FINDING VICTORY

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:

"Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway until we have passed through your territory."

But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the desert against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified. Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements. Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.

That is why the poets say:

"Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt; let Sihon's city be restored.
"Fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the citizens of Arnon's heights.
Woe to you, O Moab! You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh! He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters as captives to Sihon king of the Amorites.
But we have overthrown them; Heshbon is destroyed all the way to Dibon. We have demolished them as far as Nophah, which extends to Medeba."

So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei. The Lord said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon."

So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land. Numbers 21:10-20

This ends this reading from God’s holy word. Thanks be to God.

In today’s scripture, we find Israel beginning to find conquest over anyone who might try and rise up against them. This is in stark contrast to the Israel who was afraid to enter God’s promised land because of the opposition that awaited them as reported by the advance scouts that Moses had sent to Canaan for forty days and an Israel who turned away from the Edomites when they were not allowed to cross through their territory.

Earlier, we saw an Israel who was unfaithful and unbelieving…an Israel who was afraid to take a hold of what God had promised them. We also saw an Israel that turned and went away from challenge, specifically when Edom resisted them crossing through their land on the king’s highway.

In our passage, we read where Israel is now trying to pass through another land, this time the land of the Amorites. They sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites who asked, "Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway until we have passed through your territory." Like Edom earlier, "Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory" and "mustered his entire army and marched out into the desert against Israel." But Israel didn’t turn and go the other way. Instead, they met Sihon’s challenge "when he reached Jahaz", putting Sihon "to the sword" and taking "over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified". Israel "captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements". Israel had met their challenges head on and came out victorious…not by their own power but because of the power of God with them.

This fact if further illuminated by the rest of the passage for Israel isn’t done conquering. Scripture tells us that after "Moses had sent spies to Jazer", the Israelites "captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there". Then they "turned and went up along the road toward Bashan" where they met resistance from "Og king of Bashan and his whole army" who "marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei". As Israel pondered their action against this new enemy, the Lord enters in and says to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon." And so Israel, buoyed up with confidence that God was with them and would deliver them into victory, "struck (Og) down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors". Israel then took possession of his land.

Through these encounters between Israel and their enemies, first the Amorites and then the Bashan king and army, we learn an important truth that we need to ever keep in mind. For in all challenges we encounter in life…in all hardships we face…we can and will have the victory because God is with us. How do we know this? Because He promised us He was. And we need to never let go of His promises…the assurances he has given us that lead away from despair and toward hope…the assurances that lead us away from doubt and lead us into faith.

Question: Have you forgot the promises that God has given you in your life? Have you abandoned His assurances and found yourself in the pit of despair, depression and hopelessness?

If you have, please read the following words of the Father and write them on your heart and mind. Find liberation from despondency and discouragement…escape from darkness into His light.
For "the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does." Psalm 33:4

"I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, "This is a sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth." Genesis 9:11-17

When you see a rainbow in the sky, remember God’s covenant promise.

"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and shield. In Him, our hearts rejoice for we trust in His holy name." Psalm 33:20-21

Trust Him…wait patiently for Him to reveal His glory in your life…rejoice in His power, majesty and love.

"Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8

He promised to never leave you nor forsake you.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

Confused in your life? Turn to the One who promised to teach, instruct, counsel and watch over you.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

God ‘s faithfulness and forgiveness are truly great. His mercies and grace are new every morning. Rejoice and be glad in this promise.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

God wants the best for you. Stay focused on Him and seek His will and way. He will deliver you into hope now and in the future.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Our future isn’t limited to the here and now. It is eternal through God’s only Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God for His Son…and thanks be to God for His promises. Through them we will always have the victory. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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