Deuteronomy 2:26-3:29
Tired of Waiting?

I. Do You Hate to Wait?
1. People get appetizers so they can eat right away. You don’t go to a restaurant to wait; but to eat.
2. Sometimes, though, you have to learn to wait. Wait for the right spouse. Wait to save your money.
3. Good things come to those who wait. But there’s something in us that wants at least some things now.
4. George Orwell’s book Animal Farm scorned communism and religion. The bird symbolized the church.
5. The bird was singing about “sugar candy mountain.” Good animals will go there later.
6. Both Orwell and Marx thought religion was a scam; a way to get people to stay in line now.
7. But the Christian life is not only about a promise for the future. There is a promised land now.
II. The Purpose (2:26-37)
A. For What Purpose Do People Resist the Lord?
1. By taking possession of the land of Sihon, they were beginning to take the Promised Land.
2. Moses sends messengers to Sihon with “words of peace.” Why offer him a way out?
3. The purpose is to show the justice of God. Sinners hate God. So they deserve God’s punishment.
4. “Sihon would not let us pass by him.” Sinners don’t trust God. They had their purposes.
B. What Was the Purpose of Their Purposes?
1. Ultimately “the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate.”
2. Unless the Holy Spirit accompanies His convicting with grace, people become hard hearted.
3. Seared conscience: people cut to the heart who don’t repent are covered over with thick scar tissue.
4. The Lord gave Sihon an obstinate heart so that he would stubbornly not listen to the offers of peace.
5. The Lord’s purpose behind all this was to give Sihon and all his land to Israel.
6. Sihon’s heart is obstinate to give Israel the Promised Land, glorifying God by saving His people.
7. This was the holy war, at least in part, that they were to practice when taking the Promised Land.
III. The Prefigurement (3:1-11)
1. The kingdom of Bashan prefigures the taking of the Promised Land. The king of Bashan was colossal.
2. He’s like the giants they are going to face in the Promised Land, that frightened the majority of spies.
3. Though their cities were fortified with high walls and gates and bars, the Lord gave it to them anyway.
IV. The Portion (3:12-17)
1. Unexpectedly, they find themselves in the Promised Land, now, already.
2. The Lord’s exceeding great and precious promises are the Promised Land. Some are now.
3. If we believe so that we have hope of blessings not yet, then we are now, partly, in the Promised Land.
4. Moses distributes this portion of the Promised Land to two and a half tribes.
5. There’s nothing wrong with Israel getting some of the Land now. They asked for it (Numbers 21).
6. The desire you have to attempt great things for God, may be the sign that is what God wants you to do.
V. The Partnership (3:18-22)
1. They don’t rest until all of them have all of the land. They are unified; they are partners.
2. The idea of membership in a church that has rightful expectations from you is foreign today.
3. It’s about a new nation, a united body, being saved together, partners.
4. Joshua is Yeshua in Hebrew, Yesous in Greek, Jesus in English.
5. Jesus will not let any enemy prevail over the church. He will lead it safely to the Promised Land.
VI. The Preview (3:23-29)
1. Having gotten an appetizer of the Promised Land, Moses’ appetite for it is even stronger.
2. “You have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand.”
3. Sometimes you have to wait. ‘Please let me cross over . . . but the Lord was cross with me.’
4. He was the most meek man but he lost his temper at them because they were so obstinate.
5. It’s Joshua (Yeshua) who takes God’s people to the Promised Land. He’s the head of the people.
6. Righteousness, peace, and joy are now ours. Jesus has already led us into that Promised Land.
VII. Invitation: He can lead you in triumph over sins now but to be finally rid of them all, you’ll have to wait until He puts all His enemies under His feet. Sure, He can heal you now. But one day He’ll say, ‘Enough healing for now; you’ll get the rest later.’ But look at what the Lord has already done: the resurrection of Jesus, Lift up your heads and know, that He who has already begun a good work in you, He who has already triumphed, now, over enemies, will surely completely bring you to the Promised Land.