Early Conquests
Nearly forty years earlier Israel attempted to attack the Canaanites in this same area and were beaten badly (Num. 14:40–45). That generation now had died during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and a new one now was prepared to pick up where the older one had left off.
Read Numbers 21:10–33 and answer the following questions:
- What promises did the Hebrews make to the pagan king Sihon? What was offered in those promises?
- Who attacked whom? Vs. 23.
- What difference was there between how the Israelites responded to King Sihon and King Og?
“These nations on the borders of Canaan would have been spared, had they not stood, in defiance of God’s word, to oppose the progress of Israel. . . . Although the Amorites were idolaters, whose life was justly forfeited by their great wickedness, God spared them four hundred years. . . . All His wonders in bringing Israel from Egypt were known to them. Sufficient evidence was given.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 434.
Note the difference in strategy in regard to the two kingdoms. No courteous request is made to pass peacefully through Og’s land. Rather, the Lord drew the king and his armies away from their cities that “were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars” (Deut. 3:5). Away from their defenses, Israel—under the guidance and promises of God through Moses—was totally able to defeat King Og and his Amorite army in the field.
The victory over Sihon and Og—the kings of the Amorites in Transjordon—was immortalized forever in song (Pss. 135:10–12; 136:18–26), and in the national memory (Judg. 11:18–22). Forty years later the children of Israel finally were entering the Promised Land. Look at all the time wasted, all due to their own lack of faith and trust, despite all the evidence that they had of God’s leading. How much precious time are you wasting, not moving ahead on faith? How can you better learn to trust in God’s promises and then to act on those promises now instead of wasting time?
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