How can we trust God's promises today, as seen in Deuteronomy 3:17? Seeing God’s Promise in an Unlikely Verse Moses details the land grant east of the Jordan: “the Jordan as its border”. A simple survey line, yet it shouts that God finishes what He starts. What He pledged to Abraham centuries earlier (Genesis 15:18-21) now sits on Israel’s map. The Story Behind the Border • God promised land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob • Israel spent four long decades in the wilderness • By Deuteronomy 3, two-and-a-half tribes already possess their inheritance • The boundary in verse 17 marks tangible proof that God’s word has moved from pledge to possession What the Boundary Teaches About God • Reliability – He pinpoints real geography; His promises touch real life • Precision – Every tribe receives exactly what was spoken (Numbers 32:33) • Permanence – Once God establishes a line, no enemy can erase it (Psalm 125:2) Tracing the Thread Through Scripture • Joshua later reports, “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises... failed” • Solomon echoes the same certainty (1 Kings 8:56) • Paul affirms the pattern: all God’s promises find their “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20) • Hebrews calls believers to “hold fast the confession of our hope, for He who promised is faithful” (10:23) Why It Matters for Us Today • The God who drew borders for Gad and Reuben still governs your circumstances • His promises cover every need—salvation (Romans 10:13), provision (Philippians 4:19), guidance (James 1:5), and final glory (John 14:2-3) • Fulfilled prophecy and covenant land grants give present-day believers historical footing for trust Living in the Security of His Promises 1. Read Scripture daily, noting every promise and its context 2. Recall past instances when God has come through for you—personal “boundary stones” 3. Speak His promises aloud; faith grows by hearing (Romans 10:17) 4. Obey promptly—trust and obedience reinforce each other (James 2:22) 5. Encourage fellow believers with reminders of fulfilled promises, just as Moses did in Deuteronomy 3 |