Study Desk

God Most High separated the people on earth and gave each nation its land. He set up borders for all people. He made as many nations as there are angels.

The Lord alone led his people. They had no help from any foreign god.

"But Jeshurun became fat and kicked like a bull. (Yes, you people were fed well and became full and fat.) They left the God who made them! They ran away from the Rock who saved them.

They offered sacrifices to demons—gods that are not God. These were new gods they had not known before, gods their ancestors never knew.

You people left the Rock who made you; you forgot the God who gave you life.

"‘Now, see that I, and only I, am God! There is no other God! I put people to death, and I let people live. I can hurt people, and I can make them well. No one can save another person from my power!

"The whole world should be happy for God's people! God punishes people who kill his servants. He gives his enemies the punishment they deserve. And he makes his land and people pure."

This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before he died:

Moses said this about Gad: "Praise God who gave Gad more land! Gad is like a lion that lies down and waits. Then he attacks and tears the animal in pieces.

"There is no one like the God of Israel! He rides on the clouds in his divine greatness. He comes riding through the skies to help you.

God lives forever. He is your place of safety. His power continues forever! He is protecting you. He will force your enemies to leave your land. He will say, ‘Destroy the enemy!'

Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

"Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get some food ready. Three days from now we will go across the Jordan River and take the land that the Lord our God is giving us.'"

"Remember what the Lord 's servant Moses told you. He said that the Lord your God would give you a place to live. So he has given you this land east of the Jordan River. But now you must help your relatives get their land. Your wives and children can stay here with your animals. But all your fighting men must prepare for battle and lead the men of the other tribes across the river.

The Lord has given you a place to live, and he will do the same for your brothers. But you must help them until they take control of the land the Lord your God is giving them. Then you can come back and settle here on the east side of the river. This is the land that the Lord 's servant Moses said would be yours."

We will obey whatever you say, just as we obeyed Moses. We only ask that the Lord your God be with you just as he was with Moses.

When we heard about this, we were very afraid. And now, not one of our men is brave enough to fight you, because the Lord your God rules the heavens above and the earth below!

They gave orders to the people: "When you see the Levite priests carrying the Box of the Agreement of the Lord your God, follow them.

Then Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come and listen to the words of the Lord your God.

Here is proof that the living God is really with you and that he will surely defeat your enemies. He will defeat the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites; he will force them to leave their land.