A people group entirely Devoted to destruction S29e7 Dt2:26

Today we'll squirm as we see a people be entirely devoted to destruction.  This is a surprise to us, as we don't often see immediate and appropriate justice in real time. But you cannot understand the wrath of God, without understanding KINDNESS God.

Is God sometimes severe to those of unbelief? Yes Justly so.

 Is God sometimes kind to those of belief? Yes. Mercifully so. 

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Transcript

A people group entirely Devoted to destruction S29e7 Dt2:26

We are watching the Sovereign activity of the Lord in giving Israel a homeland. Actually returning to a homeland. Incubated in Egypt. Joseph and his murderous 11 brothers were brought to Egypt, to be protected there during a 7 year famine. Grew in number. Enslaved 430 years. Enjoyed the exodus but then had a 40 year penalty-lap for their failure to follow the Lord into the promised land. Here they are trying to get to the place, where they can knock on the door of the promised land

26 “So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon the king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, 27 ‘Let me pass through your land. I will go only by the road; I will turn aside neither to the right nor to the left. 28 You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink. Only let me pass through on foot, 29 as the sons of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ardid for me, until I go over the Jordan into the land that the Lord our God is giving to us.’ 30 But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day. 31 And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.’ 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. 33 And the Lord our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people. 34 And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors. 35 Only the livestock we took as spoil for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities that we captured. 36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. The Lord our God gave all into our hands. 37 Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, to all the banks of the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, whatever the Lord our God had forbidden us. 

The Lord is sovereign

2:24 rise up. Set out. Go over to Sihon and his land.  Begin to take possession.  Contendwith him in battle. 

This is the land the the Lord our God is giving you

This is the king that the Lord is giving to you

This is a battle that the Lord has devoted to destruction

         There will be no survivors. 

There will be not city whose walls are too high for us

The Lord gives all that He wishes into our hands.

He’s made a People, and now He is giving this people a PLACE. Why? 

         From this process is coming the Savior. From this people is come Jesu

         And also, Jesus will come to a specific place. Location. Jerusalem will have to become a special place of sacrifice. It will have to become the centerpiece of the Passover.

Devoted to destruction HRM King and all Amorite people of Hesbon

Set apart for exterminationUtterly Dedicate to utter destruction annihilation

         Cannot understand the wrath, without understanding KINDNESS God

These people got exactly what was just

These people deserved the penalty that was imposed

         Why does this surprise us? They got it. They got it NOW.

 we are surprised when people actually receive what they have merited. 

         But, When God forbears, when God delays punishment,

 why aren’t we surprised at that?

         Shouldn’t we be at least as surprised that God does NOT immediately judge and Immediately punish and immediately open the can of wrath

It means to devote to God to destruction, WHY? TO prevent further use by humans. Don’t want compromise of culture, of worship, idolatry.

BECAUSE God is making a set apart, holy people. It should not be a surprise that some OTHER people groups are SET ASIDE, To what end?

         So that ALL PEOPLE would eventually then have opportunity to become person of God no matter your label.  Branches are broken off. All have sinned.  Branches are grafted in.  Don’t be proud.  This is the kindness of God.  Romans 9:22.

         Is God severe to those of unbelief? Yes. Boy do we need a savior!

Does that severity occasionally mean the immediate destruction of evil? Here with the king Sihon and the people that follow him? Yes. Justly so.

         Is sometimes God severe to those of unbelief? Yes Justly so.

         Is God sometimes kind to those of belief? Yes. Mercifully so

Don’t let God’s severity surprise you any more than God’s kindness

 Or at least, lets Be equally surprised at God’s wrath and God’s kindness.

         I KNOW why He is wrathful, sometimes I wonder why He is kind. 

Sometimes the Lords sovereignty is achieved by human action. In this case being devoted to destruction. Let us not be surprised as some justly receive the severity of destruction. Let us be a little surprised by His kindness to those who believe.  Believetoday. Receive His kindness