Once again, the main outline is from the Open Bible, slightly edited.
The Battle at Hormah
Arad the Canaanite took some of the Israelites captive. They prayed and the Lord delivered up the Canaanites into their hands. They called the battle ground Hormah (v.1-3).
Difficult trip around Edom
They went south toward the Red Sea to go around Edom (see map). The way was difficult and discouraging (v.4). The people spoke against Moses (v.5). They lacked water and despised their manna (light bread). The Hebrew word translated “light” means worthless, miserable, or unappetizing. CWSD To punish their complaining, God sent fiery snakes among them, and many people died (v.6). BDB Lexicon explains that these fiery snakes were poisonous serpents (fiery, describing the burning effect of poison).
This plague finally broke the rebels, and they confessed their sin of speaking against the Lord, and they asked Moses to pray for them (v.7).
God told Moses to make a brass snake that looked like the serpents and put it up on a pole. All who by faith in God looked at it would be healed of their bite (v.8-9).
Travels continue toward Moab.
They travelled northward to Arnon (v.10-15). Several commentators that I read believe that there was a significant victorious battle that took place here. The Lord showed Himself strong as He had before at the Red Sea.
Water from God
At a place called Beer, the Lord directed them to dig a well from which they got water to drink (v.16-20).
Battle with Sihon, king of the Amorites
Israel requested permission to pass through the land, however, Sihon refused (v.21-23). Instead, he attacked Israel. God blessed Israel and they defeated him and his armies and took all of their cities (v.24-32).
Battle with Og, king of Bashan
Going north, near Galilee, they reached Bashan and king Og led his armies against them (v.33-35). Og was a huge giant. His bed was 4.1 m long (Deu 3:1-11). Some think that Sihon’s land was from Arnon River north to the Jabbok River and that Bashan was north of the Jabbok River. God helped Israel and they defeated Og and took all his land.
Principles for Us Today
Why is it that God must resort to some sort of trials in our lives before we will confess our sins and beg for His mercy?
What N.T. passage speaks of the brass snake? ___________
God’s solution for bitten rebels was to look and live. His solution for sin today is just as simple.
What affect do you think that victory over Sihon and Og had on Israel? ____________ __________________ __________________
