April 25

Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 3:1-29

God had already promised the land to the east of the Jordan River to the tribes of Rueben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. But He required that all their fighting men accompany the rest of tribes as they entered into the Promised Land and conquered the people there. This map may help you see the areas promised to each tribe.

God had already allowed Israel to conquer King Sihon and King Og to provide that land for those three tribes. Notice that just as God had commanded the Israelites, they completely wiped out the inhabitants of those lands. Unfortunately, when I they enter the land to the west of the Jordan River, they will fail to do the same and it ends up creating all kids of problems for centuries to come.

Even when it might not make sense to us, we need to obey God completely. Otherwise we will reap the consequences of our disobedience.