How does Deuteronomy 1:4 connect to God's promises in Genesis 15:18-21? Setting the Scene—Deuteronomy 1:4 “This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.” The Original Promise—Genesis 15:18-21 “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.’” What God Promised • A literal land grant stretching from the “river of Egypt” to the Euphrates • Specific peoples to be dispossessed—including Rephaites and Amorites • A perpetual covenant with Abram’s physical descendants (cf. Genesis 17:7-8) What God Has Now Done • Deuteronomy 1:4 records Israel’s defeat of – Sihon, king of the Amorites (one nation named in the Genesis promise) – Og, king of Bashan, a leader of the Rephaites (another group in the promise) • These victories occurred east of the Jordan, proving God’s pledge was already unfolding before Israel even entered Canaan proper (Numbers 21:21-35; Deuteronomy 2–3) Geographic and Ethnic Overlap • Amorites ⇒ Listed in Genesis; conquered in Deuteronomy • Rephaites ⇒ Listed in Genesis; represented by Og, whose enormous stature marked him as a last remnant of that clan (Deuteronomy 3:11) • The eastern territories of Sihon and Og become the inheritance of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh (Numbers 32:33), expanding Israel’s footprint to match the larger borders foretold to Abram Faithfulness on Display • Roughly four centuries separate Abram’s covenant moment and Moses’ victory (Exodus 12:40) • Yet every detail moves forward exactly as promised—proof that “Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made … failed” (Joshua 21:45) • The initial triumphs over Sihon and Og guarantee confidence for the conquests still ahead under Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:21-22; Joshua 1:3-6) Key Takeaways • God’s promises are literal and time-tested; what He pledges in Genesis He performs in Deuteronomy—and beyond • Early fulfillments encourage ongoing obedience: Israel can trust God for Canaan because He has already delivered Sihon and Og • The same covenant-keeping character assures all believers today that “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23) Summing It Up Deuteronomy 1:4 is more than a travel note; it is tangible evidence that the covenant land grant of Genesis 15 is actively unfolding. By defeating the Amorite and Rephaite kings, God demonstrates—right before Israel’s eyes—that every promise made to Abram stands secure, inviting His people to move forward in confident faith. |
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