AT THE Red Sea God showed that He was for His people Israel and their Egyptian enemy was utterly overthrown, but the serpent of brass shows how the “flesh” is overcome. It was condemned and judged by God in the death of Christ. When the believer realizes this by faith he is able to rise above the circumstances of the wilderness and finds there springs of living water. It isn’t that the wilderness has changed at all, but now he can joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ and sing songs of praise.
So it was after the lesson of the serpent lifted up that Israel really began to make progress on the joey. Earlier in the chapter we read of them journeying by way of the Red Sea, but now they are pitching their tents in the wilderness before Moab, toward the sunrising. If we have learned what it is to have died to sin, to the flesh, through the death of Christ, we too shall find ourselves enjoying in our souls the sunshine of His love while our hearts look and long for His coming.
A few short marches and Israel were at the brooks of Arnon where it appears the Lord must have performed some great and wonderful act of power, for Arnon is linked with His triumphs at the Red Sea. “Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord, What He did in the Red Sea, and in the brooks of Arnon....” It seems as if God, having borne in patience the murmurings, the stubbornness and rebellion of Israel those long forty years, had only been waiting for the opportunity to open up the fountain of His love on them in blessing. So it was that after Moses had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, and they had gone to Arnon, we then read of them going to Beer. “That is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”
Unlike the former occasions when in answer to the people’s murmurings He told Moses to smite the rock and the waters gushed out, here He does not wait to be asked but He promises the water beforehand and tells them the well is at Beer.
How precious to think of God yearning over man throughout the long ages of his sad sinful history, waiting for the opportunity when He could come out and bless him on righteous grounds. The death of Christ provided the occasion for no sooner had Jesus died than the floodgates were opened and the mighty love of God burst forth in saving power and blessing to man wherever he is found. The gospel proclaims that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
God has His own joy in His love and in blessing others; He tells Moses to “Gather the people tether, and I will give them water.”
“Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well.” This looks on to Israel’s future blessing, when God will pour floods upon the thirsty ground, and Israel shall draw water with joy from the wells of salvation” (Isa. 12). But it has a deeper meaning for us, the Church, now for it is our privilege and portion to drink of those living streams of life, to enjoy every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.
ML-03/10/1974