1 00:00:14,139 --> 00:00:17,339 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,379 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,940 --> 00:00:27,019 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:35,259 --> 00:00:42,420 Father, we just pause Lord after our day and we just take a moment, Lord, 5 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:50,420 to dwell on your presence, God, and to just seek your spirit, Lord. 6 00:00:50,579 --> 00:00:52,920 And we just, we welcome your presence here. 7 00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:55,100 We welcome you. 8 00:00:56,719 --> 00:01:04,739 We pray, Lord, you give us open hearts and open minds to receive your word tonight, Lord, 9 00:01:04,900 --> 00:01:10,400 and to have deeper insight and revelation, Lord, into your scripture. 10 00:01:12,859 --> 00:01:16,120 We thank you for this opportunity to gather together. 11 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,480 And we pray, Lord, you would be amongst us in our conversation, Lord, 12 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,859 and you would bless this time. 13 00:01:25,939 --> 00:01:30,420 And for those who can't be here tonight, God, we pray for them as well. 14 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:42,959 Thank you, Lord, for your grace and your mercy and your goodness in our lives. 15 00:01:43,379 --> 00:01:44,659 In Jesus' name, amen. 16 00:01:47,780 --> 00:01:50,879 Okay, tonight we are in Numbers 21. 17 00:01:53,500 --> 00:02:02,579 A relatively famous chapter that's quoted in many places, and we'll get to some of those parts. 18 00:02:03,739 --> 00:02:13,219 But just as an introduction, so the Israelites are, they're nearing the end of their 40 years, right? 19 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,780 So it kind of went kind of fast for us. 20 00:02:16,879 --> 00:02:19,259 I'm sure it didn't quite go as fast for them. 21 00:02:20,259 --> 00:02:22,879 They're nearing the end of their 40 years in the wilderness. 22 00:02:24,159 --> 00:02:34,000 And the generation that was prohibited from going into the Promised Land, they're passing away. 23 00:02:34,539 --> 00:02:39,360 And the new ones are preparing to enter into that land. 24 00:02:39,740 --> 00:02:45,979 And there's some really neat, pivotal things that happen in this chapter. 25 00:02:45,979 --> 00:02:53,240 You know, they move from wandering in rebellion to warfare and victory. 26 00:02:54,180 --> 00:03:04,800 And, you know, they really receive this repentance and faith in God's provision here. 27 00:03:04,979 --> 00:03:07,580 So there's some neat things that happen here. 28 00:03:08,599 --> 00:03:13,060 We'll start out with verses one through three. 29 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:22,659 So when the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in Negev, heard that Israel was coming along 30 00:03:22,659 --> 00:03:28,780 the road to Ethereum, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 31 00:03:29,979 --> 00:03:32,919 Then Israel made this vow to the Lord. 32 00:03:33,939 --> 00:03:41,960 If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities. 33 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:48,180 The Lord listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. 34 00:03:48,699 --> 00:03:51,639 They completely destroyed them in their towns. 35 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,860 So the place was named Horma. 36 00:04:00,359 --> 00:04:05,520 So Israel is attacked along their way, along their journey. 37 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:15,680 And instead of responding in typical Israelite fashion, like we've seen over the past few 38 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:27,779 chapters or in their eyes, past 40 years, they respond by seeking God and vowing obedience 39 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:28,839 to him. 40 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:32,519 And God grants them this victory. 41 00:04:33,420 --> 00:04:44,100 And this show of dependence leads them to a level of deliverance that they probably had 42 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:46,899 not seen since the Exodus. 43 00:04:49,319 --> 00:05:01,060 So this is a real lesson for us, and I'm sure it was a lesson for them, that faith, when they 44 00:05:01,060 --> 00:05:09,379 put their faith before this, then comes the healing and the provision and the victory. 45 00:05:10,620 --> 00:05:17,680 And one of the things that I liked in all of this, as you guys know, is I like to look at 46 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:25,120 how this is foreshadowing and looking towards the Gospels. 