Transcription
Previously, there was an ordination service at a certain church, and I attended. After the pastor finished his sermon, titled "Ten Secrets to Becoming a Faithful Officer," he concluded the sermon by saying, "I hope you will remember these ten things I have spoken about until now and become faithful workers."
At that moment, I thought to myself, "Even if I try to remember now, I can't recall all ten things. How can I remember them, master them through practice, and become a faithful church officer? Ah, ten things are too complicated." Such were my thoughts.
Everyone, when we write an article or give a lecture, we compress the entire content into a few points, don't we? Right? In such cases, we usually compress it into two or three points, like first, second, and third. This is because it is related to human memory, so once it exceeds three points, it becomes quite difficult to remember.
So, let's think about what we call the Ten Commandments. Because they are such important commandments, all believers memorize all ten, but it's not easy to memorize them, is it? That's why God originally gave only one commandment. It wasn't ten things. What was that one thing? What was it? "Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." That is the one thing. "Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." If one remembered that command and considered its meaning, one could stand upright before God sufficiently. That's the point.
You all learned in history textbooks that the most simple law in our country's ancient history was the Eight Prohibitory Laws during the Gojoseon period. It is said that there were eight prohibitory clauses, but only three of them remain. First, one who kills a person shall be immediately put to death. Second, one who injures another shall compensate with grain. Third, one who steals shall be made a slave, but can be redeemed if a price is paid. Simple, isn't it? But as time goes on, laws become more numerous. That is a sign that the world is becoming more complicated and evil, isn't it? The more laws there are, the harder people's lives become.
Everyone, our lives are also like that. Only when the principles of life are simple and clear can they be easily understood, and those laws can be kept, and thus powerful strength can be exerted. Last time, we examined the message about why the people of Israel wasted 38 years in the wilderness.
Originally, God's plan was for them to enter Canaan within two years, and God told them to invade. But the people of Israel could not believe that word and follow it. This was because they retreated, saying, "We do not know the enemy. How can we fight until we have scouted the enemy, obtained information, established countermeasures, and devised a strategy?" However, Moses said, "We do not need to know everything. And we cannot know everything. Even knowing everything does not make it so. The problem is knowing God's will and obeying that will. That is the path I must take, and that is the path of victory and the path of success." He spoke such words.
Now, because Israel failed, they turned around and had to start their 38 years of wilderness life anew. Where does that content appear? Deuteronomy Chapter 2, verse 1. Let's read verse 1 together. "We turned and journeyed into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea, as the Lord had commanded me, and for many days we wandered around Mount Seir." It says, "turned around." This is truly sad. How did they suffer for two years, traversing the wilderness of death, and come all the way to Kadesh Barnea, but then they could not advance and had to turn back into the wilderness of death.
How did they spend their time after returning to that wilderness? It appears at the end of verse 1. "For many days we wandered around Mount Seir." It means they wandered round and round, all around the wilderness, centering on Mount Seir. How long did they wander? The phrase "many days," which is referred to as "a long time" in this verse 1, refers to a period of how long? It refers to 37 years. So, out of 38 years of wilderness life, they wandered aimlessly for 37 years.
If you look closely at the Bible, in Numbers and Deuteronomy, the historical record of about 37 years out of 40 years of wilderness life is omitted. The first one or two years after the Exodus were recorded in detail. The process of crossing the Red Sea, passing through the wilderness, arriving at Mount Sinai, receiving the law, and building the tabernacle is explained in minute detail. Right? And after that, they traveled to Kadesh Barnea, which took eleven days, didn't it? Up to this point, it is detailed. But when they returned to the wilderness for another 38 years from there, the record of 37 years out of those 38 years is omitted. And then the record of the last year appears.
It appears in verse 3. Verse 3. "You have wandered around this mountain long enough; turn northward." "It's been a long time. 38 years. Stop. For 37 years, you wandered aimlessly. Now that it's been a long time, change direction and go up northward." With these words, the record of the last year begins to revive. So, Deuteronomy Chapter 2 does not deal with the story of 38 years, but records the events of the last recent year, and within that one year, several events are recorded in Chapter 2 today. Four events are recorded, and the first event is in verses 4 and 5.
"You shall command the people, saying, 'You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so be very careful. Do not contend with them, for I will not give you even a foot of their land, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as an inheritance.'" Firstly, do not absolutely invade, touch, or fight the region of Edom where Esau's descendants live. Because I have given this land to Esau as an inheritance, do not touch it. That's the point.
