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Friday 7 April 2023

Deuteronomy 2:16-24 - Set out across the Arnon Gorge

2:16-23

The Israelites were not to take possession of the land of the Ammonites, nor to cause them any trouble. For God had not given them that land, it had been given to the descendants of Lot. We are told again of people who were like the Anakites being defeated by another peoples, in this case the Ammonites. There were not grounds for the fears of the Israelites. We see again that God has decided how the lands would be divided up. We also get details from history, showing that the accounts we have here are firmly grounded in history. They are not made up.


2:24

God had promised the land of the Amorites to Abraham in Gen 15:16, after the “sin of the Amorites had reached its full measure”. The Israelites were to “begin to take possession and contend with him in battle”. Although all the land was given to various peoples, including Israel, at God’s decree, Israel still had responsibility. The sovereignty of God, predestination etc are not the same as fatalism. God gives us responsibility. 


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