Opposition By Family

The Edomites, located south and east of the Dead sea, were descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau and his alliance with the Horites.  Their lands extended south to Kadesh and Mount Hor but did not include the area right next to the Gulf of Aqaqba which was occupied by the Midianites.  Wishing to travel back to the north where they would be closer to the promised land, Moses requested permission to cross the Edomite land, in Numbers 20:14.  “And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.”

Moses reminded them of their family relationship, and what they knew about Israel and promised they would stick strictly to the caravan routes, not even stopping at the wells for water or letting the livestock graze in their pastures.   The family relationship meant nothing to the Edomite king.  Numbers 20:18 tells us, “And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.”

Moses approached them the second time offering to pay for any damage or for any water that was used, in Numbers 20:19.  “And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.”  Even that did noty change the king’s mind, as Numbers 20:20-21 tells us.  “And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.  Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.”  Because they were family, Israel would not cross the Edomite land, remaining at Mount Hor, also known as Mount Sinai, for some time before swinging aroung the eastern border of the Edomites land. 

Many times Christians are surprised when their family does not support them in their efforts to follow the Lord.  Frequently they turn out to be our biggest opponents.  We forget that in Mark 10:36-38, Jesus warned, “And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”  They test our faith, forcing us to choose between them and God.   If God is not more important than our family, we do not deserve the salvation he offers.