Deuteronomy 3

I hope everyone is doing well. As I was reading Deuteronomy 3, I am at awe to see how high God’s standards are. I was thinking about how God is detailed and specific. We need to be careful when we generalize his statutes. We need to ask him for guidance for what to do each day and for each step of our journey.

Furthermore, I am influenced greatly by verses 18-20,

18 I commanded you at that time: “The Lord your God has given you this land to take possession of it. But all your able-bodied men​, armed for battle, must cross over ahead of the other Israelites. 19 However, your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the towns I have given you, 20 until the Lordgives rest to your fellow Israelites as he has to you, and they too have taken over the land that the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan. After that, each of you may go back to the possession I have given you.”

As I was reading these verses, I realized how we need to also uphold our brothers and sisters. Moses knows that these people have wives and children and livestocks. But, he is saying that it doesn't matter but the Israelites should be help those who cross Jordan. Likewise, we cannot think about our problems and duties when our fellow sisters need help attaining God's promises. As much as God understands your burdens, you need to try hard to be there for them that need that help.

As I continued to read the chapter, I was sad how God did not allow Moses to cross Jordan. I was thinking about the different times God said Moses that he will make a great nation out of Moses every time God was angry.

Exodus 32: 9-10

9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

Numbers 14: 12

I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they."

I was thinking about how humble Moses (Numbers 12:3) was and still God did not give him a chance (Numbers 20: 12 and Deuteronomy 1:37).

Numbers 12:3

Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.

Numbers 20: 12

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

Deuteronomy 1:37

Because of you the LORD became angry with me also and said, "You shall not enter it, either.

We need to pray for our leaders to make right judgment. We also need to ensure that we are not the cause or a hurdle for their spiritual life. We need to pray that they can continue to be faithful leaders and strong motivation for our spiritual growth.

Sometimes, we need to fight the right battles. Manyatimes, we are fighting our marriage and children and husbands. We are fighting ourselves and the people that we love. We are forgetting that we are righting the wrong person. We need to give over our control to the Lord God Almighty and let him change hearts and lives.

Deuteronomy 3: 5

All these cities were fortified with high walls and with gates and bars, and there were also a great many unwalled villages.

Deuteronomy 3: 21-22

21 At that time I commanded Joshua: “You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. 22 Do not be afraid of them;the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”

Just like the Israelites faced strong kings like Og and Sihon, we need to face not the people but the forces behind them. Many at times, our problems are so hard and strong. Our problems come with strong foreheads and high walls. Our problems come with not doors but gates that are shut. But, we have to realize we are not going to be afraid. For our Lord, our God himself will fight for us. For we know and will continuously remember what the Lord our God has done with other problems in the past. We are going to face our future and our situations with no fear because we know who is with us.

Ladies, draw strength from the Lord. Know that he is our refuge and our fortress.

Psalms 91:2

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Blessings to everyone!