04/01/2020 - ALWAYS OBEY THE LORDS COMMAND

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Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’ Deuteronomy 2:9

In the Bible we find the Lord’s directions not to do beyond or less than what we have been allowed. As He prepared the people to enter Canaan, He said that the lands of the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites should be respected, for they were their relatives. This order was fully obeyed. The Edomites were afraid of the Israelites, but they had to stay alert and protect themselves. He who does not stay alert and transgresses the commandment, is  sinning.

It is normal for man to see someone afraid of him to abuse that person in some way. In the case of the Israelites, God had warned them not to get involved with those peoples, because their lands had not been given to His people. Moses requested passage through their territory, promising to pay for water or food that he, the people, and the cattle would drink. However, they refused, and Israel had to walk a long way! 

Likewise, Jacob´s sons were warned that they should take nothing of the Moabites, who were descendants of Abraham’s nephew Lot, who, because he stood by his uncle, was blessed. Moses sent ambassadors to ask the Moabite king to give them way through his lands, but he denied it. Still, the Israelites did not go in by force, they respected the Lord’s command. He who respects the Most High loves Him!

Likewise, Moses and his people were warned of the sons of Ammon, the brother of Moab, the incestuous sons of Lot. The Ammonite king refused Jacob’s sons request, but they did not fight these two kings. Og fled to Ammon, but Israel did not enter his land. The reward for those who do what the Most High says will last for eternity. God rewards those who seek and honor Him!

Whoever disregards the Word of the Lord will be denied to enter into the congregation of the righteous, who will dwell in the divine presence forever. To accept Jesus as Savior and Lord is more than lifting up your hand and repeating a prayer. It is to be ready to do whatever God says. The proof that we are His is found in the temptations we endure, for we resist the devil. Serve the Lord with love, determination and faith!

Seeing that Israel had been obedient, and Moses had not dishonored the Word by wrongly using the power given by the Almighty, we observe how God’s wisdom acted from the very beginning. At creation it is clear that even the position of the Seir Mountains, which were placed in that place, would harm Israel by facing the Amorites and overcoming them as they did. The lands of Sihon and Og now belonged to the Israelites.

Likewise, if they had gone through Moab or Ammon, perhaps the Amorite kings would not have denied them access and would continue there with their lands. With this, Israel would only receive what was west of the Jordan. Never argue with He who is the Sage!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares