“Adonai listened to what Israel said and handed over the Kena‘anim, so they completely destroyed them and their cities and named the place Hormah [complete destruction]. Then they traveled from Mount Hor on the road toward the Sea of Suf in order to go around the land of Edom; but the people’s tempers grew short because of the detour.“-Numbers 21:3-4
Today we’re going to be discussing geographical matters as they pertain to Israel’s movements after their complete and total victory over the Canaanite nation-state of Arad.
It would probably be best if you referenced a map while reading today’s lesson.
So here’s the situation.
Israel has just laid waste to the Canaanite nation-state of Arad.
However, what Israel did next is interesting.
Let’s take a look at verse 4.
“They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom.”
My question is why did Israel decide to go around Edom?
Recall when Moses appealed to the King of Edom to allow Israel to pass through his land.
Israel was rudely rebuffed and and the King of Edom even sent out a group soldiers to the border of his country to show Moses he meant business.
Well, here’s the thing…two things actually.
First, seeing that Israel had just defeated a major Canaanite nation, they should have been feeling pretty confident in their military prowess at this point in time.
Second, if Israel and Edom did go to battle with each other, there is no question Edom would have been soundly trounced.
Let’s face the facts.
Edom was a nomadic society whose population would have numbered only in the thousands.
There is no way in hell they would have been able to stop Israel’s 600,000-man army.
No, this was more about Israel respecting the blood ties they had with Edom.
Remember Edom and Esau are one and the same.
If Israel annihilated Edom, they would have literally been killing the descendants of their twin brother Esau.
In other words, it would have been the descendants of Jacob killing off the descendants of their twin brother, Esau.
This is something God would not have approved of.
However, there is also another reason why Israel didn’t just continue going up straight north after their victory over Arad.
Let’s go back and read some key verses from the Book of Exodus.
“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’“-Exodus 13:17
If Israel would have continued going straight north, they would have run straight into the Philistines.
The Philistines were also known as the “Sea Peoples” and were very fierce warriors to the point they were considered un-defeatable.
At this point in time, God didn’t want His People confronting such an awesome foe.
Therefore, after the battle with Arad’s forces, Israel turned around south and headed towards the Gulf of Aqaba.
This served to avoid a conflict with both Edom and the Philistines.
However, this really frustrated the people because it seemed like they were backtracking.
And geographically speaking, they were backtracking…equivalent to the distance of about a month’s worth of travel.
We’re talking about a journey of traveling 90 miles south followed by a 15 mile trek eastward BEFORE they turned northward again!
A lot had happened all within the space of a little more than a month and within a small area of not more than 20 miles to the south and west of the Dead Sea.
Aaron had just died and his son assumed the position of High Priest.
Israel had been threatened by the descendants of their twin brother, Esau.
They had been attacked by the King of Arad.
And now, after all this it seemed like they were doing a totally illogical thing by backtracking and heading south away from the Promised Land.
The takeaway here is clear.
In life, God may sometimes force us to take roundabout paths that at the time will seem illogical and go against our best wishes.
Nevertheless, when that happens, the best thing to do is just TRUST that the Lord knows what He’s doing and is indeed looking out for your best interest.
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