Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 2:16-25. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%202&version=NASB1995
“So it came about when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people, that the LORD spoke to me, saying, ‘Today you shall cross over Ar, the border of Moab. When you come opposite the sons of Ammon, do not harass them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’” Deuteronomy 2:16-19.
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Likewise, earlier in the chapter we read: “and command the people, saying, “You will pass through the territory of your brothers the sons of Esau who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful; do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, even as little as a footstep because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.” Deuteronomy 2:4-5.
Although the LORD did give Canaan, the Promised Land, to Israel, the LORD did not give more land to Israel. We remember that a whole chapter was devoted to the LORD establishing borders for this land. Numbers chapter 34.
One lesson that we can glean is that we need to be careful to not provoke others. When we are big and strong, particularly when we are aware that the LORD has given us victories, we can be tempted to be prideful and provoke others. We can cross borders and provoke others.
“You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Enjoy your glory and stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall, and Judah with you?” 2 Kings 14:10.
But, most importantly, as seen by the overwhelming number of references in Scripture to provoking the LORD, we should not provoke the LORD to anger.
“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.”
For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:12-19.
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