Secondly, it is the word in verse 9: "The Lord said to me, 'Do not harass Moab or contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land as an inheritance, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'" Do not fight with Moab or touch them. Because I have given that land as an inheritance to the descendants of Lot.
Thirdly, it is the word in verse 19: "When you approach the Ammonites, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites as an inheritance, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession." Moab and Ammon are the descendants of Abraham's nephew Lot, so I have given that land to them, so do not touch it. That's the point.
The last, fourth event is in verse 24. "Rise up, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle." He is commanding them to fight with the Amorite people and take possession of their land.
So, to put it simply, what is the content of Deuteronomy Chapter 2? It is Israel's theory of war. A theory of war. It explains the grand principle of which country to fight and how to fight, but its content is completely different from the theory of war we usually think of. Everyone, what is the theory of war we think of? It's the problem of which country we should fight and why, and when we fight, what kind of strategy and tactics we should have. These are two very complicated topics, aren't they? Right? But the content of today's main text explains this enormous content very simply.
"I want to invade a certain country, and I have enough strength to win sufficiently, and if I conquer that, it would be a great benefit to us. However, if God has not given it to you, absolutely do not invade." On the other hand, "If the enemies are too strong and frightening, and I want to avoid them, but God has given that country to you, then have courage, go out boldly, fight, and take it." He is saying such things now.
But when they lived by this principle for one year, it happened exactly as the word said. So, what is the conclusion? We read again verses 36 and 37, which we read earlier. "The Lord our God delivered all that land over to us, so that there was not a city too high for us to take, from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Arnon Valley, and from the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead. We took possession of all the high cities." No matter how high and strong a fortress city the land God delivered to us was, there was not a single one we could not conquer. It means they conquered all of them.
But in verse 37, "Only the land of the Ammonites, all along the Jabbok River, and the cities in the hill country, and everything that the Lord our God had forbidden us to approach, I did not approach." However, God said, "Do not go. It is not possible." He is saying that they absolutely could not go to the places He forbade, and they did not succeed.
So, let's think about the problem of which country to fight. Which country are they told to fight? And which country are they told not to fight? Whether it seems beneficial to my eyes, or the possibility of success – none of this is important. Only one thing: conquer the land God has given, and do not even approach the land He has forbidden. This is the principle regarding the object of battle. Secondly, then, with what strategy should they fight? What is the method of fighting? We think like this, don't we? We think we must understand the enemy well, establish countermeasures, and devise a strategy, but that's not it. God said, "If you attack the country I have given you with faith, I will tell you all the methods of fighting, and you only need to do exactly as I say." That is it. This is the core of Israel's theory of war.
Do you understand? What is the first principle? Occupy the country He has permitted, and if He has not permitted it, do not approach. Secondly, how should you fight? If you fight only as I teach you, all wars will be successful. For example, Joshua had to conquer the city of Jericho, but how could he conquer that impregnable city? No matter how much strategy he devised, there was no method. Because the difference was so great. But what strategy did God give? "For six days, the people of Israel should go around the city of Jericho once each day. And on the last, seventh day, go around seven times, and when the priests blow the trumpets, shout!" He said. When they did exactly that, the city of Jericho collapsed inward.
When Judge Gideon fought with Midian, an enormous number of soldiers gathered, but what did God say? "Choose only 300 men." And how did He arm them? He said, "Put torches into jars, hold trumpets, and go into the enemy camp. So, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, you too break the jars, hold torches in your left hand and trumpets in your right hand, and shout, 'For the Lord and for Gideon!' then the enemies will collapse by themselves." He said. It happened exactly as he said.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah was so worried and frightened by the overwhelming number of allied armies invading from all sides that he fasted and prayed with his people. God answered through a prophet. Here, a famous saying emerges: "The battle belongs to the Lord." Therefore, "How should you fight now? Set the choir at the very front, singing songs of thanksgiving, and make them advance into the enemy camp." He said. The praise team advanced towards the enemy, singing praises, and the enemies collapsed by themselves, and they achieved a great victory.
