Beginning in Numbers 20, Moses documents the happenings during the 40th year of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness. Because of their disobedience and complaining against God, the older generation had been sentenced to die before entering ever entering the land of Canaan (Numbers 14). Moses and Aaron, the leaders of Israel, were also sentenced to die in the wilderness because of their disobedience to God at Kadesh (Numbers 20). At the conclusion of Numbers 20, Aaron dies and the people mourn for him 30 days (Numbers 20:23-29). Although they often complained against Aaron, the people loved him and knew that his death was a great loss for Israel. Israel was currently encamped at Mount Hor because the king of Edom refused to allow them passage through his land (Numbers 20:14-21). When the king of Arad (a Canaanite) learned that Israel was traveling the road to Atharim (place unknown), he fought against Israel and took some of them as prisoners (21:1). Out of desperation, Israel made a vow to the Lord saying, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities” (21:2). God answered their request and Israel destroyed them and their cities (21:3).
Israel traveled from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea so they could completely avoid Edom, where the king had threatened them earlier (Numbers 20:14-21). While they were on this lengthy journey, the people became discouraged which caused them to speak against God and Moses saying, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread” (21:4-5). As a punishment for their complaints, God sent fiery serpents to bite the people and many of them died (21:6). Upon seeing this judgment of God, the people came to Moses saying, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us” (21:7). Moses prayed on behalf of the people and the Lord commanded him to set a fiery serpent on a pole so that anyone who would look on it would live (21:8). ”So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived” (21:9). The apostle John referenced this incident in John 3:14-15. In the same way people had to look to the bronze serpent to live, sinners would need to look to Jesus Christ’s death on the cross to live.
Israel made their way around Edom and Moab and then camped on the north side of the Arnon River, which was in the land of the Amorites (21:10-20). From there Israel sent messengers to the king Sihon asking him to allow safe passage through their territory; however, he refused and fought against Israel (21:21-23). ”Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. So Israel took all these cities, and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its villages” (21:24-25). While Israel was dwelling in the land of the Amorites, Moses sent out spies to Jazer and they ended up taking their villages and driving the Amorites out of the city (21:31-32). Israel then went up to Bashan, but the King Og gathered his people to battle against them in Edrei (21:33). The Lord then said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon” (21:34). Upon hearing these words from God, the Israelites defeated their enemies and took possession of King Og’s land (21:35). With these victories accomplished, Israel now occupied all the Transjordan between the Arnon River and Mount Hermon and east up until the land of the Ammonites. Israel was now ready to move into the plains of Moab so that they could begin their attack on Canaan. God was beginning to show Israel that obedience to His ways would bring victory.
Dear God, help me to carefully follow Your ways so that I might not miss what You have planned for me.
