The Fear of God

O. T. #372  "The Fear of God"
Sept. 25, 2014
Deuteronomy 2-Part 2
This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.  Deuteronomy 2:25

LET IT GLOW

I remember one time when I was in a store and walked by a tall guy. As I looked up at him, it seemed like he was 7 feet tall. (Probably not) I am sure he was a basketball player for the local college team. To me he was a giant.  We have a few men in our church who are 6 1/2 feet tall. I realize that with God, I need not be afraid of such giants. God brought down the giants living in the Promised Land.

The first generational spies saw giants living in the Promised Land. They did not think they could defeat those giants, even with God's help. And so the giants remained there for a while. Shall we find out what happened to the giants so long ago?

Moses is still reviewing the wanderings and past events in Israel's history. In this chapter, we read of some battles and the workings of God in the land of the giants before Israel arrived:

• To protect and provide for the descendants of Lot, the Ammonites, the Lord defeated the Zamzummites in the land of the giants.
• He destroyed the Horites so the descendants of Esau could live in Seir.
• Caphtor, the early Philistines group, defeated the Avim.

This should have been encouraging words for Israel to hear. If God could and would defeat the giants for others, surely He would do the same for Israel.
From that, I see that even before Israel arrived, God was working in the land of the giants, so the good guys would be living there.
Doesn't God go before us, preparing the way? Now that is encouraging-He works things out before we get there. All things are possible with God. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Are you facing any giants in your life? Guess what, God can take care of them.


LET IT GROW

Moses continues the historical survey detailing the defeat of the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, and the takeover of their territory. (Deut. 2:24-3:29) (MacArthur)
Recon He put the fear of God in them? Well, verse 25 says they feared Israel, so I figure that since Israel represented God, that is how it was.

Has the Lord put the fear of God in you? It seems that our society has lost it. So many people do not respect and fear God as they should. They wander around doing their own thing, sinning deep in the pit, not considering that one day they will stand before Almighty God and give an account.
God has the power to snap a finger or blow His breath and we no longer exist. May I never loose sight of this.

*The latter part of verse 36 says there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us.

Isn't that encouraging?


LET IT GO

Let God handle the giants in my life.

Submit to Him.

Pray that He keeps the fear of God in me.