47 00:05:25,660 --> 00:05:33,480 So the victory over the Canaanites really demonstrates God's victory over sin through 48 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:40,379 Jesus, and we're going to see a bit more of that as we go through this chapter. 49 00:05:40,959 --> 00:05:48,459 So four through six reads, they traveled from Mount Hore along the route to the Red Sea 50 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:50,759 to go around Edom. 51 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,199 But the people grew impatient on the way. 52 00:05:54,639 --> 00:06:00,899 They spoke against God and against Moses and said, why have you brought us out of Egypt 53 00:06:00,899 --> 00:06:02,339 to die in the wilderness? 54 00:06:03,620 --> 00:06:11,720 There is no bread, there is no water, and we detest this miserable food. 55 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,279 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them. 56 00:06:17,139 --> 00:06:20,420 They bit the people, and many of the Israelites died. 57 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:30,699 So we go from this transitional moment that they had back into this, oh, why did we ever 58 00:06:30,699 --> 00:06:32,779 come out of Egypt mentality? 59 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:42,579 So they again get into this complaining mode about God's provision, the manna and the 60 00:06:42,579 --> 00:06:42,819 water. 61 00:06:42,980 --> 00:06:46,079 In fact, it even goes deeper than complaining. 62 00:06:46,579 --> 00:06:54,579 It's this contempt now for the manna calling it a worthless food. 63 00:06:57,980 --> 00:07:06,439 So God responds by sending venomous snakes, which bite them and calls death and all that. 64 00:07:06,759 --> 00:07:15,100 So the snakes, obviously, as we know from other aspects of the scripture going even 65 00:07:15,100 --> 00:07:24,000 all the way back to the Genesis, the snakes symbolize the enemy or sin as a curse, and 66 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:25,920 the reality of rebellion. 67 00:07:27,339 --> 00:07:39,079 So God brings this down upon them for their complaining and their murmuring, and the contempt 68 00:07:39,079 --> 00:07:49,019 for God's provision really is this parallel thinking that humanity has to reject God. 69 00:07:49,019 --> 00:08:01,399 So when God, all throughout the ages, God has provided for mankind in so many ways, but people 70 00:08:01,399 --> 00:08:02,319 reject it. 71 00:08:03,019 --> 00:08:07,120 People reject God's provision for them. 72 00:08:08,899 --> 00:08:19,000 So this is really kind of symbolic of that, and it's also symbolic of God's ultimate 73 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,699 provision in Jesus Christ Himself. 74 00:08:23,459 --> 00:08:32,679 So the world and people have contempt for God's provision, as demonstrated here, just 75 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:37,100 as they have contempt for Christ, who is the ultimate provision. 76 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:44,320 Romans 1.21 says, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks. 77 00:08:45,560 --> 00:08:52,360 John 3.19 says, light came into the world, but men loved the darkness. 78 00:08:54,480 --> 00:09:05,940 So there's a theme throughout the Bible where God is the provider of things and where God 79 00:09:05,940 --> 00:09:11,299 provides a way for people, but people reject that. 80 00:09:11,299 --> 00:09:16,179 And that comes to its full fruition with Jesus. 81 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:26,639 So this judgment of the serpents, I mean, this is not, you know, judgment isn't arbitrary. 82 00:09:27,299 --> 00:09:30,379 It's a consequence of rejecting God's grace. 83 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:38,700 So when judgment happens, it is because of the rejection of God's grace, God's provision. 84 00:09:41,299 --> 00:09:50,659 So 7 through 9, the people came to Moses and said, we sinned when we spoke against the Lord 85 00:09:51,220 --> 00:09:52,139 and against you. 86 00:09:52,620 --> 00:09:56,419 Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us. 87 00:09:56,779 --> 00:09:58,759 So Moses prayed for the people. 88 00:10:00,539 --> 00:10:05,720 The Lord said to Moses, make a snake and put it on a pole. 89 00:10:06,399 --> 00:10:10,360 Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. 90 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,899 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. 