Messages
Deuteronomy 2 |
| Posted by Administrator (charlie) on Jan 13 2009 |
- Introduction
When I look at the Israelites in this passage I have to wonder about how much they regretted making the decision they made to ignore the Lord and forsake the Promised Land.
Their 40 years were coming to a close that he Lord was beginning to move them into position to fulfill the destiny He had prepared for them.
In our own lives, there are times when we don’t make the best or the most prudent decisions.
There are times when we think we clearly hear the Lord or more probably look at our circumstances and figure that the God’s will is the best looking option.
I know I have done that only to find that it was the mistake of a lifetime.
- Describing the Biblical Text
This text describes the passing of the Israelites through lands occupied by other kings and nations.
It also tells us how God directed them to engage the peoples of those lands as they passed through them.
We can see from this that the people of the new generation were more open to the Lord’s commands than were the people of the previous generation.
For this group of Israelites, a generation made a difference.
It was fortunate for them that God judged them in that way.
It could have been more like the period of the judges as described both in the book of Judges and in Exodus 20 where the sins of the fathers are visited upon the third generation.
But just like the Ten Commandments that give this context, the penalty of sin and its generational connection continues even today.
- Narrate the Contextual application
The Lord was very clear in how the Israelites were to handle their passing through the nations of the Ancient Near East.
He is also clear in the New Testament when He commands us to follow Him as well.
We have to be thankful for the Gospels that give us the life and teachings of Jesus.
But, we must also be reticent to the epistles and their teachings as well.
As a matter of fact most of our doctrine is determined by the practice and the instruction of the early church most of which is found in the epistles of Paul, James, Peter, John, and Jude.
As we look at the epistles, we see a lot of them written out of strife and persecution.
We see this text written out of the judgment of God as the people were forced to spend 40 years in the wilderness.
Yet in their wilderness wanderings and in spite of the hardship, they obeyed and God blessed them.
- Life Application (thesis)
What does that tell us?
We are still expected to obey the Lord, even when we are still in the wilderness.
- SO WHAT!! (Outline)
Let’s take a look at 3 factors that we should consider as we look at our own relationship to the Lord and our own obedience.
God’s mind is on the big picture.
There was a time in my life when I was a chess player and to be honest, I was pretty good. I went over to the High School from Junior High to play in practice matches and I won. But, chess is a game where you have to keep the big picture in mind.
It is not enough to simply know how each piece moves; you have to be able to anticipate the possibilities resulting from each move. It’s challenging but seeing the big picture is necessary to play the game.
The great thing about God is that he does see the big picture.
If were really conscious of God’s involvement in the lives and in the affairs of men, we would realize that God is always faithful.
In the Old Testament, God made promises
He promised Esau.
When the Israelites were passing through their land during the wilderness years, they were not to attack or seek to dispossess these peoples because of the promise of God.
Sometimes I wonder how many things take place that seem like they are bad at the moment but it is to fulfill the greater purpose of God.
I know a guy who was looking for a new job last year but did not get one.
Just yesterday he commented about all the layoffs and wondered if he would have had job security since he would have been a newer hire.
You have to wonder how much of our lives are that way.
Actually, all of our lives are like that.
God has sovereignty placed you where you are and place people in your life that are like they are for a purpose.
He might be trying to teach us something like patience or the biblical steps to resolve differences.
But, God is not a liar and His word tells us that all things work together for good.
If you love God and are called according to what??
If you are called according to His purpose.
Yet we look at our own circumstances and we try to change things even if it means sinning to do it.
Fortunately the Israelites did not do that.
They were content to obey God.
They were content to have learned the lessons of life.
They had learned the lessons of life and serving God because they had struggled with their forefather’s disobedience.
We don’t learn lessons unless we struggle.
We don’t see light until we realize darkness.
We see that God kept His promise to
My prayer is that we will be also be blessed to be a part of the plan and the purpose of God.
A second factor to consider is this.
God’s motive is on the Blessed people.
When we think about why God does what He does, it is to bless His people in His fellowship.
I can’t help but take us back to Ephesians 1 as we have done before
5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ,
He predestined us in Christ that all things in Christ would be summed up.
Our salvation is the very result of God’s desire to have His Glory shining on His people.
He saved us to fulfill and to reveal His purpose.
There is this gospel song called when he was on the cross, I was on his mind.
That is so very true.
Jesus was dying for those people he would save consequently those people were on His mind in terms of fulfilling the purpose of God and doing the will of God which His father sent Him to do.
God also cares for us by giving us his instructions as well.
The Israelites were told when and when not to go to war.
We are told when and when not to speak in the word of God as well.
If we just listen to God, We can keep relationships from falling apart, churches from splitting and God’s people from losing their perspective.
There is a third factor to consider this morning.
God’s mission is on the bigger plan
God was purposed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.
God has purposed to save his people from their sin.
Just like the Israelites turned aside from God when they refused d to enter the Promised Land, they were now being prepared
They were given in battle to the Amorites and they prevailed.
This was God’s hand at work as he hardened the heart of Sihon.
Ye the hardness of the king’s heart did what?
It resulted in the first piece of land being conquered by the Israelites.
It resulted in the readying for war the men of battle from
Are wars easy to fight?
Are Battles easy to win?
Usually, they are not yet when the Lord is leading you, you win and you conquer
It’s like your battle with sin
A relationship with Jesus wins that battle
All have sinned
Yet like the Israelites beat down the Amorites and they destroyed them.
God gave them into their hands.
What a picture of salvation.
We are unable to save our selves and God saved us by making us alive in Christ.
Have you been saved.
Have you called on Christ?
Have you won your battle with sin?
It is not to late to trust the one that died for you.
Last changed: Jan 23 2009 at 3:01 PM
BackComments
Add Comment