Israel Confronted By Edom

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Numbers 20:14-21
Psalters: 318, 72, 106, 229
  1. Israel’s request.
    1. God spoke to Moses indicating He was leading Israel around the Dead Sea through the land of Esau’s children.
      1. God alerted Moses that Edom would be afraid of Israel (Deut. 2:2ff).
      2. Moses makes request for the right and privilege to pass through their land (14-17).
    2. Moses’ request includes arguments to induce Edom to comply with their request.
      1. First, we are “thy brother,” the descendants of twins, closely akin naturally.
      2. Second, have sympathy and pity for his brother because of the cruel afflictions endured from the Egyptians.
      3. Third, Israel had the help of Jehovah Who heard their cries.
  2. The king of Edom refused to give Israel passage twice and even with a show of force (18,20).
    1. The root was deep-seated hatred, though Edom could give some reasons (Psalm 137:7; Obadiah 10ff).
      1. The reprobate (seed of the serpent) always have this deep animosity against the seed of the woman.
      2. This was rooted in the relationship of Esau and Jacob.
    2. The world (consciously or unconsciously) always stands in the way of the church.
      1. The world is a willing and ready instrument of Satan.
      2. The church must pass through this world on its way to the heavenly promised land.
      3. We must have a spiritual posture, testifying that we are pilgrims and strangers passing through (Ps. 39:12).
  3. God has purposes which give meaning to the events of this lfe (instead of being accidents or the will of man).
    1. God desired to give to Israel much room - on the east side of Jordan as well.
    2. Israel was not yet ready to enter Canaan and the Edomites were not yet ripe for judgment (cf. Deut. 23:7,8; Ruth).
    3. God would have the way of His people to be one of tribulation, not one of ease.
    4. Let us realize that ultimately there is no barring of th church from the promised land.