# 29 2026 Dev. Numbers 21. Connquest and Punishment! Read all of chapter twenty-one first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Nu. 21. In this chapter God allows the Israelites to attack people who oppose them, but they have not learned anything about being thankful for God’s care, or God’s promise to give them land.
Vs.1-3 “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.” The Israelites vowed to dedicate Arad, his people and towns to the Lord; Arad and all that was his was destroyed.
The Bronze Snake.
Vs. 4-9 “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom.” The people complained, “There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” They were talking about manna. What did they think would happen? God had been bringing them food every morning and their clothes and sandals did not wear out. “Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.” The people came to Moses and said we have sinned, pray for us. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’” Jesus mentions this event as foreshadowing of faith in Jesus on the cross, that whoever believed on Him would be saved. Jn. 3:16-18
The Journey to Moab
Vs.10-20. “The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth.” On to “Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab toward the sunrise.” On to the Zered Valley, and they “camped alongside the Arnon, which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory… That is why the Book of the Wars of the Lord says:. . . Zahab in Suphah and the ravines, the Arnon and the slopes of the ravines that lead to the settlement of Ar and lie along the border of Moab. From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the Lord said to Moses, ‘Gather the people together and I will give them water.”’ They avoided Moab all together as they avoided Edom because of their blood ties, Esau and Lot.
The Defeat of Sihon and Og
Vs.21-36. “Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites: ‘Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.’” But they would not allow them to pass and wanted to prevent them by sending out the army. Israel engaged and defeated them and occupied their land. “Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.” After the Israelites captured the settlements surrounding Jazar, “they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Do not be afraid of him… So, they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.”’ This was God’s plan, to give the land of Canaan to His people, a promise starting with Abraham. God also addressed the sexual abominations of the people of Canaan, including child sacrifices. What does God think about our country today? How do you see it?
© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.
Heavenhigh 