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Numbers 21:1-3 – First Victory

When the Canaanites see that the Israelites are facing towards them, Arad decides to go on the offensive and fight them. But this proves disastrous; had he sat still, his people might have been the last to be destroyed of all the Canaanites, but now they are the first. At first Arad seems to succeed. His advance-guards pick up some straggling Israelites and take them prisoner. This, no doubt, puffs him up, and he begins to think that he will have the honour of crushing this formidable nation, and saving his country from the ruin which is threatened. It is also a trial to the faith of the Israelites and a rebuke to them for their distrusts and discontents. Israel comes to God with humility this time. It is a temptation to them to murmur as their fathers did, and to despair of getting possession of Canaan; but God enables them, by His grace, to trust in Him for relief against this fierce and powerful enemy. They, in their prayers for success, vow a vow. When we are desiring and expecting mercy from God we should bind our souls with a bond that we will faithfully do our duty to Him, particularly that we will honour Him with the mercy we are pursuing. Israel here promises to destroy the cities of these Canaanites, as devoted to God, and not to keep anything from them for themselves. If God gives them victory, He will have all the praise. A strong party is sent out, probably under the command of Joshua, which not only drives back these Canaanites, but follows them to their cities, which probably lay on the edge of the wilderness, and utterly destroys them, and so returns to the camp. The place is called Hormah, as a memorial of the destruction, to terrify the Canaanites, and probably to warn their descendants not to attempt to rebuild these cities, which are destroyed as devoted to God and sacrifices to divine justice.

Question

  1. Who attacks the Israelites?
  2. What do the Israelites promise to do?

Prayer Points

  1. Give thanks for God’s mercy to you.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.