Saturday, March 28, 2020

Journeys and Victories

Numbers 21:10-35 
    10 Now the children of Israel moved on and camped in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, in the wilderness which is east of Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD:
   
    “Waheb in Suphah,
    The brooks of the Arnon,
    15 And the slope of the brooks
    That reaches to the dwelling of Ar,
    And lies on the border of Moab.”
16 From there they went to Beer, which is the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song:

    “Spring up, O well!
    All of you sing to it—
    18 The well the leaders sank,
    Dug by the nation's nobles,
    By the lawgiver, with their staves.”
And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth, in the valley that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the wasteland.
    21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 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. 25 So Israel took all these cities, and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs say:

    “Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
    Let the city of Sihon be repaired.
    28 “For fire went out from Heshbon,
    A flame from the city of Sihon;
    It consumed Ar of Moab,
    The lords of the heights of the Arnon.
    29 Woe to you, Moab!
    You have perished, O people of Chemosh!
    He has given his sons as fugitives,
    And his daughters into captivity,
    To Sihon king of the Amorites.
    30 “But we have shot at them;
    Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon.
    Then we laid waste as far as Nophah,
    Which reaches to Medeba.”
31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 32 Then Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.   33 And they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. So Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 Then the LORD 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.” 35 So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.

Israel continued on their journey towards the promised land, were de keper passage on the King’s Highway, and fought for victory against the Amorites.  They composed and sang songs of the victories, but did not directly attribute them to the LORD.  Nonetheless, they went on to another victory over Jazer given at God’s command.  They were told to not fear, but fight, being promised victory over their enemies, then taking the land for themselves.  We see a spiritual parallel in our leading by God’s Spirit in Christ for the gospel’s sake; we have victory (1 Corinthians 15:57, 1 John 5:4, Revelation 15:2), are told to fight the good fight without fear (1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7, Revelation 2:10, John 14:27).  We are to journey as in a race for a prize (1 Corinthians 9:26, Hebrews 12:1, Philippians 3:12-14), the prize of God’s Call in Christ to eternal life in His presence!  That is our promised country (Hebrews 11:16).  

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