Pam Padgett ... teacher
As God led the children of Israel to the land He
had promised them, they encountered enemies who wanted to keep them from
going in the way they were led and to destroy them. But God provided a
way for the children of Israel to go in the way He led them, according
to His will and purpose.
God led them to pass through the land of the Amorites. The king of the
Amorites, Sihon, would not let them pass through, and fought against
Israel. But Israel smote them and possessed their land ...
Numbers 21:21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon
king of the Amorites, saying, 22 Let me pass through thy land: we will
not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of
the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king's high way,
until we be past thy borders. 23 And Sihon would not suffer Israel to
pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and
went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and
fought against Israel. 24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the
sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the
children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.
25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities
of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
The king and people of Bashan also fought against Israel and God led Israel to
fight then. None of Bashan survived, and Israel possessed this land as well ...
Numbers 21:33 And they turned and went up by the way
of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all
his people, to the battle at Edrei. 34 And the Lord said unto Moses,
Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his
people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon
king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. 35 So they smote him, and
his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and
they possessed his land.
But when Moab saw Israel and wanted to drive them out, they were afraid to do so, having seen that they were many and that Israel had defeated the Amorites. Instead, Balak the king of Moab sent messengers to Balaam, offering rewards of divination if he would come curse Israel. Although their armies had not yet come out against Israel, God knew the evil Balak sought against Israel. God dealt with the matter, telling Balaam not to go with the messengers
and curse Israel, for they are blessed ...
Numbers 22:9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are
these with thee? 10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor,
king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11 Behold, there is a people
come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse
me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them
out. 12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou
shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
Balak then sent more and more honorable messengers and promised to give
great honor to Balaam if he would come curse Israel. Balaam desired the rewards offered and wanted to go, and God was very angry with
him. An angel of God was sent, standing in the way and strongly warning Balaam that his way was perverse before God. Balaam was
allowed to go to Moab, but was instructed to speak only the words God
gave him to speak ...
Numbers 22:35 And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with
the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt
speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Balak took Balaam to curse Israel. But each time, the word God gave to Balaam
blessed (instead of cursed) Israel. As God protected Israel, blessing them and not allowing them to be cursed, Balaam looked and saw Israel abiding in their tents, not led by God to go out against Moab (for God had given their land to the children of Lot .. Deut. 2:9), yet wonderfully protected by God ...
Numbers 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
Balak's plans for Balaam to curse Israel failed as God gave Balaam words that blessed Israel. Angered by this, Balaam was sent away ...
Numbers 24:10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.
As with us today, the children of Israel needed
only to do as they were led by God. And God knowing all things including evil planned against His people, dealt with their enemies as
He willed, bringing about His purpose.