Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting 2-11-26

Review

Last week, we saw a Canaanite king executed a surprise attack on Israel and took some of them prisoners. Israel was in a bind because they had rejected the LORD but they wanted their loved ones back also and only God could do that. So they prayed. God, in his grace, heard their request even though they didn’t deserve it and he gave Israel a complete military victory over King Arad.

Introduction

Turn to and read Numbers 21:4-7.

Next slide here: map of Israel’s journey north

Where were they traveling from? From Mount Hor (where Aaron died in Numbers 20:29)

What were they trying to do on this part of the journey? Go around the land of Edom

Look at the map. This is rather crazy what they were doing. They were making a gigantic loop. That would be inconvenient for one person or for a family to do, now imagine trying to do it with a couple million people!

Describe the region which they were travelling. It is complete desert - Dr. Dillion’s description of the drive to Eilat.

For context, when Aaron died on Mount Hor, they had been in the wilderness for forty years.

The million dollar question: why were they going around Edom? Why not go through it?

Turn to and read Numbers 20:14-22

So why were they going around Edom? Because Edom refused to give them permission.

What effect did this extended trip through the desert have on the people? They were discouraged

In Numbers 20:14-21, Moses tried hard to get permission to to pass through Edom, but he was not successful. God, for whatever reason, did not allow that to happen.

Israel had to travel approximately 100 miles around the kingdom of Edom and it was through desert. Not a pleasant walk.

They were saying, “God, this is all your fault! Moses, this is all your fault!” - verse five

God did not allow them to go the easy way. By the way, He didn’t have to. We are not owed the pleasant way. God doesn’t owe us anything. But He had them go the way of the Red Sea because it would prepare them for the battles of the Promised Land.

Sometimes God allows us to go through life via the hard way. We don’t always get to walk the easy road. Why? It’s not by accident. It’s by design. Sometimes He sends us the hard way on purpose. It’s not because He’s mean. It’s not because He trying to abuse us. Not at all. It’s because He has a greater plan for us in the hard way. Besides growing our faith, we may not know what the purpose of His plan is, but we can count on it: He has a purpose for the hard way.