Watch Yourselves Carefully

And command the people, saying, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully. Deuteronomy 2:4

The people of Israel would not get one footstep of Esau's territory as it had already been promised by the Lord. It would seem that as they passed through this area, they might see something they wanted. The old lusts of the flesh would need to be watched carefully lest they sin against their brethren. In the next verses the children of Israel were commanded to purchase food and water if they needed anything. Territory and who lives in it is quite important to the Lord.

Having someone fear you can lead to temptation. That powerful feeling we might get from seeing such an attitude displayed toward us is also a danger to us. Just as the children of Israel might be tempted to lord it over the children of Esau, so that flesh of ours might also try to take advantage of someone in a fearful state. It is even the thoughts we might well watch carefully as we are to love one another and look down on no one.

Well, I'm not going to pass through a territory, we might say by way of denial. Oh, wait a minute, remember that house that was not up to our standard of cleanliness? How we looked down on that person in her territory. The shop with a few broken tools laying about in the filth, they were gone from the place but how we judged them unworthy. Yes, watch yourselves carefully!

Love and grace to you from Jesus Christ our Lord,
Bucky