91 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:21,279 Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. 92 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:27,460 So this is something that's quoted in the New Testament and will get to them. 93 00:10:27,460 --> 00:10:32,519 So the people repented and asked Moses to intercede. 94 00:10:32,620 --> 00:10:35,840 And I've lost count. 95 00:10:35,980 --> 00:10:41,379 I don't know if you have over the past three books of how many times this has happened 96 00:10:42,220 --> 00:10:49,779 where the people screw up, they repent, they go to Moses, and Moses does his thing. 97 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,980 He intercedes for the people. 98 00:10:53,820 --> 00:11:00,039 So then God commands him to make this bronze serpent and set it on a pole. 99 00:11:00,419 --> 00:11:03,080 So that as they look at it, they are healed. 100 00:11:03,279 --> 00:11:06,700 So this is really one of the most powerful. 101 00:11:06,919 --> 00:11:15,700 I mean, we've seen a lot of foreshadowing of Christ in the past few books and the symbolism 102 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:16,940 that goes along with it. 103 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:28,779 This is one of the most powerful foreshadowings of Christ and what he would go through in these 104 00:11:28,779 --> 00:11:29,139 books. 105 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:35,980 The bronze serpent symbolizes faith and points to Jesus Christ, who was lifted up on a cross 106 00:11:36,759 --> 00:11:38,620 for our salvation. 107 00:11:38,620 --> 00:11:51,860 So this idea of holding up this bronze serpent and it bringing healing, John 3, 14, 15 says, 108 00:11:52,879 --> 00:12:00,720 just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted 109 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:06,259 up that everyone who believes may have eternal life. 110 00:12:07,259 --> 00:12:20,500 So I wonder how many, you know, without John recounting this, I wonder how many Jews connected 111 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:31,840 the dots with that, because that's one of these Old Testament prophetic words that came 112 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,299 to its full fruition through Jesus. 113 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:49,700 And you know, there's in between Jesus' time here on earth with the disciples and his death 114 00:12:49,700 --> 00:12:57,100 and resurrection and, you know, the writing of the Gospels and the New Testament. 115 00:12:57,100 --> 00:13:02,019 There was a fair amount of time that transpired. 116 00:13:03,179 --> 00:13:11,259 And you better believe that these guys were doing their research to understand the fulfillment 117 00:13:11,259 --> 00:13:16,919 because they were seeking to fully understand this. 118 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:17,620 There was a lot. 119 00:13:17,759 --> 00:13:25,620 We were talking about this in our Life Group Monday night about, you know, what a struggle 120 00:13:25,620 --> 00:13:35,720 it was for so many of the Jews that came into a saving knowledge of Jesus, how hard it was 121 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:43,059 for them to, you know, lay aside all of this that they had known, really, that had been 122 00:13:43,059 --> 00:13:49,659 their tradition for thousands of years, and to put all of their hope and their faith, 123 00:13:49,659 --> 00:13:57,559 you know, in Jesus and to understand how he was the fulfillment of all of this. 124 00:13:58,740 --> 00:14:04,440 So it was difficult and challenging for them to really get that. 125 00:14:04,759 --> 00:14:11,120 So when, you know, John gets this bit of revelation to look back, because they would 126 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:15,259 have all been very, very learned in Torah. 127 00:14:15,259 --> 00:14:21,740 They would have, you know, had so much of this memorized in an understanding, but we 128 00:14:21,740 --> 00:14:25,860 know how our own brains and memories work. 129 00:14:26,039 --> 00:14:30,879 We don't always connect things, you know, at the right time. 130 00:14:31,159 --> 00:14:36,220 And God and that knowledge would have been in there, but then God gives it to them via 131 00:14:36,220 --> 00:14:41,259 revelation and via diligent study and going through it. 132 00:14:41,259 --> 00:14:49,679 So when John writes that, he's reflecting immediately back to this scripture. 