And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee; begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land. (Deuteronomy 2:31)
Text: DEUTERONOMY 2:26-37
Walking with God is one of the most difficult but satisfying things in life. Often, He makes us to do some things that our natural instincts resist either because they seem unreasonable, intimidating or impossible. But one thing is sure: He is All-knowing and is looking at the big picture.
When God instructed Israel, enroute the Promised Land, to overrun the country of Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, Moses was on a familiar page. They had earlier been commanded to spare the Edomites (Esau’s descendants) and Moabites (Lot's descendants). Moses was used to walking with God and knew that the only reasonable thing to do was to obey. Israel acted on God's word, and posted a powerful victory over the Amorites and possessed their land. This was a fulfilment of a longstanding plan of God to punish the Amorites for their wickedness (Genesis 15:16).
Observe the attitude of king Sihon when Moses requested for a peaceful path through his territories. He sued for war. He was so used to rebelling against God that He allowed him to work out his own ruin. It is, indeed, a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). God enabled Israel to destroy Sihon and his cities. As Moses rehearsed this and other Israel's Exodus experience to the new generation, he intended that they would see and imbibe the virtue of absolute obedience to God.
Today, our victory does not lie in killing people or dispossessing them of their possessions. God has given us a different mandate - to reach men and women in every part of the world with the gospel of salvation. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but if we act at His word, He will give us the heathen for an inheritance and a whole lot of other possessions.
God gives instructions, not suggestions
Source: dailymanna.dclmhq.org