Slices
Prepare
Use the words of Psalm 145:8–13 as a springboard for worship.
Bible passage
The journey to Moab
10 The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth. 11 Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab towards the sunrise. 12 From there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley. 13 They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon, which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 That is why the Book of the Wars of the Lord says:
‘. . . Zahab in Suphah and the ravines,
the Arnon 15 and the slopes of the ravines
that lead to the settlement of Ar
and lie along the border of Moab.’
16 From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the Lord said to Moses, ‘Gather the people together and I will give them water.’
17 Then Israel sang this song:
‘Spring up, O well!
Sing about it,
18 about the well that the princes dug,
that the nobles of the people sank –
the nobles with sceptres and staffs.’
Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.
Defeat of Sihon and Og
21 Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:
22 ‘Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.’
23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. 24 Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified. 25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements. 26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.
27 That is why the poets say:
‘Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
let Sihon’s city be restored.
28 ‘Fire went out from Heshbon,
a blaze from the city of Sihon.
It consumed Ar of Moab,
the citizens of Arnon’s heights.
29 Woe to you, Moab!
You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!
He has given up his sons as fugitives
and his daughters as captives
to Sihon king of the Amorites.
30 ‘But we have overthrown them;
Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.
We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
which extends to Medeba.’
31 So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.
32 After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up along the road towards Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.
34 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.’
35 So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.
Explore
Like the opening of yesterday’s passage, this passage is uncomfortable reading. How can we reconcile a God who seems to command genocide with the God of love we know through Jesus? Taking the Bible as a whole, it is clear that both love and judgement are essential characteristics of God – there is more to these incidents than meets the eye. First, since the tribes that are ‘completely destroyed’ (v 3) emerge later in the narrative, it is clear that we should not take the phrase too literally. Secondly, God uses war in righteous judgement, even of his chosen people Israel.
I find it helpful to remember that, far from being an invading power, at this time Israel is a vulnerable group of nomadic refugees. Despite this, they are perceived as a threat and are refused safe passage through the territory of resident tribes (see also Edom’s hostile reception, 20:14–21). Israel’s unlikely victories make them seem more of a threat. This has the dual effect of stirring up more hatred and acting as a deterrent to those who would attack them. This is the story of countless minorities through history.
Jesus himself was perceived as a threat, both by Rome and by the Jewish authorities. The kingdom of God, ushered in through Israel and through Jesus, is an unstoppable force and always challenges vested interest (see Daniel 2:44).
Respond
Who threatens me? Who perceives me as a threat? Pray for wisdom, protection and justice.
Deeper Bible study
Consider Paul’s words: ‘Not that I have … already arrived at my goal, but I press on’.1 How do you feel about where you are today in your faith journey?
When my sons were young, a trip out of town would usually begin on a high note but, as we piled on the miles, little voices would invariably turn whiny, punctuating the journey with a relentless refrain: ‘Aren’t we there yet?’ As my boys grew older, the tone of these trips mellowed to one of quieter confidence.
Most of today’s passage is a travelogue: ‘The Israelites moved on … and camped … set out … and camped … in the wilderness … continued on … went from … to …’ (vs 10–20). This record of their wilderness travels doesn’t spell out the length of the journey nor describe the rough reality of the terrain. Yet, as they move on from place to place, setting up camp yet never able to settle down for long, there isn’t even a hint of a querulous, ‘Aren’t we there yet?’ God’s people have begun to grow up!
Despite meagre details about geography, the travelogue is punctuated with poetry and narrative that record a different kind of journey – a journey into spiritual maturity. The people thirst, but they also trust. ‘Gather the people together and I will give them water’ (v 16) echoes God’s earlier call, yet without the grumbling that preceded it (v 5) and accompanied, instead, by glad songs (vs 17,18). The Israelites don’t simply experience God’s gracious provision but also receive his powerful protection. The conquest of the kingdoms of Sihon and Og had great significance, both historically and symbolically, since these Transjordanian territories would be the first to be settled by the Israelites.2 Their determined pressing on yields progress. There is no room for complacency, however. The unfolding story demonstrates that maturity is still a long way off!
Christian maturity is characterised by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.3 How does your garden grow?
1 Phil 3:12 2 Num 32:33; Gordon J Wenham, Numbers, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, IVP, 1981, p163 3 Gal 5:22,23
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 9,10; Psalm 90
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that as they wrestle with the meaning and application of Micah 6:8, and see how God is the source of justice, the young people who are using Be More Micah will come to understand that God is the true source of justice.
