AM Bible Study Group; August 18, 2010
Numbers 21:1-35
Theme: This chapter describes the events surrounding the conquests of the people of Israel over the eastern territories of the promised land.
The long, forty-year wandering was over. It was now time for the people to begin to enter—and lay hold of—the promised land. This chapter details how God helped the people resume where they had left off; and describes how they entered and conquered the eastern portions of the promised land.
I. DELIVERY AT HORMAH (vv. 1-3).
A. The story begins with the events that occurred at the place where the people had failed to enter the land in the first place. After they had disobeyed God in not entering the land when He commanded them to, the Canaanite peoples drove them back to Hormah in humiliating defeat (Numbers 14:45). And now, at this same place, the king of Arad heard about Israel’s approach and went out to attack (v. 1).
B. Israel made a vow; saying that, if He would deliver this people to their hand, they would not make the same mistake they made before but will indeed destroy them (v. 2). The Lord listened and delivered them to the Israelites. Thus, this place came to be called “Hormah”, which means “Destruction” (v. 3). God is, indeed, the God of second chances!
II. FIERY SERPENTS (vv. 4-9).
A. Sadly, however, the people were still far from perfect. This second generation fell into the sin of complaining that often characterized the first generation. After the great victory over the king of Arad, the people moved southwardly to avoid conflict with the Edomites (see 20:14-21); and they complained against Moses about the manna (vv. 4-5). In response, God sent fiery serpents among them (perhaps “fiery” in the sense that their bite left a burning wound that killed). The New Testament speaks of this as a warning to us against complaining against God (1 Corinthians 10:9).
B. God commanded Moses to make a bronze replica of one of the serpents (perhaps ‘bronze’ because of it’s fiery red color); and hold it up on a pole. This was not to prevent anyone from being bit, but rather to save those who had already been bitten. All who looked were saved. The New Testament also presents this to us as a picture of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ (see John 3:14-15; see also Romans 8:3). Jesus became the curse for us; and if we look to Him by faith, we are saved.
III. JOURNEYS THROUGH MOAB (vv. 10-19).
A. The children of Israel then traveled through the region of Moab. Moab (along with Ammon) were the children of Lot’s incestuous relationships with his daughters (see Genesis 18:30-38). Note that a book—one which God has not chosen to preserve for our day—is quoted to show how Moab and Ammon border one another (see vv. 14-15).
B. God did not give Moab to Israel; but He did permit them to be refreshed there (vv. 16- 18). From the sin of complaint came the pardon of grace; and then came the refreshing that gave power for obedience.
VI. VICTORIES OVER EASTERN KINGS (vv. 20-35).
A. The remaining portions of the chapter deal with the conquest of the two major kings of the eastern areas. First, King Sihon attacked the people of Israel (vv. 21-32). Israel offered to simply pass through; but when Sihon attacked, God gave his land over to Israel. As it turns out, Israel didn’t need to conquer Moab; because Ammon had already done so for them! The words of the proverb that commemorated this victory (vv. 27-30) were quoted later in Jeremiah 48:45.
B. Second, Og the king of Bashan went out against them. Interestingly, Og was a giant (see Deuteronomy 3:11); and it was giants like him that caused the first generation to fear to enter and take the land (see Numbers 13:33). And just as God had given Ammon over to Israel, He likewise gave the kingdom of Og over to them. Note that, by this time, all that God needed to say to them was, “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” (v. 34).
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There’s a progression in all this that teaches us about our own walk with Christ. We, like the people of Israel, often fail in disobedience and suffer the consequences of sin. But our gracious God gives us a second chance. We suffer for our sins; but He sent a Redeemer—made like us to bear our curse; and when we look to Him, we are saved. He then sends us the refreshing water of the Holy Spirit, and gives us the power to conquer in His name.
THE CONQUEST OF THE EAST in Numbers 21 (PDF)