So, why does Moses spend so much time at the beginning of this book rehearsing history that we’ve already read back in the book of Numbers? Well, back in those days, when a King made a covenant with a nation that he had conquered, he would always begin the covenant ceremony with a reminder of all the wonderful things he had already done for his new people. Just so, before God recounts His Law to His people one more time, He reminds them of the blessings He has already given them.

And it’s also a good thing for us to remember that God’s blessings come before our obedience. For it’s easy, when we look at the Law of Moses, to imagine that we can somehow save ourselves from our sin by our good works. But in fact, we are in the same situation as those people who were camped out on the east side of the Jordan River – God has already brought us out of bondage to sin and death. God has already defeated our worst enemies through the cross of Jesus Christ. Our obedience is therefore simply a response to the salvation He has already accomplished for us.

But there’s another reason that it was good for the people of Moses’ time to remember all the ways God had helped them: His blessings in the past should have strengthened their faith that He would continue to provide for them in the future. Moreover, God pointed out that He had helped the descendents of Esau and Lot take up their inheritances, even though giants had been living in their land (Deuteronomy 2:10-12). That should have boosted the Israelites’ confidence that He would help them win their own battles, just as He had promised He would.

So, as you prepare to face your challenges today, how has God helped you in the past? What seemingly impossible problems has God solved for you? And how can your own history build your faith in God?

Deuteronomy 2:31-36 (ESV)

31 And the LORD said to me, ‘Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.’ 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. 33 And the LORD our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people. 34 And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors. 35 Only the livestock we took as spoil for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities that we captured. 36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. The LORD our God gave all into our hands.