Numbers 21:1-35
Q.1. What were the unique features of Israel’s victory over the Canaanites? What is the lesson for us? – (Num.21:1-3)
The wandering Israelites were easy prey for their Canaanite enemies. Some were taken captive (Num.21:1). In response, Israel made a vow to the Lord to utterly destroy their cities, if He gave them victory over the Canaanites (Num.21:2). God heard their promise, and thus they triumphed. Israel then did what they had promised (Num.21:3). The lesson for us is two-fold. God hears our special vows and invariably responds to them. However, we must keep any vows we make to God, for He takes them seriously (c.f. Ecc.5:4-6; Mt.5:33-37).
Q.2. How did God respond to the complaints and Israel’s confession? In what sense was the incident prophetic? – (Num.21:4-9)
Soon Israel became impatient because of the difficulties they encountered on their wilderness journeys. They blamed Moses for their misery. They loathed the food provided by God (Num.21:4-5). As punishment, God sent fiery serpents among them, and many people died (Num.21:6). Soon the people went to Moses and confessed – … We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us (Num.21:7). In response to the intercession of Moses, God did not immediately remove the serpents, but provided a way of escape in the form of a bronze serpent on a pole – … and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived (Num.21:9). It became a symbol of the only way that all mankind can be saved from the punishment for our sin. Jesus applied this to God’s provision of a Saviour from sin, Who would Himself be lifted up to die on the cross – 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die (Jn.12:32-33 c.f. Jn.3:14-16). Our way of escape from the condemnation of sin is to place our trust in the Crucified One (c.f. Acts 4:12).
Q.3. What is the lesson of Israel’s wanderings? Did their experiences increase their faith in God? – (Num.21:10-20)
Israel was never settled while on their forty-year wilderness journeys (Num.21:10-20). This was enshrined in the Feast of Ingathering of the last fruit of the ground each year and was commemorated by building booths (Lev.23:43). It was one of the required convocations to be celebrated at Jerusalem (Ex.23:14-17; Dt.16:16). This Feast will still feature when Israel lives in peace in their land under the reign of Messiah Jesus, during the Millennium, as they remember this difficult journey (Is.4:2-6; Mic.4:4; Zech.14:16-19). On their journey, they at last responded with gratitude for God’s provision (Num.21:16-18).
Q.4. How did God demonstrate to His people that He could give them victory over all their foes? – (Num.21:21-35)
Just as God provided abundant water to refresh the people in the wilderness, so He could be depended on to save them from their oppressors. When the Amorites blocked their way to their border and water, God helped them to dispossess their enemies (Num.21:3). A similar victory was given over the tribes of Bashan and Og, when the Lord encouraged Moses – Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon (Num.21:34 c.f. Num.21:23-26). Though each battle required God’s guidance and was unique, each different foe was defeated. Israel’s stunning victories became legendary (Num.21:27-30 c.f. Josh.2:10). The Promised Land was opening up before them.