The Cost Of Disobedience

 Balak, the Moabite king had hired the prophet Balaam to curse Israel.  Wanting the rewards Balak was offering, Balaam disobeyed God, telling him that the reason God would not curse them was because he had seen no iniquity in them.  Balak decided to use that information against the Israelites, and began encouraging the Moabite women to have affairs with the Israelite men and in the process get them to take part in the Moabite religion.    

 

To understand Balak’s logic it is helpful to remember Moabite history.  Almost seven hundred years before, Abraham’s nephew Lot had moved into Sodom, ignoring the sexual sin there.  God’s angels had literally forced them to leave because God was going to destroy the city for their wickedness, so they knew about God’s hatred of wickedness.  Lot’s two daughters had then had incestuous relationships with their father, and the Moabites and Ammonites were descendants of the two sons that resulted of those relationships, so the idea of using sex to get what you wanted was an accepted part of their history, making it easy for him to justify what is described in Numbers 25:1-3.  “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.”

 

Just as he had hoped, God was angered when Israel ignored his laws and began worshipping other gods, resulting in the deaths of twenty four thousand Israelites, according to Numbers 25:4-9.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.  And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.

 

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.” 

 

The sin was so prevalent they no longer even tried to hide it, as demonstrated by the couple blatantly coming into the camp, and the man involved was one of the   God blessed Phineas for his action in stopping them, but the woman he killed was one of the leaders of the tribe of Simeon, while the woman was the daughter of one of the Midianite rulers, according to Numbers 25:14-15.  “Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.  And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.”   

 

That Midianite women were involved as well as Moabite women implied this was a deliberate attack on Israel’s moral standard, and God directed Moses to punish the Midianites for their involvement in trying to bring a curse on Israel, in Numbers 25:16-31:2.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Vex the Midianites, and smite them: For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.” It would be Moses last major action with the nation of Israel. 

 

Moses sent out just a small force of twelve thousand to sweep across the Midianite territory wiping out the kings involved in trying to destroy Israel as described in Numbers 31:3-12.  “And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.  Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.  So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

 

And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.  And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.  And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.  And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.  And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.  And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.  And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.”

 

Most of the cities were comparatively small by today’s standards, and a small force could travel fast, catching them unprepared.  With God’s help they wiped out several Midianite cities and their rulers.  In the process they also killed the prophet Balaam.    All he wanted was a little prestige, but Balaam’s disobedience of God cost his life and resulted in the deaths of twenty four thousand Israelites and an untold number of his own people.   Disobedience frequently costs far more than we ever expected.  We need to learn to obey God completely, trusting him to reward us appropriately.    

A Double Minded Prophet

 Having agreed to go with Balak’s messengers, Balaam would have been breaking his word to back out, so the angel told him to go along, but not to say anything except what God told him to say.  His coming only reinforced Balak’s idea that he was only concerned about the money he would make, as we see in Numbers 22:36-37.  “And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.  And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?”The very fact of being an advisor and to the King of Moab would greatly enhance Balaam’s reputation, and Balak’s recommendations would get other engagements.  The advertising would be worth even more than the higher fee he would receive.   

 

Balaam pointed out that in any case, he was there now, and warned that he couldn’t just prophesy what the king wanted but only what God said, in Numbers 22:38.  “And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.”

 

Balaam knew that God had said Israel was not be cursed, but he still hoped to get the reward Balak had offered.  Maybe, if they offered a bunch of sacrifices they could get God to change his mind.  Numbers 22:39-23:3 describes their efforts.  “And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.  And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.  And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.  And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.  And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.”

 

God wasn’t interested in all the sacrifices, and he refused the curse Israel despite the efforts to bribe him.  Numbers 23:4-10 describes what Balaam was instructed to tell Balak.  “And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.  And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.  And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

 

And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.  How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?  For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.  Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!”

 

Balak was upset with Balaam’s message, even though he reminded him he could only say what god told him, as Numbers 23,11-12 tells us.  “And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.  And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?”

 

Like a lot of people, Balak regarded God as some kind of corrupt official with no deeply held standards and the prophet as a man with connections to that official.  Surely there was some way of persuading him to do what he wanted.   He tried two more times to Get God to curse Israel, and although Balaam knew the Lord better than Balak, he went along with it because he still wanted the prestige and wealth Balak could give him.   The third time he didn’t even bother to ask God what to say because he knew the message wouldn’t change.  In the process, he told Balak, “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.  God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.  Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought,” in Numbers 23:21-23.

