Brings us to what is perhaps one of the best-known events in the book of Numbers – The serpent in the wilderness. However, there is a bit of background to look at before we get there.
They are not yet in the Promised Land, but their first encounter (v1-3) is with King Arad, a Canaanite dwelling in the south who fought against Israel and took some prisoner. Israel made a vow to the Lord that if He delivered them into their hands, they would destroy their cities and wipe them out. The Lord did so, and they called the place Hormah (which means destruction). We have seen when we walked through the book of Judges that it is not always wise to make vows, however, God was faithful in this one.
It seems that Israel’s idea was that cities which were destroyed was their way of giving them to God so that no-one else could occupy them. They had been to Hormah before (14:45) when their enemies defeated them when they had presumed that they could take the Promised Land without God, which was folly in the extreme. This time God has brought them there and given them victory. That’s the big difference.
They continued their journey (v4,5) around the land of Edom having been denied access through it, and, once again, the people complained at the lack of food and water and the manna God provided. It was a long detour around Edom, and they were discouraged but they had to trust God and they weren’t. In fact, it seems that this time they were complaining about God and not just Moses and that was serious! God acted and sent fiery serpents among them which bit the people, and many died (v6). This was to get their attention because they were near to the Promised Land and disobedience would mean that they could not enter.
They obviously realised the seriousness of the situation and came to Moses (v7-9) and said, “We have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” They quickly realised the problem, no saying “Why have you brought us here”, this time, quite simply, “We have sinned….” They knew where the answer was. Moses prayed for the people. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole, and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” Moses did so and everyone who was bitten, when he looked at it, lived.” I don’t know if there is any significance about Moses making it out of bronze apart from indicating judgment on evil as to make bronze one has to put it through the fire. In a way it was simple, but it did require belief and faith to look at it and failure to do so meant death. I wonder how many thought it stupid to look and expect healing?
I said initially that this was probably the best-known incident in this book. The reason being that Jesus referred to it in John 3:14-15, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Jesusclearly indicated that there was an amazing similarity between this incident and Him being nailed to the cross for our salvation and that we need faith and trust to look to Him to be saved. Is this the simplicity of the Gospel? The prophet Isaiah says (45:22), “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”
We might be confused that Moses was was told to make a bronze serpent when the commandment stated that images were forbidden. God clearly commanded this, so it was no idol, but even this became an idol because in
2 Kings 18:4 King Hezekiah broke it in pieces because the people were worshiping it. We can be guilty of making an idol out of something good an innocent.
Tradition has come down to this very day, that this was a means of healing. Have you noticed an ambulance? What is the picture on every one? A serpent wrapped round a pole.
The Children of Israel continued on their journey and camped at Oboth. From Oboth to Ije Abarim in the wilderness east of Moab and from there and camped in the Valley of Zered. This was a steady movement (v10-20) and they camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth, in the valley that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the wasteland.
There is reference to ‘The book of the wars of the Lord’. Some would say that this means the bible is incomplete because this is not included in our bible. However, it does not mean that the mention of it means it is inspired and has been omitted. You may recall the Paul quotes a poet in Acts 17:28 but the mere quoting of it does not mean it should be considered that everything the poet said should be included.
“Then Israel sent messengers (v21-23) to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.”
Sihon wouldn’t allow them to pass through just as the Edomites wouldn’t. Sihon attacked the Israelites. It is interesting to note in Deuteronomy 2:30 we are told that “Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand.” Thus, it was God’s doing so that Israel would defeat him.
Then Israel defeated him (v24-32) and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. So, Israel took all these cities, and dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its villages. For Sihon king of the Amorites, had fought against the former king of Moab, and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon. The land of the Amorites continued to be Israel’s possession and became the inheritance of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh.
From the land of the Amorites, Moses sent out men to spy Jazer; and it seems that they soon took the villages and drove out the Amorites. God, in His mercy, was preparing them for the big battles in Canaan. God often leads us in this way, giving us little victories to prepare us for something bigger. We must trust Him.
Now they go up to Bashan and Og the king of Bashan attacked them at Edrei. (v33-35). The Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.” This land again becomes part of Israel as God had given them victory.
