In this chapter, God again grants favor to the Israelites even as they continue to complain. It begins with a victory over the Canaanites after the people of Israel asked the Lord for help. This is shortly after Edom refused to let the Israelites pass through their land in chapter 20. Is God softening his heart? As parents, we don’t ever want to see our children suffer. When we have to discipline our children, it, literally, hurts us more than it hurts them. From this perspective, is God different? God is love and He did make us in his own image. (Genesis 1:26-27)
As the Israelites were traveling around the land of Edom, the people, again, started complaining which led God to send poisonous snakes to bite and kill many of them. The people then cried out to Moses and asked him to pray to the Lord to take away the snakes. Moses prayed, and the Lord said, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to the top of a pole. Those who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” (Numbers 21:8-9) This sounds like an idol. How is this any different from the Israelites making a golden calf to worship while Moses was speaking with God on top of a mountain for 40 days? Just thinking aloud.
The Israelites continued their journey into the wilderness and away from Canaan, the land of milk and honey. They eventually arrived on the border of Moab, and again asked to pass through their land, but they were denied and attacked. Again, the Israelites were victorious and they occupied the land of the Amorites. They continued traveling and arrived at Bashan, where they were, again, attacked by the king and his people. The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have given you victory over Og and his entire army, giving you all his land. You will do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites…” (Numbers 21:34)
God is back to favoring His people....or maybe His favor never left!
Lord, thank you for your Word today, and thank you for favoring us even when we don’t deserve it! We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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