Disappointment to Victory:
Rejection and Death to Victory
Numbers 20:14-21:3
I. Rebelliousness leads to defeat; 20:14-21.
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us. 15 Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, 16 but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory." 18 But Edom answered: "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword." 19 The Israelites replied: "We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot--nothing else." 20 Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. 21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.
As the end of the forty-year period of judgment drew near, an alternate route around Southern Canaan was sought since they had been defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites near that area earlier. The next easiest way to get to Canaan from Kadesh-barnea was to travel straight east, which would have taken them into Edom. Moses sends a diplomatic message to the king of Edom. A brief sketch of Israel's suffering and deliverance was given: the descent into Egypt, the bondage there, and the divine deliverance from that bondage.
They would not pass through their fields or vineyards. Water rights were of great concern in the ancient Near East. The Israelites would presumably bring their own water supply from Kadesh during their brief passage of perhaps two days through the Edomite lands. Hence the appeal was predicated on Israel's not being a burden to Edom or disturbing their agricultural activities.
A cynical disapproval from the Edomite leadership came without any diplomatic subtlety. Israel again vowed to travel the mountainous territory of Edom by the most direct route, that of the main road. They swore they would repay the Edomites for any water they might consume on the way. The Edomites reacted with a show of military force. Not wanting to engage in a battle over undesired territory the Israelites decided to seek another route.
In this account there is no directive from the Lord regarding the diplomatic correspondence. The rejection of Israel by Edom is couched between the two stories of rebelliousness. Sin and rebellion will lead to rejection, denial, and defeat.
II. There are consequences for even one sin; 20:22-29.
22 The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. 23 At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 24 "Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. 26 Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there." 27 Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. 28 Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, 29 and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
Though Aaron would die and be buried outside the Promised Land because of their unholy rebellion at the Waters of Meribah, he would be honored with all the status and dignity afforded the great patriarchs of Israel. Moses led Aaron and Eleazar up on the mountain and there presided over the public ceremonial transference of the high priesthood. This was a momentous and emotional occasion for the nation as they observed from a distance the departure of their first great high priest.
The old era was passing. The generation was nearly gone that had witnessed the numerous miracles of God in Egypt: in the Exodus, at the Red Sea, at Mount Sinai, and all along the journey through the wilderness. Aaron and Moses had connected themselves with the rebellious generation that had to die before the nation could enter the Promised Land by their rebellion against God and what He was doing. The period of mourning was thirty days, whereas others were typically mourned for seven days.
The Israelites showed contempt for the holiness of God, and Moses and Aaron suffered the penalty for their response. As God’s servants, our job is to do what He says and let God be God. By punishing Moses and Aaron, the Lord shows that no amount of human goodness accumulated through past obedience can atone for even one sin. We would still deserve death and eternal separation from God if we only committed one sin. Our good works are never enough. All sin separates us from God. Yet, God’s grace abounds through Jesus Christ and forgiveness is offered to all sinners.
III. A victorious life comes through faith and obedience; 21:1-3.
1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." 3 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.
The opening verse relates an attack by the Canaanites on the approaching Israelites. After the loss of some of their number to the Canaanites, Israel made a vow - a solemn promise to God. The content of this solemn promise to God was that, if He would bring victory to Israel, Israel would destroy them by ban, thus not claiming the spoils of victory for themselves, but for God - the real victory. Israel finally turns to God.
God responded to this vow and gave victory to Israel, and the Israelites put them and their cities to the ban. Because Israel put certain Canaanite cities to the ban the place was called Hormah ("the ban place"), which gives credence to the proposal that the place Hormah was a region.
When we turn to God in faith and obedience, a victorious life is then possible. Yet, we want to try to figure it out ourselves like Israel did in trying to go through Edom.
