Divine Deliverance

Deuteronomy Chapter 3

By Pastor Josh Oestriech

As we come to chapter 3, we are continuing to see how faithful the LORD is to His Word and His people. In verse 2 the LORD is speaking in reference to Og, king of Bashan, and says, "Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand..." The nation of Israel was continuing their conquest in taking possession of all the land that Jehovah had promised to them. But as they come up against Og, the Lord has to reassure them of His promise and power because Og, king of Bashan, was "of the remnant of the giants" (vs. 11).

So as the LORD gives His encouraging command in verse 2 not to fear Og, He does it in a loving way and gives Moses a reason why he should not fear but have faith. As we read the Word, we often see that when the LORD asks us to do something or not do something He is so kind to give us the "why." Here He says to Moses, "Do not fear him, FOR [or because] I HAVE delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand." Divine deliverance was as good as done. Jehovah is the "I AM that I AM" (Exodus 3:14); from His perspective He is dwelling in the eternal present tense. God saw the battle between His people and Og as complete, so there was no reason to cower or cringe in fear. The same is true for us today; God's Word is His bond and from His point of reference it is already accomplished by His power. As I said in our meditation on chapter 1, we, as God's people, fight from victory not for victory. The Israelites needed only to step out in faith and take hold of what the LORD had already delivered to them.

The LORD continued in verse 2 and said, "...you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites..." Not only were they to believe God's "because," they were to look at God's past deliverances to bolster their faith in the present. In chapter 2 it says in reference to Sihon, his land, and his livestock that "the LORD our God delivered all to us" (vs. 36). God was faithful to bring them this far and would not leave them nor forsake them now. Verse 3 says, "So the LORD our God also delivered into our hands Og king of Bashan..." They saw in time what God had already accomplished in eternity.

Remember, it was Jesus, in the New Testament (Matthew 7:11), who taught us to see God as our heavenly Father, and as such His thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope. He does not want your defeat, He has already accomplished your deliverance and victory! Think about the divine deliverances that God has worked in your life already and let who He has been encourage confidence in who He will continue to be to you and for you!

Deuteronomy 3:22 - “You must not fear...for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.”

Grace and peace.