04 The Impossibility Specialist

Choose Life

By David Hunzicker, January 24, 2021

Sermon Notes PDF

“Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?” (Deut. 3:24)

Framework for Obedience

  1. In Christ, your sins are forgiven, and your obedience is not - . (Heb 10:14).

  2. Obedience is your - language to the God who loved you first. (John 14:15)

  3. Obedience brings freedom. Freedom is found in living by not by desire. (I John 2:15-17)

  4. of Jesus are trained in obedience. (Mt. 28:20)

Making the Impossible Possible

God has commanded the Israelites to engage in battle east of the Jordan River and to take the land of Heshbon and Bashan. Moses makes it clear that these victories, like the many to come, are impossible without the help of God himself. Like Israel, you too can obey God and witness the .

God’s Strong Hand (Deut. 2:24-3:29)

  • 2:24-25. God desires to give the land to Israel and to strike fear in neighboring nations, thus giving them a chance to repent. (See story in Num. 21:21-31)
  • 2:26-29. Moses was likely operating under God’s code of battle which, revealed later in Deuteronomy, calls for offering peace before war. (Deut. 20:10-12)
  • 2:30-31. God “hardened his heart” signifying that the time had run out on Sihon much like it had on Pharaoh (Ex. 9:12). God knows when the time of repentance has passed, and judgement must begin.
  • 2:34. “Completely destroyed.” On other occasions, this term is translated “devoted” as the destruction of the people and things made them useless to the conquerors but placed them in the hands of God. (Num. 18:14; Jos. 6:17)
  • 3:1-7. Moses makes mention of 60 fortified cities in Bashan to strengthen the point he will make clear later – God himself won these battles. (Deut. 3:21-22)
  • 3:11. Og’s bed is listed at 13 feet long and 6 feet wide. As the last of the Rephaim, Og is a giant and, as such, represents the living embodiment of the Israelites’ worst nightmares (Num. 13:33). Yet with God’s help, Og is soundly defeated.
  • 3:12-20. Using natural barriers on the east side of the Jordan, Moses distributes the newly conquered land to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh as well as to Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, and Makir, Manasseh’s first-born son.
  • 3:17. “Kinnereth” refers to the Sea of Galilee in the north. The Hebrew word kinnor means harp, referring to the shape of the sea.
  • 3:20. Moses shows confidence in future success across the Jordan as he attributes the victories to God himself.
  • 3:21-22. Moses bolsters the faith in his successor by again reminding him that God himself will fight for Israel. Israel’s limitations are not God’s limitations.
  • 3:22-28. Moses pleads with God to enter the promised land across the Jordan. Due to his prior disobedience (Num 20:10-13), God denies his request and turns Moses’ attention toward Joshua who will lead the conquest. God’s firm “no” stands as a reminder of the importance of obedience.

Life with the Impossibility Specialist

God will ask you to do things you are unsure you can do. In that moment, you will either disobey (and justify it with your reasoning) or you will take a simple step of obedience and witness a move of God.

Those who walk toward the impossible have this principle figured out:

Life is about the of God.

Live in such a way that God’s greatness is on .

Practical Steps

  1. Take your eyes off the in front of you and keep them on your God beside you.

Your gap: all your reasons why you cannot complete the assignment God has given you. Do not mind the gap, it is simply more space for God’s greatness.

Note: If you are until your gap is filled, your time of obedience will never come.

  1. Start with what you have knowing God will supply the rest. The horse is made ready for battle, but victory belongs to the Lord. (Prov. 21:31)

An Inspiring Life

  1. Your life will inspire people to God.

Ultimately, what are you hoping is remembered of your life?

  1. You will seize the .

No one wants to wander in the desert when the promised land is available. No one wants to look back at what could have been.

  1. You will fight with obedience.

This might seem trivial, but it is far from it. Many have walked away from a cheapened version of the faith that lacks adventure and risk.

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