Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. Then Israel made this vow to the Lord : "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." The Lord listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah. Numbers 21:1-3
This ends this reading from God’s holy word. Thanks be to God.
Throughout the book of Numbers, we have been following an Israel that has not exactly endeared themselves to the Lord…the Lord who delivered them from bondage, led them through the exodus and brought them to the brink of Canaan, all just as He had promised. Throughout the journey as documented in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, we have seen an Israelite people who complained before trusting…a people who stubbornly refused to believe in the One who had revealed His miraculous power on more than one occasion….the One asked Sarah and Abraham, "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14)
It was this reluctance to believe in God fully, knowing He could deliver them through whatever the circumstance, that triggered God’s judgment upon them as they were set to enter Canaan. You’ll recall that the advance scout team returned after 40 days to report that they had indeed seen the land that was flowing with milk and honey as well as with fruits that they brought back for the people to see. But the scouts had seen more than just this in the land…for they also saw what they perceived as danger awaiting. The people who were already inhabiting the land were warriors and the all but two of the scouts told the people that they would perish if they entered the Promised Land…a claim that stirred up an ugly scene as Moses was confronted about why he had them leave Egypt in the first place…as if slavery was better than entering the land of God’s promise. And therein is where the problem was…the people decided to forget about God’s promise to them and looked at the threat from a worldly perspective. They could not withstand the challenge of the current Canaan residents alone and they were right. But they forgot one important thing. They weren’t alone.
For the same God who went in advance of them in a cloud, leading them from place to place and residing with them in the tabernacle when they encamped…this same God was the One who could and would have delivered them from those already in Canaan. God had promised the land to Israel and He was ready to do just that. But Israel doubted and so God gave them 40 years to think about their doubt…40 years in the desert before they would get a second chance to redeem themselves and enter the land God promised.
So why go through all this in review? Because in today’s scripture, the people of Israel finally get it, signaling a shift in their attitude and a move in the right direction…a direction God had to be well pleased with.
The Israelites had left Mount Hor after Aaron’s death and the transfer of the high priest responsibilities to his son Eleazar. Scripture tells us they were "coming along the road to Atharim" when they were attacked by the "Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev". Several of the Israelites were taken captive.
You might have expected Israel to break out into one of their standard complaints asking God why He ever led them out of Egypt in the first place. But not this time. We get a sense that Israel has finally figured it out. If they would just trust God and ask Him to intervene and deliver and something just might happen differently. So they did and indeed something good did happen.
For we read that Israel made a "vow to the Lord" saying, "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." In other words, Israel didn’t go in thinking they could take on Arad and its army by themselves. But if God would delivered Arad to Israel, then they knew with confidence that they could conquer. And conquer they did. For the "Lord listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them" and Israel in turn "completely destroyed them and their towns." Indeed a shift had occurred in Israel’s attitude…a shift toward fully trusting God to handle whatever their circumstance in accordance with His will. In this case against Arad, it was God’s will to hand Arad over to Israel. And Israel made good on their end of the vow, wiping out Arad and its towns.
Question: What is there in your own life that you have been struggling with? Have you fully trusted in God to take care of your matter in accordance with His will, knowing that He is capable of doing all things? Or have you resorted into a complainer and grumbler like the people of Israel prior to today’s passage?
We have seen the results of a complaining Israel. They only got into trouble and disfavor with God though doing so. Conversely, we see in today’s passage what happens when Israel decides to fully trust God and believe in what He can do for them. In His time and in His place and in His way, He will deliver. Believe and trust Him today and forever more. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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