What does "I have begun to deliver" reveal about God's timing and action? Setting the Scene “Then the LORD said to me, ‘See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his land over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.’ ” (Deuteronomy 2:31) Zooming In on the Phrase • “I have begun” – God is already at work. • “to deliver” – His work is rescue and victory. • Spoken before a single sword was drawn against Sihon. What “I have begun” Teaches about Timing • God initiates action before His people see results. • His timetable is sovereign; ours is responsive. • Past-tense certainty anchors present obedience. – Compare Joshua 6:2; Isaiah 46:10. • God’s beginnings guarantee His completions (Philippians 1:6). What “to deliver” Reveals about God’s Action • Deliverance is God’s work, not human ingenuity (Psalm 44:3). • He targets both the enemy (“Sihon”) and the territory (“his land”). • His deliverance is comprehensive—people, place, and purpose. • The verb implies rescue from oppression and transfer into blessing (Colossians 1:13). The Divine Pattern Repeated • Red Sea: “The LORD will fight for you” (Exodus 14:14). • Jericho: “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hand” (Joshua 6:2). • Calvary: “It is finished” (John 19:30) long before full world redemption is seen. Our Response • Act on what God has already initiated. • Move forward confidently, not tentatively. • Measure success by faithfulness to God’s started work, not by immediate sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). • Encourage one another with God’s track record; He never leaves a task half-done (Numbers 23:19). Living It Out Today • Identify areas where God’s Word already declares victory—salvation, sanctification, future hope. • Step into those promises with obedient action, trusting the work He has begun. • Rest in His timing, knowing that every divine “beginning” carries a guaranteed “completion.” |
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