The Power of God (Num. 21:1-3)

1/25/2009 10:12 PM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  The Power of God

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Numbers 21:1-3

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, then he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.  2  So Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, "If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities."  3  The LORD heard the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities. Thus the name of the place was called Hormah.”

            Chapter twenty-one of Numbers begins a new chapter in Dr. Wiersbe’s book, “Be Counted,” and his chapter only cover chapter twenty-one which is not usually the way things are written in his book, as many times there are more than one chapter of Numbers covered in Dr. Wiersbe’s book.  The title of this chapter is “Marching in Victory and Defeat.”

            After the thirty days of mourning for Aaron were complete Israel was on the march again and evidently there was a battle in which some of there troops were taken captive and so Israel did the right thing and cried out to the Lord and then they made a vow to Him that if God would give them victory they would destroy all of their cities, that is the Canaanite cities.  God heard their prayer and gave victory to the nation of Israel and they kept their vow and utterly destroyed them and their cities. 

            In verse one the word Atharim is used in the NASB and the NIV, while in the KJV it is translated “by way of the spies.”  It is unclear as to how this should be translated for it could mean that this was the way that the spies went thirty-eight years earlier or it could be the name of a city.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have made two vows to the Lord in my life time and one was to read the Bible at least for five minutes a day of which I missed less than ten days since making that vow in October of 1978.  The second vow was to pray at least five minutes a day and I have probably missed more times than the other vow since October of 1978.  I almost made another vow but was cautioned by Pastor Burns about making too many vows and did not do it and am I ever thankful for his advice.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. Learn more about the Lord.
2. Learn to be content.
3. Learn to trust the Lord to guide my path each day.

1/25/2009 10:32 PM