. They had come to hear him teach and be healed and delivered. Jesus taught them the difference between being great in the eyes of man and being great in the eyes of God. God looks at the heart and is drawn to people with humility. He taught them God’s way which was to love sinners and their enemies that do them harm. It was to not judge others but to give freely. Lord, thank you for your gentle teaching and leading us through our lives into our promised land. Help us to fearlessly conquer our spiritual enemies.