ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tusite ‘Aokosi 3, 2021

When the Lord your God brings you into the land  

KA fakahū koe ‘e Sihova ko ho ‘Otua ki he fonua

Teutalōnome 7 (Deuteronomy 7)

(v. 1) “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you

(v. 1) KA fakahū koe ‘e Sihova ko ho ‘Otua ki he fonua ‘oku ke ‘alu ki ai ke ma‘u, pea kuo ne hu‘ihu‘i ha ngaahi kakai mei ho ‘ao, ‘a e Heti, mo e Keakesa, mo e ‘Āmoli, mo e Kēnani, mo e Pēlisi, mo Hevi, mo e Siepusi, ko e kakai ‘e fitu ‘oku lahi mo kaukaua ‘iate koe;

 

* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*

Continuing to deal with the responsibilities of the people as they entered the land, Moses insisted upon the absolute necessity for the maintenance of the attitude of separation to God. Stringent instructions were given in this .matter. They must not compromise with the people of the land. They must not many with them because such alliance would result in corruption of the chosen people and their straying after other gods. Moreover, they were to sweep out all the signs of false religion, altars and pillars and Asherim and graven images. Moses reminded them that their God was faithful both in mercy and in discipline, and urged them therefore to be faithful.

Still another peril threatened them. This peril would necessarily grow out of the difficulties of the work that lay before them. It was inevitable that they would become conscious of the number and strength of their foes. If once they permitted their minds to dwell on these things, they would repeat the folly of their fathers, who saw fenced cities and giants rather than God. Moses urged them, therefore, to remember the deliverances already wrought. The central word of this charge is, "for Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a great God and terrible." To be perpetually conscious of this would be to be delivered from the sense of fear in the presence of all opposition.

Moses ended with the solemn warning that in the burning of the images the clothing and drapery also must be destroyed. Everything devoted by God to destruction must be destroyed by the people whom He leads into victory and possession.

 

*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide on Numbers*

Israel wasn't in the land yet, but Moses still instructed them as if it were a certainty. This was based on the faithful promise of God, but it was also according to His principle of preparation. God prepares us before He brings us into a place.

"Sure," Moses said, "the Canaanite nations are greater and mightier than you. But they are not greater and mightier than God." God brought Israel to face a challenge that was impossible in their own strength - but entirely possible in Him.

Not "if," but when. God could be counted on.

You shall conquer them and utterly destroy them: Yet, God would not do it all for them. The extent of the work would depend on their faithful response to what God would do.

This principle of battle until absolute victory is the key to victory as we take the Promised Land of blessing and peace God has for us in Jesus. We show no mercy to our enemies in the land, but we destroy them utterly. Many of us, truth be told, simply do not want to completely destroy the sins which keep us from God's Promised Land of blessing and peace - we want to weaken them, and have some control over them, but we do not want to utterly destroy them.