GOD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU

Passage: Deuteronomy 3:12-29

Key verse: 22

NIV

Division of the Land

12 Of the land that we took over at that time, I gave the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory north of Aroer(A) by the Arnon Gorge, including half the hill country of Gilead, together with its towns. 13 The rest of Gilead and also all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh.(B) (The whole region of Argob in Bashan used to be known as a land of the Rephaites.(C) 14 Jair,(D) a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maakathites;(E) it was named(F) after him, so that to this day Bashan is called Havvoth Jair.[a]) 15 And I gave Gilead to Makir.(G) 16 But to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory extending from Gilead down to the Arnon Gorge (the middle of the gorge being the border) and out to the Jabbok River,(H) which is the border of the Ammonites. 17 Its western border was the Jordan in the Arabah,(I) from Kinnereth(J) to the Sea of the Arabah(K) (that is, the Dead Sea(L)), below the slopes of Pisgah.

18 I commanded you at that time: “The Lord your God has given(M) you this land to take possession of it. But all your able-bodied men, armed for battle, must cross over ahead of the other Israelites.(N) 19 However, your wives,(O) your children and your livestock(P) (I know you have much livestock) may stay in the towns I have given you, 20 until the Lord gives rest to your fellow Israelites as he has to you, and they too have taken over the land that the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan. After that, each of you may go back to the possession I have given you.”

Moses Forbidden to Cross the Jordan

21 At that time I commanded Joshua: “You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. 22 Do not be afraid(Q) of them;(R) the Lord your God himself will fight(S) for you.”

23 At that time I pleaded(T) with the Lord: 24 “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness(U) and your strong hand. For what god(V) is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works(W) you do?(X) 25 Let me go over and see the good land(Y) beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.(Z)”

26 But because of you the Lord was angry(AA) 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(AB) and look west and north and south and east.(AC) Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross(AD) this Jordan.(AE) 28 But commission(AF) Joshua, and encourage(AG) and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across(AH) and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” 29 So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.(AI)

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Footnotes
  1. Deuteronomy 3:14 Or called the settlements of Jair
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

12 “When we took possession of this land at that time, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory beginning (A)at Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with (B)its cities. 13 (C)The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, (D)all the region of Argob, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (All that portion of Bashan is called the land of (E)Rephaim. 14 (F)Jair the Manassite took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of (G)the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called the villages (H)after his own name, Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.) 15 To Machir (I)I gave Gilead, 16 and to the Reubenites (J)and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a border, as far over as the river Jabbok, (K)the border of the Ammonites; 17 the Arabah also, with the Jordan as the border, from (L)Chinnereth as far as (M)the Sea of the Arabah, (N)the Salt Sea, under (O)the slopes of Pisgah on the east.

18 “And I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. (P)All your men of valor shall cross over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel. 19 Only your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (Q)(I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in the cities that I have given you, 20 (R)until the Lord gives rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also occupy the land that the Lord your God gives them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession which I have given you.’ 21 And I commanded (S)Joshua at that time, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. So will the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing. 22 You shall not fear them, for it is (T)the Lord your God who fights for you.’

Moses Forbidden to Enter the Land

23 “And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, 24 ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant (U)your greatness and your mighty hand. For (V)what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? 25 Please let me go over and see (W)the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and (X)Lebanon.’ 26 But (Y)the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, (Z)‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. 27 (AA)Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28 But (AB)charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’ 29 So we remained in (AC)the valley opposite Beth-peor.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The lands the Israelites conquered began to be distributed to each tribe. The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh already received their share of the land. The promise of God was becoming reality before their very eyes. They were once wandering nomads. They did not have any land to call their own home or nation. When they trusted in God’s promise to them, the promise became a reality. Now that beautiful land of Canaan, which flowed with milk and honey, was theirs. God had blessed them with so much!

God still commanded all the Israelite armies to go into battle and help their brothers conquer the land. Since they were blessed with so much from God, God wanted them to continue fighting for their brothers so they may gain the promised land of God as well.

Now, the succession of leadership was taking place. Moses was commanding Joshua to continue fighting while trusting God. He said, “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.” God, who has given us victory thus far, is fighting for us. We need not be afraid. In our daily needs and struggles, God promises that he will fight for us.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for fighting our battles. Instead of being fearful, may we trust in you and continue to win the battle.

One Word: God will fight for you!