Remembering the Defeat of Og

Deuteronomy 2:32-3:5          1/19/2018

After reflecting on the defeat of Sihon, Moses described how Og, King of Bashan, came out with all his men. But just like Sihon, Og and his men were defeated and all the cities of Bashan fell into the hands of the Israelites.

The Warm Up

The defeat of Sihon and Og were the major military victories of the new Israelite army prior to crossing the Jordan. The men who had fought previously during the exodus were mostly members of the old generation who died in the wilderness.

Neither Sihon or Og had to fight Israel – it is what they chose. But in coming out, they provided the Israelites the necessary opportunity to experience warfare. The Israelite community and its army were steadfast and faithful to God’s commands and were successful.

Faithful in Small Things

Faithfulness is born out of value. It’s a kind of behavior – a kind of decision I make and then actually act on.

Motion follows motivation. Motivation always chases after value. I’m motivated to respond faithfully by the value I perceive. So, if I’m going to be faithful in small things, it’s because I somehow value the small things.

Value Response

My heart values some-thing because the thing brings me pleasure. Or maybe, if I’m feeling high-minded, I might value some-thing because I know that it’s good for me – even if it doesn’t bring me pleasure; like, for example, kale chips.

But sometimes I value a thing even if it doesn’t bring me pleasure, or even if it doesn’t affect me for good or for ill. Sometimes I value a thing simply because I see something extraordinary in it. And sometimes I value a thing because I can see how valuable it is to someone else.

God Has a Plan For You

When I realize how much God loves His creation – how much He wants the success of His Authentic Community. How much He wants others to be a part of His community – to fulfill their destiny, to enter into their essential telos. I want that for Him. And He wants that for you. And so, I want that for you, too.

If I say a prayer this morning for the Authentic Community, I agree with God and His purpose. Just a little prayer. Honest but little is OK.

“The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones” Luke 16:10