We continue as Moses is delivering the first of three speeches which comprise the book of Deuteronomy. What I like about this book is the familiar terms of you, me, we, I, and so on.
We left off as Moses was recalling how he got help to manage the Israelites. In Exodus 18:21-23 (Jan 6) Jethro, Moses father-in-law asks him what he is doing trying to manage the people all by himself, and suggests he get some help from respected men amongst the people. So Moses reviews the good advice of getting help when you need it to do God's work. We aren't meant to do it alone.
Moses reviews the story (by this time 38 years old) where a search expedition is sent out to scout the territory and see what's there. This is told in Numbers 13:1-25. (Feb 15) The explorers came back fearful of the people they saw there. The Anakites they saw were Nephilim (Genesis 6:4 Jan 2). Ahhh grasshopper! (Num 13:33 Feb 15) The Lord told them He would take care of it but they wouldn't trust Him. God was angry and swore not one of them would see the promised land except Caleb. And because Moses had angered God by not talking to the rock (Numbers 20:12 Feb 17) he was not to enter the promised land either, but his assistant, Joshua would. Then the Israelites tried to make up for their mistake which was a bad idea (Num 14:44-45)
Then they began their 38 year long 11 day trip. They passed by the descendants of Jacob's (Israel) twin brother Esau (Edomites as told in Genesis 36 Jan 12) Moses reminded them that they have been in the desert 40 years and lacked for nothing because God provided everything they needed. Then God told them not to bother the Moabites, because He gave them the land of Ar to possess. These people were the descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew. (Two sons were born of Lot and his two daughters -Genesis 19:37 Jan 6.) There were the giants from the Nephilim (Anakim, Emim and Rephaim (Num 13:33). So when all the fighting men who had balked at the notion of conquering giants had died it was time to go home. They passed by the land of the Ammonites - the other son of Lot. (Gen 19:38 Jan 6) God drove the people out of the land he wanted to give to the people he wanted to give it to.
Moses reviews the defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon as described in Numbers 12:21-32 (Feb 18) They also defeated the kingdom of Og of Bashan, who was a remnant of the Rephaites, and mentions his giant iron bed. After describing these military triumphs, Moses reviews the division of the land and the details of the 2 1/2 tribes who were on the east side of the Jordan river. (Num 32:33 Feb 22)
God told Moses to go to the top of Pisgah and look in all directions to see the land that the Israelites would inherit. Moses was to die and not enter the land. (Num 27:12) Moses reminded the Israelites that Joshua was to succeed him as leader. (Num 27:15-23)
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 4-6:15
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