 

Balak was angry because Balaam blessed Israel instead of cursing them and ordered him to leave, saying that God had kept from getting the rewards he could have had, in Numbers 24:10-11.  “And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.  Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.”

 

Later Balak thought about what Balaam had told him about Israel not being cursed because there was no evil in them, and deliberately encouraged the Midianite and Moabite women to commit adultery with the Israelite men in an attempt to turn God against them.  Revelation 2;14 makes it clear it was Balaam’s statements that gave Balak the idea.  As a result, Balaam would be killed along with the kings of Midian who encouraged it. 

 

Jesus used the illustration of a person whose eyes would not focus together, the so called evil eye, talking about people who tried to serve God and other things at the same time, in Matthew 6:22-24.  “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  James 1:8 warns, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  Balaam had no intention of going against God, but because his attention was on getting wealth and prestige, he said things he ought not have said.  Unfortunately there are a lot of double minded Christians, who like Balaam, go along with things they know are not right. 

You Have To Choose Who You Will Serve

Israel had passed on the outskirts of Moabite territory on their way north causing little disturbance, Even asking permission to cross the Amorite lands.  When they were attacked by the Amorites they had fought back, defeating them and seizing their land. When they were attacked by Og, King of Bashan, they defeated him and seized his lands as well. 

 

Years before the Amorites had taken the land from the Moabites, who had never been able to retake it.  When Israel defeated the Amorites, the Moabites became concerned that they might attack Moab next, as Numbers 22:1-4 tells us.  “And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.  And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.  And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.  And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.”

 

The Midianites occupied an area south and east of the Edomites and Moabites, including much of the desert and wilderness where Israel had spent the previous forty years.  During that time Israel had not seemed like much of a threat, but the defeat of the Amorites changed that.  Knowing how God had delivered them from Egypt, neither the Moabites nor the Midianites wanted to fight them, so they decided to enlist supernatural help.  They sent for a famous prophet living near ancient Babel, not far from where Abraham was born, akking him to come and curse the Israelites, in Numbers 22:5-7.  “He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.  And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.”

 

Balaam worshipped God, and realized his power came him. so he asked for god’s leadership, in Numbers 22:8-13.  “And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

 

And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

 

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

 

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.”  God had been very clear that israel was not to be cursed. 

 

Balak had sent the standard fee for a wizard or clairvoyant.  Balaam was widely known as having significant powers, and Balak assumed he commanded a much larger fee than less well known wizards.  He sent other envoys, and agreed to pay whatever fee Balaam might set if he would just come, in Numbers 22:14-17.  “And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.5 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.  And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.”

 

Balaam knew that God had said he was not to curse the Israelites, but Balak’s offer was very tempting so Balaam went back and asked God again, hoping he would change his mind, in Numbers 22:18-19.  “And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.  Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.” 

 

Balaam was like teenager who s unwilling to accept his parents decision and seizing on any possible loophole for disobeying them, as Numbers 22:20-21 describes.  “And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.”  God had said he could go if they came and got him out of bed, and Balaam interpreted that as meaning God said it was okay.   He didn’t wait for them to get him up but rushed down to go with them. 

 

God was angry that Balaam disobeyed him, and sent his angel to stop him.  Three different times, Balaam’s donkey saved his life by holding back and each time he got angry at being thwarted, as Numbers 22:22-27 describes.  “And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.  And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.  But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.  And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.”

 

Angry at being stopped three times, Balaam began to beat the donkey who had saved his life, and God enabled the donkey to talk to him in Numbers 22:28-30.  “And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

 

 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?

 

And he said, Nay.”

 

When people get angry, they stop thinking rationally.  Balaam never even thought about the fact that his donkey was talking to him, until God intervened and explained why the donkey was acting the way she did, in Numbers 22:31-33.  “Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.  And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.”

 

Because he wanted the rewards Balak had offered, Balaam distorted God’s words to justify what he wanted.  In Matthew 6:24, Jesus warned, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Balaam was trying to serve God and get rich and famous at the same time, and it led him to sin. 