133 00:14:51,159 --> 00:14:58,659 And just like with Jesus, you know, when Jesus prayed, you know, 134 00:14:58,860 --> 00:15:04,820 Father, you know, if possible, remove this cup, remove this thing from me. 135 00:15:04,820 --> 00:15:11,879 But just like then, and just like back in here, God doesn't remove the serpents, 136 00:15:11,940 --> 00:15:18,679 but he provides a means of salvation amidst the judgment. 137 00:15:19,580 --> 00:15:28,240 So the judgment is taking place amongst the people, but God is providing a way. 138 00:15:28,539 --> 00:15:30,500 And how many times have we seen that? 139 00:15:31,500 --> 00:15:36,879 In Numbers and in Leviticus and in Exodus, as we went through these books, where God 140 00:15:37,780 --> 00:15:42,100 provides a way and provides access to himself. 141 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:53,419 So the bronze serpent is this paradox of the symbol of a curse that becomes an 142 00:15:53,419 --> 00:16:02,860 instrument of healing just as Christ, you know, became a curse on the cross and 143 00:16:02,860 --> 00:16:06,259 took on the sin of mankind for us. 144 00:16:06,679 --> 00:16:14,240 Galatians 3.13 says that, that Christ became a curse when he hung there, 145 00:16:14,460 --> 00:16:15,779 taking on our sins. 146 00:16:16,139 --> 00:16:22,360 So it's this paradox of, you know, you've got this curse and you've got this 147 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:31,960 judgment going on, but yet it is the way, it is an instrument that brings healing and 148 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:39,740 salvation, and bronze often in the Old Testament is a symbol of judgment. 149 00:16:40,139 --> 00:16:45,580 The bronze alder in the tabernacle was used, and you can look that up. 150 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:49,960 That's one of those things where you do a little research on what bronze really 151 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:50,840 symbolizes. 152 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:58,460 So let's go to verses 10 through 20. 153 00:17:01,539 --> 00:17:05,339 So the Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth. 154 00:17:06,980 --> 00:17:15,519 Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Il-Abram in the wilderness that faces Moab 155 00:17:15,519 --> 00:17:16,799 towards the sunrise. 156 00:17:17,799 --> 00:17:21,920 From there, they moved on and camped in the Zared Valley. 157 00:17:22,859 --> 00:17:28,920 They sat out from there and camped alongside the Arnon, which is the 158 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:33,099 wilderness extending into Amorite territory. 159 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:40,220 The Arnon is the border of Moab between Moab and the Amorites. 160 00:17:41,539 --> 00:17:45,440 That is why, so I'll just stop there for a second. 161 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:50,140 This is why Gail said, hey, did you get a map, Jamie, for all of this? 162 00:17:51,559 --> 00:17:56,119 It would have been a great visual, but we're just going to have to kind of 163 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:57,599 visualize it in our mind. 164 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:06,740 That is why the Book of Wars of the Lord says, Zehab, and we'll get back, we'll 165 00:18:06,740 --> 00:18:09,980 talk about that in a second, because we don't really know of any Book of War. 166 00:18:10,819 --> 00:18:19,559 The Lord says, Zehab and Supeh and the Ravens and Arnon and the slopes of the 167 00:18:19,559 --> 00:18:24,819 Ravens that lead to the settlement of Ar and lie along the border of Moab. 168 00:18:25,579 --> 00:18:32,380 From there, they continued to beer the well where the Lord said to Moses, 169 00:18:32,900 --> 00:18:35,880 gather the people together and I will give them water. 170 00:18:37,059 --> 00:18:39,200 Then Israel sang this song. 171 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:46,059 Spring up a well, sing about it, about the well that the princess dug. 172 00:18:46,759 --> 00:18:51,519 The nobles and the people sank, the nobles and the scepters and terrace. 173 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:58,700 Then they went from the wilderness to Matana, from Matana to Nahalil, 174 00:18:59,039 --> 00:19:03,339 from Nahalil to Bamath and from Bamath to the Valley of Moab, 175 00:19:03,799 --> 00:19:07,759 where the top of the fizga overlooks the wasteland. 176 00:19:09,519 --> 00:19:10,799 So that's a lot, right? 177 00:19:11,019 --> 00:19:14,299 That's a lot of names and that's a lot of traveling. 178 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:22,480 So after the serpent episode, Israel travels and experience, 179 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:27,519 you know, renewed provision from God, including the water from beer. 180 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:33,380 Not beer from, and Jack, he said, well, they were Hebrews. 