Israel Confronted By Edom
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
1/16/2011 PM
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Text:
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Numbers 20:14-21
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Psalters: |
318, 72, 106, 229 |
- Israel’s request.
- God spoke to Moses indicating He was leading Israel around the Dead Sea through the land of Esau’s children.
- God alerted Moses that Edom would be afraid of Israel (Deut. 2:2ff).
- Moses makes request for the right and privilege to pass through their land (14-17).
- Moses’ request includes arguments to induce Edom to comply with their request.
- First, we are “thy brother,” the descendants of twins, closely akin naturally.
- Second, have sympathy and pity for his brother because of the cruel afflictions endured from the Egyptians.
- Third, Israel had the help of Jehovah Who heard their cries.
- The king of Edom refused to give Israel passage twice and even with a show of force (18,20).
- The root was deep-seated hatred, though Edom could give some reasons (Psalm 137:7; Obadiah 10ff).
- The reprobate (seed of the serpent) always have this deep animosity against the seed of the woman.
- This was rooted in the relationship of Esau and Jacob.
- The world (consciously or unconsciously) always stands in the way of the church.
- The world is a willing and ready instrument of Satan.
- The church must pass through this world on its way to the heavenly promised land.
- We must have a spiritual posture, testifying that we are pilgrims and strangers passing through (Ps. 39:12).
- God has purposes which give meaning to the events of this lfe (instead of being accidents or the will of man).
- God desired to give to Israel much room - on the east side of Jordan as well.
- Israel was not yet ready to enter Canaan and the Edomites were not yet ripe for judgment (cf. Deut. 23:7,8; Ruth).
- God would have the way of His people to be one of tribulation, not one of ease.
- Let us realize that ultimately there is no barring of th church from the promised land.