Our provision through this world.
When Israel was finishing their travels through the wilderness….they came to the territory of the Edomites,….then the Moabites, and the Ammonites.
Deuteronomy 2:4-5 “And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take good heed unto yourselves therefore:
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.”
The same was said of the Moabites, and the Ammonites. (Deut. 2:9, 19)
All of these are “brothers” to Israel.
The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s(Israel’s) brother.
The Moabites and the Ammonites were descendants of Lot…Abraham’s nephew.
“So be very careful.” “Take good heed unto yourselves”, God warned them.
“Do not meddle or contend with them.” (Deut. 2:5,9,19)
Israel was approximately two million persons, plus cattle and sheep. They would make a wide swath through any land…and need a lot of goods.
But they were not there to argue, to demand respect, or to make trouble for these people…
…but they were to “pass through” their land…to go to possess what God has for them.
(It is interesting to note that God plainly says….”I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession.”
God has designated for each nation, each people, and each one, the place and
means, in His Will.)
And we too, are to simply “pass through” this world….not being contentious….or making trouble for anyone,…but continuing our walk to get our inheritance in Christ Jesus. (All men are not our brethren, but Jesus Christ plainly taught that we should treat others as we want to be treated.)
Ephesians 1:11-12 “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own Will:
That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”
(The only thing we are to contend for…is the faith of Christ. Jude 3
My husband used to say, “The scriptures say we are to contend for the faith…not be
contentious.”)
Deuteronomy 2:6-7 “Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.
For the Lord Thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.”
They had money to buy what they had to have from these people…..to get the food and water, they and their flocks, needed.
The Egyptians had given them gold and silver….jewelry and clothing. (Exodus 22:35-36)
God had provided for their needs…all the way through their journeys. He had given water, and manna…flocks of quails.
The Lord’s cloud covered them by day, that they did not get heat stroke…
….and the pillar of fire kept them by night with light and protection from their enemies.
Now….they were to show mercy to these people as God had shown them….giving payment for the things that they would need, which belonged to Edom, Moab, and Ammon.
And we are to show mercy, as we have had so many mercies, shown to us.
I want to mention here that all of these nations became enemies of Israel….but that did not change God’s Word.
God would deal with them as enemies, later….but now Israel was to be merciful to them…
….and in honor of God’s Word, give these people what they require for their Lu Lu I k K goods.
Our provision through this world….through our enemy’s territory is the same. God will deal with them in due time…
….but now, we are to show them mercy……as God has shown us mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10, 12 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Having your conversation honest…that whereas they speak evil of you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
“For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee…the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” (Deut. 2:7)
Hasn’t the Lord always been with us? Have we ever lacked anything that was for our good?
He is our satisfaction and supply.
“He knows”….what a blessed statement….God knows all our goings through this great wilderness of the world….He knows, for us.
Let us show mercy to those we deal with…as we pass through this world’s wilderness.
Not for their sakes….but for Christ’s sake.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 