181 00:19:38,620 --> 00:19:41,700 So the water from Badantan, yeah. 182 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:50,480 And then they sang a song of praise for the water and it's a striking contrast, 183 00:19:50,660 --> 00:19:55,440 isn't it, from just a few verses back when they were grumbling. 184 00:19:56,039 --> 00:20:02,940 So quickly, verse 14 says, you know, mentions the book of wars of the Lord. 185 00:20:02,940 --> 00:20:07,980 So I don't know about you, but I can't remember reading from that book in the Bible, 186 00:20:08,299 --> 00:20:09,279 the book of wars. 187 00:20:09,519 --> 00:20:11,900 Anybody, has anybody found that anywhere? 188 00:20:12,619 --> 00:20:12,920 No. 189 00:20:13,259 --> 00:20:17,980 So obviously it's not part of the Bible, but it is mentioned here. 190 00:20:18,519 --> 00:20:26,200 And it's most likely, you know, an ancient anthology of military victories and hymns. 191 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:27,880 So it's an ancient, ancient book. 192 00:20:28,319 --> 00:20:29,400 I did a little research. 193 00:20:29,660 --> 00:20:32,140 There's, you know, it's never been found. 194 00:20:32,140 --> 00:20:35,720 There's not anything out there that they can say, yeah, here it is. 195 00:20:35,819 --> 00:20:37,660 Here's the book that they're referencing to. 196 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:43,660 But there's a lot of assumptions that go around it. 197 00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:49,759 Some are saying that, you know, it was a documentation of like the military victories 198 00:20:49,759 --> 00:20:59,599 and the military exploits from Exodus that they documented that God had delivered them through. 199 00:21:00,700 --> 00:21:01,380 We don't know. 200 00:21:01,380 --> 00:21:03,960 You can only speculate at this point. 201 00:21:04,099 --> 00:21:08,859 But it's interesting that it's mentioned in Scripture, right? 202 00:21:09,500 --> 00:21:12,200 I always try to take note of those things. 203 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,259 And I couldn't remember ever reading about it before. 204 00:21:15,380 --> 00:21:19,619 I was hoping to find some really great stuff on it, but I didn't. 205 00:21:19,799 --> 00:21:23,640 And there's nothing but speculation around it. 206 00:21:24,019 --> 00:21:24,880 So interesting. 207 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:28,500 Maybe do some of your own research and see what you find out there. 208 00:21:29,500 --> 00:21:41,039 So this water that they get, this is a symbolism of new life and refreshment and repentance. 209 00:21:41,940 --> 00:21:46,720 You know, after the repentance and faith that they had, you know, this water is, again, 210 00:21:46,980 --> 00:21:55,180 a foreshadowing of the living water of the Holy Spirit that Jesus provided for us. 211 00:21:55,180 --> 00:22:01,740 In John 7.37, he says, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 212 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:10,559 Revelation 7.17 says, the lamb will lead them to springs of living water. 213 00:22:13,220 --> 00:22:19,299 And I really love this hymn, this song that they're singing, 214 00:22:19,299 --> 00:22:26,579 because the song is kind of this shift from, you know, rebellion to worship, right? 215 00:22:26,980 --> 00:22:34,640 So there's some really neat stuff in that passage of this chapter. 216 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:42,380 And it's really awesome to see God bringing them along in this way. 217 00:22:43,420 --> 00:22:48,000 So the last bit here is a little bit long, but I'll get through it. 218 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,720 21 through 35. 219 00:22:50,279 --> 00:22:57,779 So Israel sent messengers to Sihan, king of the Amorites. 220 00:22:58,299 --> 00:23:00,019 Let us pass through your country. 221 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:06,440 We will not turn aside into any fields or vineyards or drink water from any well. 222 00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:13,460 We will travel along the king's highway until we have passed through your territory. 223 00:23:14,019 --> 00:23:16,839 So they're basically saying, look, just let us pass through. 224 00:23:16,839 --> 00:23:18,279 We're not going to do anything. 225 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:23,839 But Sihan would not let Israel pass through his territory. 