Christ in all the scriptures God and the nations

 Christ in all the scriptures

God and the nations   Deuteronomy 2-3

Deuteronomy chapters 1-3 review the forty years the nation of Israel spent in the wilderness, a kind of spiritual no man's land, where they wandered aimlessly with no end in sight.  Chapter 1 recounts their disobedience, with the severe consequences they suffered.  Chapters 2-3 recount their obedience in their march to the promised land.  In these we learn the ways of God with them and with all the nations around them.  Remembering that Israel's history has a bearing on the people of God today (Romans 15v4 and 1st Corinthians 10v6v11) there is much we can learn from a study which is mostly neglected.  The overriding principle is that God is active in this world, unseen, but very much involved as a faithful Creator.  "The most High ruleth in the kingdoms of men..."-Daniel 4v25.  What was true in ancient times is true today, and, despite the unbelief of many, the Lord our God rules in the affairs of all nations today.  What appears to be uncontrollable chaos is firmly in the hand of the eternal God, who has concerns for His creation as a whole, and also for His believing people.  A  look at how He ruled back then instructs us in His ways now.

The chapters are divided into the following sub-headings:

Don't meddle with Edom!    Deuteronomy 2v1-7   Edom, being descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother, (Genesis 25v24-26) were close family.  Their history was one of bitter rivalry, that spiralled into hatred through the generations,  They grew apart, and, despite attempts at reconciliation, remain bitter enemies.  So bad was the attitude of Edom to Israel, they refused them safe passage through their land on the journey from Egypt to the promised land (Numbers 20v21).  In their circular wanderings Israel now had to pass by them again.  They were not to intimidate them, sponge from them, or take any part of their land.  "Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth. because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession".  We learn that all the lands of earth belong to the Lord, and He gives each portion as He will.  We need to understand that, "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, and they that dwell therein"-Psalm 24v1.  Regardless of Edom's bad behaviour toward His people Israel, nevertheless that land was theirs by Divine provision.  God is a faithful Creator and provides for all  Edom was close family to Israel, although their outlook was different.  Edom were materialistic and profane (Hebrews 12v16), and lived only for this life.

We pause for a moment; most families on earth have close relatives with different outlooks, and consequent tensions.  Some of a materialistic outlook may be more prosperous, yet it is the Lord who gives every one their portion in this life.  How are we to act toward them when they betray us or ignore us, or refuse to help us in our need?  This is most relevant to our modern day.  Hear what the Lord says to Israel: Don't meddle, don't interfere with their lives.  Trade with them, don't sponge from them, don't stir up past injustices.  Forty years you have travelled this wilderness without their help, and in all that time the Lord has provide all your needs.  In all that time you have lacked nothing-Deuteronomy 2v6-7.  Forgive them for past injustices, treat them with respect.  You are much more powerful than they, and they will be afraid of you, even suspicious of you (2v4).  Sadly, Edom as a whole will not change, as at the end of time they are the first nation to be judged when the Lord returns (Isaiah 63v1-4)

The powerful lesson is obvious: lands, possessions and persons are in the hands of the Sovereign Lord of all the earth.  Live and let live, be kind and forgiving and respectful.  God gives to all liberally; He forgives  sins and transgressions,  He makes His sun to shine on the evil and the good, and sends His rain on the just and the unjust"-Matthew 5v45.

Do not distress Moab!   Deuteronomy 2v8-15   The Moabites, were the descendants of Lot, the grandson of Abraham, the spiritual father of all Israel (Romans 4v12), and also the father of many nations (Romans 4v16).  Though not closest family, yet they were distant relatives.  Lot was describes as "righteous", even although he lived in Sodom, which came under the wrath of God (2nd Peter 2v7/8).  They were not to distress Moab, for the Lord had given them their land (v9-"I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession".  Like Edom, Moab had to fight for their lands, and the Lord had given them victory over a mighty people of giants who had no right to be there (2v10-12-refer Genesis 14v5; Numbers 13v22).  These giants called the Anakims, or Emims, and Horims were produced by the copulation of fallen angels with women, as in Genesis chapter 6, and referred to in Jude's epistle v6.  God rid the earth of these hybrids through Edom and Moab, and gave them their land.  In passing by them, Israel were to respect them.  We learn from this that the Lord enables nations in conflict to achieve His will, and rewards the victors.  This is not a basis for creating wars, but men become an instrument of Divine justice.

Do not distress or meddle with Ammon!   Deuteronomy 2v16-23   The Ammonites, like the Moabites were the descendants of Lot.  The result of an incestuous relationship with their father Lot, following their escape from Sodom; nevertheless the Lord acknowledged them due to the fraught circumstances.  He used them to evict the hybrid people called the Zamzummims.  The Sovereign Lord, through the near and far relatives of Israel, eradicated the curse which had resulted in the global flood.  All people who blighted the earth in this ungodly union, including the Avims and the Caphtorims were destroyed thus purifying the earth from this perversion.  God gave the Ammonites their land, and it was to remain sacred to them.  The Lord had disciplined His people for 38 years, but as they marched to the promised land they were not to disturb the children of Esau, or of Lot.

The Lord gives the land of the Amorites to Israel in a stunning victory   Deut. 2v24-37

The Amorites were a different proposition.  God commanded Israel to take their land, "I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to go in and possess it, and contend with him in battle".   This was amazing, for Sihon was a seasoned campaigner, and Israel had been defeated in a minor skirmish.

We ask, what was this all about?  The Lord forbad Israel's interference in three nations, but commanded the overthrow of Sihon, king of the Amorites.  This goes back centuries to Genesis 15v13-16, when God decreed the 400 year enslavement of Israel in Egypt and the ultimate overthrow of the Amorites.  Back then He said, "The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full".  Now it is full, and Israel became the instrument of God's judgment on the Amorites.  The time has come for the fulfilment of a 400 year prophecy, and nothing can stop the outcome.  Note the extent of the destruction in 2v33-34, "And the Lord our God delivered him (Sihon) before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.  And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain".  The present world, with its focus on human rights rather than human responsibilities, would be howling "genocide", but the Creator has the right to rid the world of iniquity, and He did, and He will.  We know not what was the iniquity of the Amorites, but it was such the Sovereign Lord would not tolerate.

We ponder the implications of this historical event, as it reveals the governmental dealings of God in this world,

God knows and declares the iniquity of all nations and all individuals.

God presides over the rise and fall of nations.

The passage of time does not alter His decrees.  The fall of the Amorites was predicted over 400 years before.

God allows nations and individuals time to repent of evil before Him.  The Amorites were given more than four centuries of time, how long have we been given?

God knows who will repent and who will not.  He will ultimately judge all sin and sinners.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding"-Proverbs 9v10.

In the present time the Lord Jesus Christ, the man the world crucified, is on the throne of heaven, and all judgment of nations and individuals is given to Him.  He declared to His disciples, "All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and on earth..."-Matthew 28v18.  He, the man of Calvary, is "the Head of every principality and power"-Colossians 2v10.  He decides the rise and fall of nations and the eternal destiny of all individuals.  One day He will return to earth to set up His everlasting kingdom.  The advice of the Psalmist is powerful here, "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him"-Psalm 2v12.

Put your trust in Him now and be blessed.  The entire future. for all of us, is in His hands. for good or bad.