The Remnants of Strength: Reflecting on Deuteronomy 2:10
"The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;" - Deuteronomy 2:10

In Deuteronomy 2:10, we find a brief historical account that carries deeper thematic resonance for our spiritual journey. The King James Version reads: "The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims." This verse, while it seems initially like an ancient detail of Israel’s geographical and ancestral history, offers us profound insights into overcoming our spiritual and personal challenges.
As we reflect on the Emims, described as a great and numerous people, we first encounter the challenge of fear. God’s people were poised to enter the land He had promised them, yet they were confronted by the formidable presence of formerly great nations. In our own lives, we often face giants—challenges that loom large, intimidating us like the Emims and the Anakims. These giants can take various forms: personal struggles, health issues, financial distress, or emotional wounds. They represent the adversities that threaten to overshadow our faith and progress.
What does it mean that the Emims were not only great but also numerous and tall? The tallness of the Emims echoes physical might, and their abundance speaks to their dominance in the region. They are emblematic of all obstacles that appear insurmountable to the naked eye. Yet, as we look at this verse, we notice that it serves a dual purpose. On one side, it confirms the reality of these challenges, but on the other, it provides a narrative of perceived greatness that is countered by God’s overarching providence.
Consider the Israelites; led by Moses, they were about to confront these mighty groups. It was crucial for them to understand that despite the overwhelming odds, they were not alone. The Lord had promised to be their guide and defender. When we encounter our giants, we should remember that God has given us similar promises. The challenges we face are not obstacles to His plan; rather, they are opportunities for Him to demonstrate His power and faithfulness. In Romans 8:31, we are reminded: "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Furthermore, the existence of the Emims and their stature serves as a reminder of the history of God’s people. The mention of the Anakims in the same breath sheds light on the legacy of giants within our spiritual landscape. These giants symbolize the spiritual battles that have been waged throughout generations. Yet, each battle has been met with God’s hand guiding His chosen people, reminding them of their identity rooted in Him. Like the Israelites, we are to remember our spiritual ancestry: we are heirs to a legacy of faith, courage, and victory.
Moreover, this historical context invites us to face our fears with faith. Fear often blinds us to God’s presence and power. The Israelites could have responded to the size and strength of the Emims with trepidation and despair. Instead, they were called to acknowledge their fears and confront them in the light of God's promises. Like them, we must learn to confront our fears, not with intimidation but with the assurance that God walks beside us.
As we meditate on Deuteronomy 2:10, let us draw strength from the relationship we have with God. It is crucial to remember that our giants are not greater than our God. Through prayer and meditation, we can lay the names of our giants at His feet, trusting in His ability to help us triumph over every obstacle. In doing so, we become more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37).
In conclusion, let the exploration of the Emims’ existence lead us not to despair but to a renewed commitment to face whatever giants loom in our lives. With God’s truth as our strength and guide, we need not fear the great and tall challenges before us. Instead, let us rise in faith, fully assured that our God is greater than any fear we may bear.
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Deuteronomy 2:10 - "The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;"
"The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;" - Deuteronomy 2:10
Deuteronomy 10:2 - "And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark."
Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Deuteronomy 22:10 - "¶ Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together."
Deuteronomy 10:16 - "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked."
Deuteronomy 10:19 - "Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Deuteronomy 2:2 - "And the LORD spake unto me, saying,"
Deuteronomy 14:10 - "And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you."
Deuteronomy 5:10 - "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments."
Deuteronomy 10:10 - "And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee."
"And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark." - Deuteronomy 10:2
Deuteronomy 25:10 - "And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed."
Deuteronomy 20:10 - "¶ When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it."
Deuteronomy 10:14 - "Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is."
Deuteronomy 10:7 - "From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters."
Deuteronomy 34:10 - "¶ And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,"
Deuteronomy 10:18 - "He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment."
Deuteronomy 1:10 - "The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude."
Deuteronomy 10:13 - "To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"
Deuteronomy 28:10 - "And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee."
Deuteronomy 31:10 - "And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,"
Deuteronomy 3:10 - "All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan."
"¶ Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together." - Deuteronomy 22:10
Deuteronomy 2:17 - "That the LORD spake unto me, saying,"
Deuteronomy 19:10 - "That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee."
Deuteronomy 24:10 - "¶ When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge."
"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." - Deuteronomy 10:16
Deuteronomy 10:17 - "For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:"