Numbers 21 SET FORWARD For many years the Israelites had been waiting and dying. Finally, the next generation was ready to gain and possess the land of promise. This time the first event following the refusal of Edom to allow them to cross their territory was that the same people who had defeated them thirty-seven years earlier, came against them again. This time however Israel had made their vows, their commitment to keep the pledges and obligations to the Lord, ahead of time. The same people at the same place who had defeated the first generation, were defeated by the second generation of Israelites. The thoughtless attitude of the first generation was the result of them not being faithful to God in their spirits, not willing to obey God, and they forgot the blessings of God. The 78th Psalm had been learned by then perhaps. At least the next generation had their first victory at Hormah. This beginning of a series of victories should have cheered them on the long road around Edom, but instead they became "much discouraged because of the way."
Our expectations are often very different than God's plans. If all we had were miraculous victories, we would learn nothing of the faithfulness of God. It wouldn't be long before we began to think we were entitled to a road of ease and easy victories through life. We probably learn more about ourselves and God during the times of long journeying through a dry wilderness, then in the quick flush of victory. During the times of dryness and tedium we learn who we really are and what is really important. Do we ever get to the place where "our soul loatheth this light bread" of the Word of God? Do we turn to other sources that seem much more exciting and active? Do we find ourselves spending more time getting our thoughts from the writing of men than meditating by ourselves on what God has written? That is when God's people fail and speak against God and those God has chosen to lead them. When that happens, the consequences are severe.
The long journey around Edom led the children of Israel to the Gulf of Aqaba where their complaint, and dissatisfaction with God's provision resulted in the plague of venomous snakes. God had acted on behalf of His people, but now they again were moved by the temptation of the world, the source of their dissatisfaction
- the devil, and their own discontented nature - the flesh. When these three enemies of the people of God unite, there is a great loss and grave consequences that lead to death. The awakening of conscience and the confession of sin opens the way for God to act in mercy and grace. In mercy He had Moses make a serpent of brass and put it on a pole so it was able to be seen by all who would obey the word of grace - "look and be healed." The metal form of a serpent was not a healing potion. Healing came by obeying the word of the Lord and "by grace ye are saved, through faith." That is still the way the sin-sick soul today is healed. The murmuring led to the bite of the serpents. Confession, "We have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord," led to God's revealed grace.
The Lord Jesus Christ when He was here used this same incident to illustrate the new birth. When a person admits to their guilt and inability to save themselves from sin and its consequences, they are to look by faith to Christ on the cross. The sacrifice He made was evidence of the love of God that was demonstrated when "Christ died for us." The cross doesn't save a soul. The Savior saves us when we look to Him by faith and accept Him. What he has done for us, is what saves us by the grace of God. New life and peace come through a look at Jesus by each individual person. Each one has the privilege to look and live.
Many Israelites died because of the venom of the snakes, but many lived because they looked at the brazen serpent. For some reason the Israelites kept the metal image of a serpent and it became a stumbling block to them in later years. They actually used it as an object of worship when Israel turned to paganism. In the time of revival under Hezekiah the king, it was finally destroyed. Strangely the cross itself has been duplicated in many forms and people venerate the symbol of Christ's death for sin. The Lamb of God who bore away the sin of the world is how life is imparted to people today. Yet most people ignore the work the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished by His death. He died that we might live. By looking to Him in faith, "Look and live," becomes a reality. The new birth begins a new life. That new life is characterized by faithful living for God in difficult times as well as victories.
The Israelites moved east of Edom toward Moab where the descendants of Lot lived. Both the Moabites and Ammonites, though descendants of Abraham's nephew, became enemies of the seed of Abraham. There were fertile fields in Moab as well as high hills of which Mount Nebo. where Moses saw the land, was the highest peak. The book of wars recorded in songs and poems, the battles of Israel and the victories God gave them. The practice of remembering the ways of God with us including the spiritual victories is still important in the lives of the people of God. To go back over the life of an assembly is a benefit to those who have been added to the number in the recent past. Going back over a life of living by faith will be a benefit to our children and grandchildren. Seemingly small incidents in life such as the digging of a well and finding water were important to the Israelites. They even wrote a song about it. We never know what might resonate in the life of one of our descendants and be used by God to bring them to faith in Him, or increase their faith. The gift of water from a well would be highly prized in a dry wilderness. God working with us in spite of the pressures of an ungodly world can be a blessing that is remembered for a long time.
The Amorites had taken over the kingdom of Moab before the Israelites got there. Perhaps Sihon, the king, thought he would be able to intimidate the Israelites or defeat them in battle, but by this time the people of God had begun to realize God was for them and with them. For any of us to think we are strong enough in ourselves to defeat the enemies arrayed against the kingdom of God, is not only foolish, but arrogant. One wrote, "He that is down need fear no fall. He that is low no pride. He that is humble shall ever have God to be his guide."
Not only were the Amorites defeated and their land taken over by the children of Israel, but also Og, king of Bashan and that kingdom. The property claimed on the east of the Jordan River went north to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. Even though Og was a giant of a man, and the forces against Israel were great, God working for His people is greater than anything, or people who oppose divine purposes. We may not always know why adverse things happen to us, and we live for years in a dry wilderness. God is able to change everything in a very short time. When all seems lost, God is able to bring a surprising victory. Even though the opposition to our faith seems strong, our faith, though feeble, trusts in the One who can do what we cannot do and bring victory out of seeming defeat.