Deuteronomy 2:26-30: a reflection

26I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, 27“Let me pass through your land. I will go along by the highway. I will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left. 28You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink. Just let me pass through on my feet, 29as the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, and the Moabites who dwell in Ar, did to me, until I pass over the Jordan into the land which the LORD our God gives us.” 30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as it is today.

As Israel journeys toward the promised land, before any conflict with Sihon king of Heshbon, Moses first sends messengers with words of peace. I sent messengers with words of peace, he recounts, asking only to pass through the land by the highway, turning neither right nor left, buying food and water for money, seeking to pass through peaceably. Before anything else, the first approach was an offer of peace, a request to pass through without harm. Israel sought peace first, offering to pass through peaceably and pay for what they used, before any conflict arose. This shows a good pattern: seeking peace first, making the first approach an offer of peace rather than of conflict. Israel's first move toward Sihon was words of peace. The first approach was an offer of peace, not conflict. Seeking peace first is a good pattern. Words of peace came before any conflict.

Notice that Israel's first approach was words of peace. Before any conflict with Sihon, Moses sent messengers seeking to pass through peaceably, offering to keep to the highway, to buy food and water rather than take them, to do no harm. The first move was an offer of peace, a seeking of peaceable passage, not an act of aggression. Only when Sihon refused did conflict follow. This reflects a good pattern for us: to seek peace first, to make our first approach an offer of peace rather than of conflict, to try the way of peace before anything else. We can be quick to conflict, ready to fight before we have tried peace; but Israel first sent words of peace. There is wisdom and rightness in seeking peace first, in making the first move an offer of peace, in trying the peaceable way before resorting to conflict. To seek peace first, offering it before conflict, is a good and wise pattern. The first approach is better made an offer of peace than of conflict. Seeking peace first tries the peaceable way before anything else. To offer peace first is wise and right.

That is worth taking to heart, for seeking peace first, making the first approach an offer of peace rather than of conflict, is a good and wise pattern. We can be quick to conflict, ready to fight or contend before we have tried the way of peace; but Israel's first approach to Sihon was words of peace, an offer to pass through peaceably and do no harm. There is wisdom in seeking peace first, in trying the peaceable way before resorting to conflict. When you face a possible conflict, seek peace first; let your first approach be an offer of peace, as Israel sent words of peace to Sihon. Seek peace first, making your first approach an offer of peace rather than of conflict, as Israel, before any conflict with Sihon, sent messengers with words of peace, asking only to pass through peaceably by the highway and to pay for the food and water they used; for we can be quick to conflict, ready to contend or fight before we have tried the way of peace, but there is wisdom and rightness in seeking peace first, in making the first move an offer of peace and trying the peaceable way before resorting to conflict, so that when we face a possible conflict we do well to seek peace first, letting our first approach be an offer of peace as Israel's was to Sihon.

Lord, as Israel journeys toward the promised land, before any conflict with Sihon king of Heshbon, Moses first sends messengers with words of peace. I sent messengers with words of peace, he recounts, asking only to pass through the land by the highway, turning neither right nor left, buying food and water for money, seeking to pass through peaceably. Before anything else, the first approach was an offer of peace, a request to pass through without harm. Israel sought peace first, offering to pass through peaceably and pay for what they used, before any conflict arose. Show me that Israel's first approach was words of peace. Before any conflict, Moses sent messengers seeking to pass through peaceably, offering to keep to the highway, to buy food and water rather than take them, to do no harm. The first move was an offer of peace, not an act of aggression. Only when Sihon refused did conflict follow. This reflects a good pattern for me: to seek peace first, to make my first approach an offer of peace rather than of conflict, to try the way of peace before anything else. I can be quick to conflict, ready to fight before I have tried peace; but Israel first sent words of peace. There is wisdom in seeking peace first. Take that to my heart, for seeking peace first is a good and wise pattern. When I face a possible conflict, help me seek peace first, Lord; let my first approach be an offer of peace, as Israel sent words of peace to Sihon, trying the peaceable way before resorting to conflict, that I may be quick to seek peace rather than quick to contend.