So, if you look at all these three methods, do they make sense or not? Answer quickly. No, they don't. That's not a strategy we can think of. However, because the war belongs to God, when they did according to the method God taught, everything happened exactly as He said. Why do I say this? Because the people of Israel had not yet entered the land of Canaan. Before entering Canaan, for the last year, God made them practice through several wars. [Snort] After that rehearsal, Moses tells them the conclusion of that rehearsal. In a word, if God says "Yes," it happens, and if God says "No," it doesn't. He is telling them to remember this simple principle. "Now, when you arrive in the land of Canaan in the future, you will fight countless nations and countless wars, but if you keep only these two principles, you will surely be victorious." That's the point. So, it doesn't matter how strong the enemies are, or how fertile or barren or desirable that land is. "Has God given that land to me?" If so, then go out boldly and take it. If He has not given it, then do not even have regret. Do not go according to what your heart desires, what your eyes see, or your greed. Just follow God's word. How simple is this, everyone?
So, Israel's formula for war is two-fold, but because that might also be difficult to memorize, I have reduced it to just one. It's the sermon title. Please read it. This is the conclusion of Israel's theory of war: "If He gives, receive; if He does not give, you cannot receive." This is the principle.
But does this apply only to war? [Snort] Everyone, among all the events in this world, war is the most complicated. This formula is not only applied to war, but it applies exactly to all areas of life. So, if you live by keeping only this principle, life becomes easier, and unnecessary energy is absolutely not wasted. Economic problems are also the same. If God gives, you receive, and if He does not give, you cannot receive. Of course, you must make human effort, right? Right? You shouldn't do nothing and just sit still, but the grand principle is that. If He gives, receive, and if He does not give, you cannot receive.
When I was young, I heard an old story from my mother. A traveler was walking along the road, and one person was lying under a large jujube tree with his mouth wide open. So the traveler asked, "What are you doing there?" The lying person replied, "I have a destiny where rice cakes appear even if I just lie still. So I am lying under this tree with my mouth open." That's what he said. The traveler then asked, "Oh, have you eaten a lot?" Then [clears throat] "No. But not a single one has fallen into my mouth, so I'm waiting like this." Then the traveler said, "No matter how much your destiny is like that, you should at least take off the hat you're wearing, put it on your body, and gather the jujubes. What will you do if you just lie there with your mouth open?" He scolded him and went on his way. Well, that's the story. [Laughter]
Last year, I had a problem that required prayer, and I wondered how best to handle it. Ah, I was praying with a complicated heart, when suddenly, one dawn, as I was praying, a voice came to me clearly: "If God does not give, no one can receive, and if God gives, no one can stop it." I was startled. It was a concept I had never even thought about before. But I considered those words again in my mind. "If God does not give, no one can receive, and if God gives, no one can stop it." Ah, how simple it is. It's truly like that. So I answered God. "God, it is truly so. You are right. Therefore, no matter how this problem is decided, I will absolutely not object. I only wish for Your will to be done. Amen." And after that, I had no worries. Why? Because if God does not give, no one can receive, and if God gives, no one can stop it.
Everyone, as we live, we encounter many problems. We put forth countless alternatives, saying, "In this situation, do this; in that situation, do that." But in the end, what happens? It happens according to God's will. It is so. If God says "Yes," it happens, and if He says "No," it doesn't. But if He has said "No," no matter how much you try, saying, "I will definitely make it happen, I will bring in experts," will it happen? It won't, He says. Therefore, if God says "Yes," no matter how impossible it seems, take courage and seize it. And if God says "No," then do not even have regret. That's the point. Do not worry, strive, and waste time trying to make something happen that won't, and do not live like that.
So, everyone, [Snort] how can I distinguish whether this is God's "Yes" or "No"? How can you distinguish? First of all, the reality given to me is God's "Yes." You must acknowledge that. The problem is that many believers do not accept their reality as "Yes" but say "No." They are not interested in God's "Yes" and "No." If they want something, they try to solve the problem in their own way, mobilizing all their connections and methods they can, but He says, "Do not waste energy on that." Not only will it not happen, but it will also be too difficult for you, and in the end, it will not be beneficial to you. That's the meaning.
So, why can't we directly say "Yes" or "No" to God's "Yes" and "No"? It is because we have our own greed and standards, and we cannot lay down our own thoughts. "I want to raise my children like this. I want to make them into such people." But God said "No." I don't want to accept that. I want to make them so. But is that possible? It is not possible. It is pain for the parents and pain for the children. The result is also not good. Ultimately, what we need to know is what God's will is, to ask about it, to lay ourselves down before Him, to say "Amen" to God's "Yes," to say "Amen" to God's "No," and if God's will is so, then "I understand. God, I will do so." He says to accept it. Only then will life be peaceful, and that is the path to victory, and through that, God's will is fulfilled.
