Numbers 21-22

What I Noticed Today (Numbers 21-22)

Numbers 21

In Numbers 21, after their period of mourning the death of Aaron, the Israelites set out toward Canaan.

In verses 1-3, the Canaanite king of Arad heard the Israelites were coming his way, so he fought against Israel and captured some prisoners.

• The Israelites made a vow to the Lord that they would utterly destroy the Canaanites if the Lord would give them victory.
• The Lord listened to their plea and gave them a complete victory, and the Israelites named the place Hormah (“destruction”).

In verses 4-9, the Israelites sinned once again by speaking against Moses and God.

• They were unhappy with the lack of water and despised the manna that God had been providing for all their years in the desert.
• Rather than warning them, God immediately sent judgment in the form of poisonous snakes.
• For the first time, the people admitted their sin and asked Moses to pray to God to intercede on their behalf.
• The Lord instructed Moses to make a pole with a snake on top, and when anyone was bitten if they looked to the pole, they would survive.

In verses 10-20, the Israelites traveled to Moab:

• The Israelites set out from Oboth and camped in the wilderness on the east side of Moab. From there, they traveled to the Zered Valley. From there, they traveled to Arnon River on the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.

• The Israelites went to Beer where according to the song, God miraculously provided water once again, but this time by having the leaders dig a well with their scepters.

• From Beer, the Israelites traveled to the wilderness of Mattanah, then to Nahaliel, to Bamoth, and on to the valley in the wilderness near the Pisgah highlands

In verses 21-35, the Israelites encountered the Amorites, who were descendants of Noah’s son Ham through Canaan.

• They asked permission to pass through the land on the King’s Highway.
• The king of Sihon refused to give them permission and came out against the Israelites with his army.
• God gave Israel victory over the Amorites.
• They took possession of the land from Arnon up to the Ammonite border.
• The Israelites lived in the cities, including Heshbon, the city of Sihon king of the Amorites.

• Next, the Israelites came up against the people of Og, king of Bashan, and God gave the Israelites victory over Bashan. The Israelites took possession of the land of Bashan. (see also Deuteronomy 31:1-11)

Numbers 22

In Numbers 22, we are introduced to Balaam. Balaam was a Gentile soothsayer or prophet who made his living by making predictions. The leaders of Moab and Midian tried to hire Balaam to curse Israel so they could defeat the Israelites.

In verses 1-4, the Israelites left Heshbon and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho. The Moabites were terrified of the Israelites.

In verses 4b-8, Balak, king of Moab, sent a message to Balaam asking him to come and put a curse on the Israelites so that he would be able to defeat them. When the messengers arrived, Balaam told them to spend the night, and he would tell them what the Lord said in the morning.

In verses 9-12, God comes to Balaam and spoke to him directly. God told him not to go with these people, and not curse the Israelites because they are blessed.

In verses 13-21, Balaam followed God’s directions and refused to go with the men or to curse the Israelites:

• When Balaam refuses to curse the Israelites, Balak sent messengers of higher rank to offer Balaam even more money to put a curse on the Israelites.
• Balaam says there is no amount of money to convince him to go against the command of the Lord my God. He tells the messengers to spend the night, and once again, he will consult with God.
• God came to Balaam that night and told him he could go with the men but only do what I (God) tell you.

• The next morning, without waiting for the men to come to him, Balaam set off with his donkey to meet the men of Moab.

In verses 22-35, Balaam journeys to meet with Balak:

• God was angry that Balaam was going, so God sent an angel to stand in Balaam’s path.
• His donkey could see the angel, but Balaam could not.
• Twice, the donkey turned away to avoid the angel, and Balaam beat the donkey.
• Finally, they got to a place in the path that was too narrow for the donkey to turn to the side, so the donkey laid down, and Balaam beat the donkey a third time.
• The angel opened the mouth of the donkey who spoke to Balaam (imagine what the king’s officials, Balaam, and his servants thought of a talking donkey!).
• The Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel with the drawn sword.
• The angel accused Balaam of having a perverse heart (he was only in it for the money). Balaam admitted his sin and said he would return if what he was doing was evil.
• The angel tells Balaam to go on but to be careful only to say what God tells him to say!

In verses 36-41, Balaam meets with Balak:

• Balak heard Balaam was coming he went out to meet him at the border of his territory.
• Balaam defended his delay saying he could only speak what the Lord tells him. He must speak only the message God puts in his mouth.

• Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth, where Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep.
• The next morning Balak took Balaam to Bamoth-baal on the outskirts of the people’s camp.

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• So often, I behave like the Israelites! I take for granted the blessings that God provides. Then sometimes I behave like Balaam – I obey part of what God tells me, but not everything.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Numbers 23-25