Deuteronomy: At Journey's EndSample

‘The clouds you so much dread’

Seven times the Hebrew verb ‘to give’ occurs in this passage (see the ESV; the NKJV translates it as ‘deliver’ four times). The land is a gift (2:29), so are Sihon (2:31) and Og (3:2–3) and the surrounding Transjordanian lands (2:36). Wherever the people looked they saw what the Lord had given. As they looked forward, the human eye saw two extremely powerful monarchs – Sihon and Og – but the instructed eye saw what was about to be ‘given’. As they looked back, they saw that it was indeed so; the dreaded kings (cf. 3:11) were gone – given and delivered over by divine gift and power. And over the Jordan awaited the richest gift of all; the Promised Land (2:29). 

Now look at other verbs in the passage: ‘we struck him down’ (2:33); we ‘took’ or ‘carried off’ (2:34, 35; 3:4, 7, 8); ‘we struck’ (3:3); and ‘we completely destroyed’ (3:6). Interestingly, then, we have seven references to ‘gift’ and eight references to fighting, conquering and so on. If the land became theirs by military effort and prowess, how was it a gift? If it was a gift, why did they need to fight? We face here the difference between conversion and sanctification. Exodus 14:13 says, ‘Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord’ (ESV; cf. 14:14). Salvation is all of God in the absolute sense of Titus 3:5: ‘He saved us’. Holiness is also God’s absolute gift in Christ (1 Cor. 1:30), but we enter into it on different terms. As God’s regenerate ones – born again and alive from the dead (Eph. 2:1, 5) – he looks to us to show signs of life (just as we might ask, ‘Is the baby walking yet?’) 

So, for our ancestors of old, they entered into the enjoyment of the gift by their commitment to the battle. They were not earning their salvation; they were enjoying their status, privileges and blessings as the saved. It is in this spirit that David can say the Lord trains his hands for war and his fingers to fight (Ps. 144:1). In the same way, Acts 5:32 speaks of ‘the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him’. Obedience, in the regenerate, is a means of grace. Jesus himself says, ‘If you love me, you will obey what I command’ (John 14:15) – obedience is a proof of love – and ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor’ (John 14:16) – obedience is a means of grace.

Reflection

Consider that born-again Christians are likened to soldiers, athletes and farmers (2 Tim. 2:3–6).