 

When it was pointed out to him, Balaam acknowledged he was wrong, claiming ignorance, and offered to go back home, in Numbers 22:34.  “And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.”  Having gone so far, going back would only create more problems, so the angel told him to go on, but not to say anything except what God told him to say, in Numbers 22:35.  “And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.”

Discouragement Turned to Victory

 As mentioned in the previous lesson, when traveling on foot or with animals, the availability of water determines where one can go.  Moving into an area where they had never been, in their effort to go around Edomite land, the Israelites had to trust God to lead them to ample supplies of water every few hours of travel.  While we don’t know exactly where some of the places described are, others are obvious.  Heading north east from the Gulf of Aqaba, they stopped first in an area they called Oboth, or “water skins”, probably indicating it was a place where the only water was what they carried, in Numbers 21:10.  “And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.”  Next they stopped at a place east of Moab. Where there were a lot of ruins, indicating a dependable source of water.  From there, God led them into the Zared river valley, which formed the southern boundary for Moab, before turning north to tributaries of the Arnon river, which formed Moab’s northern boundary, as Numbers 21:11-15 describes.  “And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising.  From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared.  From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.  Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,  And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.”

 

North of the Arnon tributary, there was an uninhabited area where there was no water, but God directed them to dig a well, as described in Numbers 21:16-18.  “And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.  Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. They called this place Beer, or “the well.”

 

From there they crossed several tributaries of the Arnon, eventually crossing the main stream of the Arnon and coming into Amorite territory at Mount Pisgah, in Numbers 21:18b-20.  “And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah: And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth: And from Bamoth in the valley that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.”

 

In and attempt to avoid conflict Isreal requested permission to cross the Amorite land.  The Amorites refused, and attacked Israel, as described in Numbers 21:21-23.  “And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king's high way, until we be past thy borders.  And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.”

 

When they were attacked, God gave Israel victory over the Amorites, enabling them to take all the Amorite lands east of the Jordan River, including lands the amorites had taken from the Moabites, as described in Numbers 21:24-32.  “And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.  And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.  For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.

 

Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.  Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 0 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.  Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.  And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.”

 

Working their way northward, taking the Amorite cities, israel was confronted by Og, the giant king of Bashan, who promptly attacked, as described in Numbers 21:33-35.  “And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.  And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.  So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.”

 

When Edom refused Israel permission to cross their lands, the Israelites had been really bummed out, complaining until God sent the fiery serpents among them, but because they had come that way, they were able to seize a vast area on the East side of the Jordan, even before they crossed into Canaan.  As Romans 8:28 tells us, “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  It was well worth the extra time the journey took. 

 

Forty years before, Israel had been intimidated ty the giants at Arba, later know as Hebron.  In the process of taking the land they had killed Og, the king of Bashan.  Deuteronomy 3:11 describes Og as last of the giants in the area east of Jordan.  “For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.”  His bed was thirteen and a half feet long, implying he was at least twice as tall as an ordinary man.  Killing him had to be a source of encouragement for the Israelites. 

The Same Old Complaints

 When traveling on foot, the availability of water is a major factor in determining where one goes, especially in the desert.  Water was more plentiful along the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba than further out in the desert, so they traveled along the coast then turning eastward at the tip of the gulf to go around the Edomite lands.  Along the way they crossed several small streams.  It was nearly three times as far as it would have been to go across the Edomite land, and people got really discouraged, as Numbers 21:4-5 tells us.  “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

 

The only reason they were going that way was because thirty five years before they had refused to obey God, but their attitude had not changed.  Though they had never missed a meal or gone without water in all that time, they were still griping about the food and the lack of water, accusing Moses of having brought them out there to die.  When people get into a habit of complaining, nothing satisfies them.  God is very patient, but after thirty five years of listening to the same complaints over and over he had had enough, as Numbers 21:6 tells us.  “And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” 

 

When people began to die of the snakebites, the crowd realized their complaints were blasphemy against God and asked Moses to pray that God would take away the snakes, in Numbers 21:7.  “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”

 

As I John 1:9 tells us, God is always willing to forgive us and heal us when we admit our sin and ask him to forgive.  God instructed Moses to put a brass serpent on a pole and that anyone who would make the effort to look at it would survive.  Numbers 21:8-9 describes the results.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

 

All that was required to be healed was enough faith to make the effort to look and one would be healed.  Jesus himself used this incident to illustrate what is required for salvation.  All that is required is to ask for salvation and trust him to do what he promised, but many people think that is too easy and won’t work.  The problem is they aren’t willing to trust him.