But regarding God's "Yes" and "No," no matter what I do, it doesn't work. I cannot accept it. What should I do then? There is only one way. It is to die on the cross. "The Lord says this, but I dislike it. However, Lord, I have died on the cross. Now I lay myself down before God. My Lord, act according to Your will. No matter how much I want to covet, if You forbid it, I will abandon my regret. No matter how frightened and trembling I am, if You permit it, I will run. Let Your will be done." He says to live like that. And as time passes, you will realize that God's will was right. That is the content of the Bible.
Everyone, let me tell you an important example from the Bible. You know the man named Jacob, right? He fled and lived as a servant in his uncle's house. Ah, the moment he saw Rachel in that house, he fell in love at first sight. "This is the woman. If I only have this woman, I will be happy." He thought, and tried to obtain Rachel, but he had nothing, didn't he? So what did he say to his uncle? "If you give me Rachel, I will serve in this house for seven years without wages, so please give me your daughter as payment." Laban saw that Jacob was a capable shepherd. "Good. Work for seven years." So, Jacob served for seven years with a joyful heart, as if it were a few days, and held a wedding ceremony. He married in the middle of the night, and when he opened his eyes in the morning, it was Leah, not Rachel. Jacob became furious with his uncle, like fire. "How could you do this to me?" Laban smiled and said, "In our region, it is the custom to send the older sister first, so it is absolutely impossible to send the younger sister first. If you truly want Rachel, serve as a servant for another seven years. Then I will give you Rachel too." He said.
Here, Jacob does not realize God's will. It was God's "No," but he said "Yes." "Even if I have to give up everything, it's Rachel. If not Rachel, it won't work." So he works for another seven years. And he takes two sisters as wives. Jealousy arises between the two sisters, and as he also takes their maidservants as wives, he has 12 children from four women. These children conflict throughout their lives, and because of that, Jacob also suffers terribly until death. And do you know what Jacob's last words were when he died? His last will: "Bury me beside Leah." After living a lifetime, he realized as he died that it was not Rachel, whom he had liked, but Leah, whom God had given him, who was his true woman.
Well, we don't know what kind of life it would have been if he had taken Leah as his wife from the beginning. However, the lesson is clear, isn't it? Everyone, you should not live life too complicatedly. The secret to happiness is not getting what you want. It lies in my accepting God's will for me, God's "Yes" and "No," with "Amen." Do not waste energy and time, and do not live unhappily, saying you will definitely obtain what God has forbidden. Thankfully receive what God has given, and do not have regret about what He has not given, and do not even look back. There's even a popular song like that, isn't there? Yes.
No matter how we have lived until now, from now on, Lord, we will boldly go out and take what God has permitted. If He has not permitted it, we will have no regret, nor will we seek it. We will live thankfully for what He has given us, doing our best. I bless you in the name of the Lord, that you may live a victorious life, a life that fulfills God's will. Amen.
Let us pray. We will go before the Lord, praying and thinking about the word. Here are the prayer topics: Make us sensitive to God's "Yes" and "No." Help us to acknowledge that if He gives, we receive, and if He does not give, we cannot receive. Help us not to have regret about what has not been given, and to live thankfully without complaining about what has been given. Let us pray together. [Music]
Everyone, let us pray aloud so that your own voice can be heard in your own ears. [Music]
God our Father, who rules over life. [Music]
We live life too complicatedly. [Music]
Thank You for teaching us today what the reason for that is. [Music]
If God gives, we receive, [Music] and if He does not give, we cannot receive. [Music]
It is by God's will, which is higher than our will, [Music] but we have not acknowledged this. We have tried to obtain what He has not given, [Music] and we have lived complaining instead of being thankful for what He has given. [Music]
Therefore, we have lost happiness, wasted time, [Music] and are living too unhappily. [Music]
Please make us Your children [Music] who acknowledge and live by the simple principle of war, the principle of life, that God has given. [Music]
Please make our lives such that we thankfully receive what has been given and absolutely do not covet what has not been permitted, [Music] so that later, God will praise us, saying, "Well done, you lived well." [Music]
May we all live such a life. [Music]
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.