God’s protection

 

 

READ Numbers 21–24

This reading is filled with spiritual significance. The first event describes what happened right after a physical battle against the Canaanites. Israel won and moved on, but the people started griping about food and water. At that, God sent “fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.”

The people were beginning to realize ‘cause and effect’ and saw their need to repent. They came to Moses 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.”

At that, Moses prayed for the people and the Lord told him: “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. (Numbers 21:4–9)

The NT compares the lifting up of the serpent and being rescued from death to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14–15)

Receiving eternal life changes everything. This is also noted in the OT narrative that follows this event. Israel was on the move into enemy territory now with God’s blessing on their repentance. They lived in the land of the Amorites and captured territory there. When Og the king of Bashan came out against them, the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Hishon.” Og was defeated and all his people with no survivors and Israel possessed his land. (Numbers 21:31–35)

Moab was fearful as they watched this advance. Balak, their king, sent messengers to Balaam, a pagan prophet with this: “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” (Numbers 22:4–6)

God had other ideas. He put in the head of Balaam a surprising answer. He said: “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”

God allowed him to go, but he must say only what God told him to say. Eventually, and after some supernatural persuasion, Balaam wound up resisting several requests to curse God’s people and instead blessed them. The reading is long and obviously reveals the power of the Holy Spirit over even the most pagan and religious people who would not otherwise heed the Lord God. Balaam was empowered to speak for God and he even insisted that he must do so:

And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.” And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth? . . . . God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.” (Numbers 23:11–12; 19–20)

Balaam was also led by God to tell Balak what would happen in the future — that Israel would defeat him. Even this sounds like a prophecy concerning Christ:

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!” Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.” (Numbers 24:17–20)

For me, the practical application is trusting God who protects all who look to Christ for salvation from sin and from that old snake, Satan. Jesus changes lives and attitudes as He takes care of our needs. He is also able to control the words and actions of those who oppose Him and us. I am blessed and safe in His care!