The Goodness of God (Num. 21:10-20)

1/27/2009 10:45 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  The goodness of God

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Numbers 21:10-20

            Message of the verses:  “10 ¶  Now the sons of Israel moved out and camped in Oboth.  11  They journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iyeabarim, in the wilderness which is opposite Moab, to the east.  12  From there they set out and camped in Wadi Zered.  13  From there they journeyed and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of 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, And the wadis of the Arnon, 15  And the slope of the wadis That extends to the site of Ar, And leans to the border of Moab."  16  From there they continued to Beer, that is the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Assemble the people, that I may give them water."  17  Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Sing to it!  18  "The well, which the leaders sank, Which the nobles of the people dug, With the scepter and with their staffs." And from the wilderness they continued to Mattanah, 19  and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20  and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the land of Moab, at the top of Pisgah which overlooks the wasteland.”

            This section describes some of the travels of the children of Israel and unlike some of the other descriptions of their travels when they needed food and water there was no more griping about it but there was actually singing over the gift of water.  It is highly unlikely that the well was dug with the leaders staff, but it may have just fit into the poetic song and it is also possible that the Lord gave them this well as another miracle from Him. 

            There will be more to say about Moab in the coming chapters of Numbers, but it is good to remember that the nation of Moab came from the incest between Lot and one of his daughters, and it is also good to remember that Ruth was from Moab and that she is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ which speaks of the grace and wisdom of God. 

            Dr. Wiersbe wrote about the pictures of Jesus Christ that were so far found in Numbers and I think that it is work putting into this SD.  “We’ve seen Him in the manna as the Bread of Life (john 6), and now in the well He’s the giver of the living water (7:37-39).  In the bible, water for drinking is a picture of the Spirit of God, while water for washing is a type of the Word of God (Eph. 5:26-27).  But before Jesus could send the Spirit, He had to die on the cross (john 7:39), which leads us to the uplifted serpent in Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14.  The manna emphasizes His incarnation, the serpent His crucifixion, and the water His ascension and the outpouring of the Spirit.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  One of the things that get my spiritual motor going is to see Jesus Christ in the OT.  I just love the section in Luke 24 starting at verse thirteen where two of Jesus’ disciples were walking to the village of Emmaus and Jesus came walking along with them and during that seven mile walk He began to exposit on the teachings of the OT that showed how He had to die and then be resurrected.  If there is one trip that I would have loved to be on that would be the trip, just to listen to the Lord speak of Himself as pictured in the OT would be so wonderful to me.  That is one of the reasons that I enjoy studying the OT so much.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. To learn more of God.
2. To learn contentment.
3. To trust the Lord to guide my path each day.

Memory verses for the week:                                  Review Romans six.

1/27/2009 11:15 AM