Guiding His People (Num 20:14-22)

1/23/2009 10:50 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                              Focus:  Guiding His people

Bible Reading & Meditation               Reference:  Numbers 20:14-22

            Message of the verses:  “14 ¶  From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to the king of Edom: "Thus your brother Israel has said, ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us; 15  that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly.  16  ‘But when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.

17  ‘Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s highway, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.’"

18  Edom, however, said to him, "You shall not pass through us, or I will come out with the sword against you."  19  Again, the sons of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway, and if I and my livestock do drink any of your water, then I will pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, nothing else."  20  But he said, "You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against him with a heavy force and with a strong hand.  21  Thus Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.

            22 ¶  Now when they set out from Kadesh, the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.”

            As I read over this passage the same question comes up in my mind that has always came up and that is why did not God allow Israel to just destroy Edom and go on through their land?  I think for sure that the reason that this did not happen was it was not in God’s plan at this time to destroy Edom, but it would be latter on that God would destroy them.  I think of Geneses 15 when God told Abraham that it would not be until 400 more years that He would destroy the Amorites because their sin had not yet come to the point where God would judge them for it, and I think that this may have been one of the reasons that God did not destroy Edom at this time.  God dose not take pleasure in destroying people or nations, yet it is because He is just that He must judge sinful nations, and it is all done in His perfect plan.

            Moses may have learned his diplomacy while living in Egypt as this may have been a portion of a letter that he sent to the leader of the Edomites.  Moses called them brothers for they were the sons of Esau who was Jacob’s brother.  Jacob and Esau had problems while they were growing up, but they had settled their differences a long time ago, but Edom was always a thorn in the side of Israel.  People still today do not understand that God chose Israel and will protect her and no people or nation will get away with fighting against Israel just because they are Israel and get away with it, (See Genesis 12:1-2). 

            “The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom— We have heard a report from the LORD, And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, "Arise and let us go against her for battle.’”  This is the first verse in the book of Obadiah which tells about Edom.  Edom was eventually destroyed and there is no one left from that nation today, however Israel is still a nation.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  What I can take away from this section is that God is the One who is and always the One who is in control and He has a plan that will never be blocked by anyone even thought I do not understand it all of the time, and that is where faith comes into play:  I must continue to trust the Lord each day for He is in control and He loves me and He will be looking out for my good and for His glory.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. Continue to learn more about the Lord each day.
2. Continue to learn to be content each day.
3. Continue to trust the Lord to guide my life each day.

Memory verses for the week:                                  Romans 6:1-23

I will work on these memory verses on my own.

1/23/2009 11:19 AM