Trust and Obey

Introduction

Raising kids is not an easy task. Meeting the demands of children is second to meeting the personal expectations. As parents we place a lot of pressure on ourselves to grow a child into something that reflects well on us and reflects well on God. Such a process demands much personally, but it also demands much from the child. Parenting and obedience go together. When children disobey, discipline and perhaps punishment is required to assist the child in realigning with expectations. That’s the philosophy but it obviously is easier to explain than it is to carry out. There are no guarantees when it comes to parenting. Parents and children do not choose each other but as they age they can choose to accept each other — warts and all.

While the analogy doesn’t hold completely, God is our Father or the parent and we are the children. Unlike earthly parents who are imperfect, our God is completely holy unable to sin. But like earthly parents, God expects obedience from his children. What happens when we disobey? Discipline. Consequences. Just as a child’s disobedience can bring about unintended consequences, so our disobedience against God can bring unintended consequences. In such cases, we may be further tempted to blame God for those consequences when in reality they are the result of our disobedience.

As Israel approaches the promised land, forty years of disobedience is remembered and promises of obedience are being renewed. In our text, Moses rehearses the two year journey that has taken them from Kadesh-Barnea to the eastern shore of the Jordan River. In particular there is the recounting of the journey through the land on the eastern shore of the Jordan. Today we are going to focus on two war stories found in our text. Israel defeats Sihon and Og, two territorial kings on the eastern side of the Jordan. The point of our lesson today has to do with obedience. We will notice how the writer allows us to see the importance of obedience and through this obedience how Israel is encouraged and prepared for entrance into the promised land.

Just a quick side point — on the right hand side of your worship bulletin is a map that will help us in our sermon today. While many may not appreciate the historical detail of the text, perhaps having a visual will assist in greater appreciation and it will allow us to understand the events more fully. Let’s open our hearts to God seeking greater allegiance to him.

The Trip

According to Dt. 1:3, Moses begins to speak to Israel. In two short months, Moses will die. Six months ago, Israel wept over Aaron. The 40 year wandering has resulted in a change of generations and attitudes. After a brief time in Kadesh-barnea, God commands Moses to move the people into position to cross the Jordan and take over the land that he had promised them 400 years before. For the past two years they have been engaged in securing the eastern shore of the Jordan to cross over.

God’s instructions are clear. It is time to move and the people move. Notice Dt. 2:16. This is a transitional verse from the past generation to the current one. “When the last of these fighting men among the people had died…” The transition has taken place. The last of the fighting men have died. It is now time for the new generation to begin their journey and walk of faith. Every generation must move with God. Generations come and go. But each generation must choose to follow God. When we are young we think in terms of what we will do differently. But then the reality comes and the boasting words of youth have to become reality. That is when you know your faith is really yours. Are you going to obey God or forget about him and do things the way you want to do them? Israel’s previous generation made their choice and died in the desert. What will this generation do?

Dt. 2:13. “And the Lord said, ‘Now get up and cross the Zered Valley.’ So we crossed the valley.” Did you hear it? It is the sound of obedience. Every generation must decide if they will obey God or follow your own thoughts and opinions. Every generation must decide if you are smarter than God. Every generation must decide if the scriptures matter or if the reasoning of culture matters more. Every generation must choose to obey God when it is not easy or to choose the easy way and follow one’s own calculated desires.

The journey to secure the transjordan area (eastern shore of the Jordan River) will not be easy. It will take almost two years to secure the eastern shore. First, they pass through Edom (the descendants of Esau) and Moab (the descendants of Lot). They stand on the southern shore of the Arnon River (see map). Overtures are made to Sihon to allow for safe passage. Sihon is not going to allow it and Israel’s army is called to encounter this king and his army. See that Heshbon is to the north. Sihon would have marched his army to the south to stop Israel from encroaching into his territory. We do not know where Jahaz (2:32) is but we believe it would have been close to Dibon. God gave the victory to Israel (2:33).

Next came the land to the north. In 2:37, God tells them to leave the land of the Ammonites. These are descendants of Lot as well (Genesis 19:38). The land to be conquered is called Bashan. The territory ran from the Jabbok River northward to Mount Hermon (see map). In 3:4, Israel completely defeats Og capturing all 60 of his cities. The cities are not destroyed but the inhabitants are killed. The livestock and possessions are kept from both Sihon and Og and Israel now becomes wealthier. The land in the transjordan region is divided between Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

The Results

I want us to look at the map just a moment before I make a couple of points. From Moab in the South to Mount Hermon to the North, Israel now has taken possession of the transjordan region. What difference does this make? First, they are now have a protected eastern flank. Their cousins (Edom) and nieces and nephews (Moab and Ammon) surround their borders. Family will protect family. Second, the area of Bashan is a rich, fertile area. Mount Hermon is over 9000 feet tall. Such a mountain means the northern border is protected from Syria to the North. Mountain snows will melt and bring much needed moisture to the region. This will become a place where the people will prosper and be blessed in ways they never could have imagined.

So what are we to learn from this text? First, obedience does not mean ease. The new generation had to secure the eastern land. They fought battles and received the land from God. Do you think any of the soldiers died in battle? Do you think that families grieved over the loss of life? Obedience does not mean ease. To obey does not mean that everything is supposed to turn out okay. In fact, obedience means that a struggle comes. There may be someone in the Bible that obeyed without incident but the major characters obeyed and it cost them greatly.

Abraham and he had to deal with 25 years of silence.

Moses and he was criticized for 40 years.

Isaiah and he had to walk around naked for a time.

Ezekiel and he could not mourn the death of his wife.

Hosea and he married a woman who he knew had babies by other men while his wife.

Paul and he was beaten, stoned, and rejected most of his adult life.

Jesus and they killed him.

Here is the promise — obey God and it will cost you. It may cost you relationships; a job; respect; ease; money. What is it that you hear God calling you to do? What is your Zered Valley?

Second, don’t let your obedience become a curse. This point does not come from the text but from Israel’s future. This area of Bashan was extremely fertile. You may have heard of the cedars of Lebanon. Oak trees grew in Bashan. Strong hard woods. Cattle grew fat in Bashan. To be from Bashan is to say that you were from the wealthiest part of Israel. So then we turn to Amos 4:1. Amos prophesied against the northern tribes of Israel around 760 B.C. During the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel, the people experienced great prosperity. To describe that prosperity Amos writes: Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!”

The point — the blessing of Bashan becomes a curse if the blessing is believed to be deserved. When we are comfortable, faith takes a back seat. When we are at ease, we tend to hear God’s voice less. When things are easy, we tend to ignore the Zered Valley. Our lives become more about maintaining our ease than it does to be obedient. We may excuse our disobedience by believing that our ease must be God’s blessing. And at that point the blessing becomes a curse. Obedience is not easy. But every generation must decide what your direction will be. Stay in the word. Do not let cultural voices drown out God’s word. What is your Zered Valley? How is God calling you to live for him? Invitation.

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