God Can Use Even Our Mistakes and Sins

Israel had spent almost forty years in the wilderness.  It was nearing time for them to go into Canaan, and Moses contacted the Edomites, asking permission to cross their land to get to Canaan.  The Edomites were descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau and he expected them to consider that relationship and grant permission, as we see in Numbers 20:14-17.  “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.”

 

Six hundred years before, Jacob had taken advantage of Esau, and while Jacob and Esau later worked things out, Esau’s descendants had never forgotten or forgiven Jacob.  They had not perceived Israel as a thereat when they sent the spies into Canaan, willing to allow them to follow the caravan route, but when Israel revolted after God said they would have to spend their lives in the wilderness, they had invaded Edom, making it clear they were a threat and stirring up the old animosity.  The king refused to even consider their request, in Numbers 20:18.  “And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.”

 

Israel tried to negotiate with him, but the king was adamant, as Numbers 20:19-21 tells us.  “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.  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.

 

Unable to go directly to Canaan, the Israelites swung east to Mount Sinai or Mount Hor where they had camped while they built the Tabernacle.  While they were there, Aaron died, as described in Numbers 20:22-29.  “And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.  Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.

 

And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.  And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.  And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.”

The people spent a month lamenting Aaron’s death at Mount Sinai.  While they were there, a branch of the Canaanites living outside of Canaan under Arad attacked, takins some of them prisoners, as recounted in Numbers 21:1-3.  “And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.  And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.  And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.”

 

God had originally led Israel the way he did because they had no military experience.  During their years in the wilderness, their only other battles had been with the Amalekites when they first left Egypt, in Exodus 17, and their fight with the Amalekites and Canaanites in Numbers 14, when they had been driven all the way to the area known as Hormah.   This time they wiped out the Canaanite cities in Hormah.  They were probably shocked at being attacked, and especially at a time of grief, having just lost both Miriam and Aaron, but they had to go on with life.  Though they didn’t realize it at the time, this conflict helped prepare them for what they would face in coming months and years.

 

Though it was their refusal to obey God that had led to them wasting forty years in the wilderness and being attacked, God used those things to prepare them for the future.   We often forget that he can even use our failures and sin to accomplish his purposes.  He is an all knowing and all powerful God, and is able to incorporate our sin and weakness in his planning.    Israel’s rebellion resulted in their being unable to go directly to Canaan, but as a result they would conquer lands they might not have taken otherwise. 

Repeating Past Mistakes

 After more than thirty years in the wilderness, the Israelites again were in the wilderness of Sin or Zin, where they had been just a couple of months after leaving Egypt, as Numbers 20:1-5 describes.  “Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.  And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.  And the people chided with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!  And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?  And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.”

 

When Israel had come to the place the first time they had only been out of Egypt a few weeks, and were not used to depending on God for their food and water.  They accused Moses and Aaron of just bringing them out into the desert to die, as described in Exodus 17.   God had brought water from the rock for them.   Over thirty years later they had the same attitude, despite having seen God provide for them miraculously every day.   The only reason they were still in the desert was because they had refused to go into the land God had for them, but like most people today, they blamed someone else for their problems.  People can change their attitudes if they want to, but most are not willing to change. 

 

Just as they had the first time, Moses and Aaron sought the Lord’s guidance, in Numbers 20:6-8.  “And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”

 

Knowing what God had told him, Moses gathered the people together, as to see God’s provision once again, in Numbers 20:9-11.  “And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.”

 

Moses was frustrated that after more than thirty years, the people still didn’t trust God to provide for them.  In his frustration, he asked if they had to bring water from the rock again, hitting it twice.  His comments implied that is was he and Aaron who did the miracles rather than God.  Because they took the focus away from God, neither of them would be allowed to enter Canaan, according to Numbers 20:12-13.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.  This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.”

 

When people do not learn and make changes, they repeat the same old mistakes.  For almost forty years, Moses had faithfully served God, but in a moment of frustration because the people had not learned, he threw away his chance of going into the Promised Land.  We need to be careful that we stay focused on the Lord and do not allow frustration or discouragement by other people’s stubbornness in refusing to learn to cause us to sin.