The Israelites were nearing the end of forty years of wandering in the wilderness. God’s provision of water was so welcome that they burst into song.
From there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
the well that the leaders sank,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with the scepter, with the staff.” (Numbers 21:16-18)
In the Bible, salvation and God’s provision of water are closely related. When Isaiah wanted to proclaim the blessings of God’s salvation, he also burst into song.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say on that day:
“Give thanks to the Lord;
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted. (Isaiah 12:3-4)
Jesus used the image of life-giving water to describe His offer of salvation.
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.
As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water'” (John 7:37-38).
It may be difficult to appreciate water while living in Independence, Missouri. After all, we have some of the best water in the United States.
If you live in a semi-arid or desert environment, plentiful water may be seen as an excellent image of God’s salvation.
As we consider this passage, let’s take a moment to sing with God’s people and thank Him for salvation.
Victories Over Enemies
The remainder of Numbers 21 tells the story of Israel’s defeat of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan.
These victories have been celebrated throughout Israel’s history. There is a phrase in the song of victory over the Moabites, where we find the name of their primary god, Chemosh.
Woe to you, O Moab!
You are undone, O people of Chemosh! (Numbers 21:29)
In the ancient world, a victory over a nation’s army was more than the defeat of their soldiers. The victory was seen as the defeat of their god, too.
As we continue our study of the Bible, we will encounter instances where the Israelites questioned God. Did their defeats reflect on God’s power to provide for them? Did they wonder if the gods of their neighbors were better able to give them the kind of things they needed?
The temptation to give their allegiance to one of the gods of the land was always present for the Israelites. God’s judgment through the Exile was in part due to their abandonment of God and the embrace of foreign deities.
This is a danger for us today. Below are some possible substitutes for God that we may encounter.
- Money and material security
- Military might
- Nationalism
- Pleasure-seeking activities
- Power, popularity, and influence
The ancient Hebrew people blended the worship of Yahweh/Jehovah with the gods of their neighbors. The same behavior can take place today. We can blend the above idols (substitutes for God) with the worship of our Lord and Savior.
When our needs are more prominent than our faith, we will seek substitutes for God. We may have God as Plan A, but have a Plan B ready to go, in case we don’t get what we want from God.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 