Numbers 20:12-21:3
As we noticed last week, Moses lost sight of the only way by which God could go on with a weak and failing people. It was through the priesthood, and when Moses used his rod and smote the rock in anger, he failed to sanctify the Lord before the people, as well as spoiling the type. The rock must not he smitten the second time. Moses, however, acted in the spirit of law instead of in grace, and because of this he could not bring the people into the land of promise. They could never enter Canaan on the ground of obedience to the law, but through. the priesthood alone; and so it is only by the priesthood of Christ that we are maintained in our “wilderness journey” until we enter our “promised land”—our home above.
After this the children of Israel came to the borders of the country of Edom, and if they could have passed through their land it would have shortened the journey to Canaan. However, when they asked permission, the Edomites refused, and so they turned away, taking a longer route. Surely there are many difficulties in the way, and often, when it seemingly could be made eaer, God allows us to feel, through the enmity of the world, that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22. Sometimes we must go into actual spiritual conflict, while at other times we are just to turn away, and the Lord will give wisdom for each case if we look to Hint. We would sometimes like to be spared the trouble of seeking His rind in each case, but He wants us to walk quietly with Him and then He teaches us His mind and leads us “by the right way.”
Aaron died in Mt. Hor and the priestly garments were put upon Eleazar his son. The people mourned, but they were soon to enter the promised land, and God was breaking the links that connected then with the wilderness.
Indeed, He often does with us too, through the death of a dear friend and helper in the path of faith.
King Arad then came out to fight against the children of Israel and took some of them prisoners. The children of Israel therefore vowed to the Lord that if He would give them the victor, over these enemies they would destroy them completely. The Lord then heard their prayer and gave them the victory.
We might say here that, as Christains, we should not make vows, for a vow supposes something good and worthy of confidence in the flesh. God says “The flesh profited’ nothing.” John 6:63. We ought to walk daily to please the Lord, and when we walk thus, by the power of the Spirit, we do not need vows. Let us seek to please Him in all we do.
We learn here, however, that we must not make any compromise with the enemy. If someone is known to be the enemy of God, we must not give them any quarter at all. We are told, “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:14, and again, “Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:27. It is often the little things we allow that become snares to us later on. Perhaps some casual or secret friendship with some “enemy of God” which may seem, very trivial, will, in the end, lead us away from the Lord and right into the world. Let us be sure to make a clean break with the world and set out to follow Christ wholeheartedly. It is the only way of blessing and growth.
ML 12/09/1951