BSF Study Questions The Life of Moses Lesson 23, Day 2: Numbers 21:1-3

Summary of passage: The Canaanite king of Arad attacked the Israelites and captured some. The Israelites prayed for God to help them destroy these people, which the Lord granted, and the place was named Hormah.

Questions:

3a) Personal Question. My answer: I expected them to do just this: pray first and then do the Lord’s will because I think they would have learned their lesson from Numbers 14:41-45.

b) The Lord listened and granted their request.

c) Personal Question. My answer: Not sure. I like to think I am depending on Him. And I’m not for sure what if any situation in my life needs to be reversed at the moment.

Conclusions: Sorely disappointed in this lesson. I got nothing out of these 3 verses and the questions were lackluster. I’m pretty sure BSF is looking for an answer to 3a to be: Well, I expected them to just fight back without the Lord’s guidance. Yet we have seen over and over again here the people’s turnarounds from sin to Him. Thus, I expect the people to go to God first as I expect all Christians to do.

End Notes: This was the exact same place I referenced in 3a–Hormah. First, the Israelites were defeated there and now the Lord grants them victory when He is with them this time. This would have been a much better question here for this section.

Map of Arad: http://fgcp.org/system/files/images/Promise-Land-Era.jpg

Map of Hormah and the Route in Edom: http://www.biblenews1.com/maps/Exodus.jpg

By totally destroying a city, the Israelites are turning it completely over to God. This would ensure no one else could use this land; hence, dedicating it to the Lord. This was one of the most sacrificial offerings to God because the land become His once again.

Expect to see more of the same once again of the Israelites to God as they proceed to the Promised Land: faith and unfaith.