God's people will struggle to be faithful in life's battles.
Numbers 21:1-3 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelite's were approaching on the road through Atharim. So he attacked the Israelite's and took some of them as prisoners. 2 Then the people of Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will hand these people over to us, we will completely destroy all their towns." 3 The LORD heard the Israelite's' request and gave them victory over the Canaanites. The Israelite's completely destroyed them and their towns, and the place has been called Hormah ever since.
The only place the nation of Israel has ever lived since they
became a nation
has been out in the wilderness. The time in the wilderness may seem like a
waste but God didn't let their time in the wasteland go to waste.
God could have taken his people straight out of Egyptian slavery and put
them in a safe place at the border of Canaan or he could have destroyed the
Canaanites himself and put his people in the Promised Land without any
battles and without any casualties.
God has a timeline and a purpose for each chapter of his story. His timeline
moves at a slow pace that is very frustrating and difficult to understand.
Remember how slowly God's promise to Abraham progressed, Abraham was 75
years old already, he had to wait 25 more years for a son and he till had a
small family when he died.
Over six hundred years later God's people have grown enough in size to be
seen as a nation, they have learned about God and now they have established
a military.
| Accomplishments In The Wilderness |
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As they approach Canaan they were not looking for a battle but they didn't
avoid it either, they defended themselves for the first time and God gave
them their first win. (Numbers 21:1–3)
But God's people will go from great victory to great defeat, trusting God
for victory in the battlefield didn't turn into trust in God's goodness in
providing their food but instead of appreciating him they doubt his goodness
again and
bring God's judgment
upon themselves. (Numbers 21:4-9)
God forgave his people and gave them more wins east of the Jordan River in
the territory that would belong to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
This area isn't the wilderness but it isn't the Promised Land either, they
are not home yet as they will realize that the plains of Moab is a place of
battles.
Numbers 21:23-24 But King Sihon refused to let them cross his territory. Instead, he mobilized his entire army and attacked Israel in the wilderness, engaging them in battle at Jahaz. 24 But the Israelite's slaughtered them with their swords and occupied their land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. They went only as far as the Ammonite border because the boundary of the Amorites was fortified.Numbers 21:33-34 Then they turned and marched up the road to Bashan, but King Og of Bashan and all his people attacked them at Edrei. 34 The LORD said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon."
The Israelite's rack up three wins and they haven't even crossed the
Jordan River, they were being attacked while they were trying to get
access to the river to get to the other side.
Victory over Sihon, King of the Amorites (Numbers 21:21–31):
The Israelite's requested safe passage through the territory of Sihon,
king of the Amorites, promising not to plunder or disturb his land. But
Sihon attacked and Israel defeated Sihon and captured his
territory..
It looks like the Amorites have finally experienced the Lord's judgment
that he told us about in Genesis 15:16.
Victory over Og, King of Bashan (Numbers 21:32–35):
It doesn't take long for another battle to come, God's people faced Og,
the king of Bashan and defeated him and his army.
Israel already has a lot of territory outside of the Promised Land just
because they were protecting themselves. With God’s favor, the
Israelite's defeated Arad, Sihon, and Og, despite being outnumbered or
outmatched.
The Lord Is With You
The last time God's people were this close to the Promised Land they lacked the faith to go to war to claim the Promised Land as their own but this time it seems that God is allowing them to experience victory through his strength so that they will trust him.
2 Chronicles 20:17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"
Even after God's people have had many more victories and have taken
possession of the land they will continue to struggle with the idea that
the battle is God's and they can rely on him to ensure another
victory.
But the struggle isn't just for them, it is our struggle, even when it's
much more simple. My faith wavers and I am not homeless in the wilderness,
I have a kitchen full of food and water and I am not dealing with an
approaching military threat.
When God is for me who can be against me? Because of his presence I can
have peace in this troubled world. I should be thankful and have
confidence that the same God that brought me to this trouble will bring me
through and take me to my Promised Land. (John 16:33, Romans 8:31)
