Deuteronomy Chapter 3
Moses rehearsed further all the events of their journey so that the new generation would remember what God had done for them. The key to this passage lies in verses 21 and 22. This same key is the key that we all need to take possession of whenever we need to journey forward into something that is a bit scary for us. The message is that since God had shown that He caused these kingdoms to fall at their hand, He would be right there with them to do the same thing when they crossed over into the promised land. The key for us too, is that He will help us accomplish what He has purposed for us to do.
Deuteronomy 3:21-22 And I commanded 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. You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.’
Let's Reflect
1. We have more detail in this chapter regarding the battles that were fought against King Og and King Sihon than was previously recorded in Numbers. How many cities were the Israelites able to conquer in this region that would become the land of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh? See verse 4.
2. One of the biggest fears of the previous generation that kept them from entering the promised land was giants or Rephaim. In these verses we see that God helped the new generation defeat the giants. King Og was the only survivor (for a time), we know he was a giant because the size of his bed is given as being 9 by 4 cubits which would be about 14 feet long by 6 feet wide. This man was probably about 12 feet tall! His iron bed was kept on display for people to see. Where was it on display?
3. The borders of this newly conquered land are carefully described here in scripture. If you look at a map in the back of your Bible that shows the tribal allotments, you will see just how big this territory was on the east side of the Jordan extending to the northeast of the Sea of Galilee. In verse 13 the land given to half the tribe of Manasseh is described as being the land of what?
4. In verses 18-23 Moses rehearsed the promise that the men of the tribes of Reuben and Gad made to Moses and to God. They had promised that all the men would journey with their brothers into the promised land to help fight the occupants. Who did the men leave behind in their newly conquered land?
5. Verse 22 tells us that they did not need to fear the people of the promised land. Why?
6. The last section is Moses recounting His plea to the Lord to allow him to go into the promised land just so that he could see it. God would not go back on His Word, but He did allow Moses to see a bit of the promised land. How was that possible?
7. What did God say was to be Moses’ main focus and purpose now?
