Dt. 3: We Kicked Some Tail

Deuteronomy 3:11 "Og king of Bashan was the last remaining Rephaite. His bed, made of iron, was over thirteen feet long and six wide. You can still see it on display in Rabbah of the People of Ammon."

Moses continues reciting to the people what they've gone through. He recounts the complete and total victory over Og, the king of Bashan. He was apparently the last of the Rephaites, that race of giants. How big was he? Well, he was laid to rest in a bed that was 13x6. My deck isn't even that big. The victory given by God was complete and total.

Moses also recounts the division of the land, telling how Reuben and Gad were able to get the land they requested, if they went to war with their brothers. I guess when I first read it, I reacted as Moses did, thinking what selfish people they were. It just goes to show that people can do something right in the eyes of God, but annoying in the eyes of ignorant me, even though I try to see through the eyes of God.

I began to think that with this writing that Moses was doing, how easy it would have been to glorify himself, and elevate himself above others, and embellish how great he was, he still included instances where he was wrong, where he sinned, and where he brought his weaknesses to God. Most evident is the place where he records how he struck the rock instead of speaking to it, and as a result was forbidden from entering the promised land himself.

Is Moses blaming the Israelites for God's anger with him in verse 26? The Israelites grumbled against him a lot, but Moses received a specific command and chose to disregard it, and essentially disregarded the holiness of God and His word. In spite of this punishment, Moses still trusted God.