Assurance of Success

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don't know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it "really" means.. Let's see where this takes us! 

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Deuteronomy 3

Two or three times in the last few chapters Moses says something like "the LORD was angry with me on your account" to explain why the LORD would not Moses enter the Promised Land. It's actually because Moses lost his temper. 

Because Moses kept blaming the Israelites for his own actions, that might be why the LORD didn't change his mind.

Perhaps the most important message in Deuteronomy 3, however, is this:

21 … I charged Joshua as well at that time, saying: ‘Your own eyes have seen everything that the Lord your God has done to these two kings [Sihon and Og]; so the Lord will do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross. 22 Do not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.’

The Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness for this very thing: fear and lack of faith that "the Lord your God will fight for you."

I wonder if Moses mentioned these adventures to encourage, that is, en-courage, the Israelites before crossing the Jordan. 

There are times in your life when you may have a Jordan River to cross and a lot of adversaries to conquer, or obstacles to overcome. Isn't receiving assurance of success beforehand a strong motivator to take action?

Especially after a record of success already?

Moses is saying, "Belief in your success will make it inevitable."

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)