226 00:23:24,559 --> 00:23:29,920 He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. 227 00:23:30,599 --> 00:23:33,460 When he reached Jehaz, he fought with Israel. 228 00:23:33,579 --> 00:23:42,200 Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from Arden to the Jabak. 229 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:49,059 But only as far as the Amorites, because their border was fortified. 230 00:23:49,980 --> 00:23:59,039 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshban and all the surrounding settlements. 231 00:23:59,660 --> 00:24:11,559 Heshban was the city of Sihan, king of the Amorites, who fought against the former king of Moab and had taken him from all the land as far as Arden. 232 00:24:13,339 --> 00:24:19,279 That is why the poets say, come to Heshban and let it be rebuilt. 233 00:24:20,460 --> 00:24:22,619 Let Sihan's city be restored. 234 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:28,200 Fire went out from Heshban and ablaze from the city of Sihan. 235 00:24:28,660 --> 00:24:36,180 It consumed Ar and Moab, and the citizens of Aronites woe to you, Moab. 236 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,079 You are destroyed, people of Chimash. 237 00:24:41,679 --> 00:24:50,940 He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters as captives to Sihan, king of the Amorites. 238 00:24:51,660 --> 00:25:02,079 But we have overwhelmed them. Heshban's dominion has been destroyed all the day, all the way to Dibban. 239 00:25:03,079 --> 00:25:11,480 We have demolished them as far as Nabla, which extends to Mediba. 240 00:25:12,579 --> 00:25:16,980 So Israel settled in the land of Amorites. 241 00:25:18,859 --> 00:25:31,740 After Moses had sent spies to Jezar, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. 242 00:25:32,079 --> 00:25:39,700 Then they turned and went up along the road towards Bashan and Og, king of Bashan, 243 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:46,579 and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle and injury. 244 00:25:47,740 --> 00:25:57,839 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. 245 00:25:59,059 --> 00:26:05,000 Due to him what you did to Sihan, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshban. 246 00:26:06,059 --> 00:26:17,819 So they struck him down together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors, and they took possession of his land. 247 00:26:20,179 --> 00:26:32,119 So that's a much more powerful testimony than the last time they laid eyes on the Amorites, right? 248 00:26:32,599 --> 00:26:34,599 That's a powerful, powerful testimony. 249 00:26:34,599 --> 00:26:44,440 So Israelite now faces and defeats three enemies, Sihan, Og, and the Amorites. 250 00:26:45,559 --> 00:26:52,259 And these victories are what paved the way for them to get into the Promised Land. 251 00:26:53,259 --> 00:27:07,279 So one of the things that really, really stuck out to me here, you know, when you think about their plight over the past 40 years is 252 00:27:08,559 --> 00:27:16,680 these victories really were a result of repentance and faith. 253 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:23,400 So these victories would not have happened without that. 254 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:38,160 So these battles also, as we look at them, they symbolize, you know, our victories that we have over sin, 255 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:46,039 our victories that we have over this world, our victories and our battles that we fight. 256 00:27:46,299 --> 00:27:53,380 These are symbolic of the salvation that comes from that. 257 00:27:55,339 --> 00:28:00,460 Romans 8, 31 says, if God is for us, who can be against us? 258 00:28:01,460 --> 00:28:07,440 1 John 5, 4 says, everyone born of God overcomes the world. 259 00:28:09,299 --> 00:28:18,779 So these enemies represent, they're symbolic when you think about it, of the strongholds of the flesh, 260 00:28:19,420 --> 00:28:22,960 the strongholds that the enemies can have in us. 261 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:31,380 And when we take this position that the Israelites did, you know, of submitting to God and repenting to God 262 00:28:31,380 --> 00:28:39,700 and putting our faith in God, he is going to deliver those victories to us. 263 00:28:42,139 --> 00:28:57,259 So when it kind of reflected back over this chapter as a whole, you know, it's kind of, 264 00:28:57,259 --> 00:29:11,000 to me, is almost this mirror of the gospel story, you know, and, you know, where we have, you know, humanity, 265 00:29:11,059 --> 00:29:18,759 you know, rebelling against God, you know, God's judgment upon humanity, you know, 266 00:29:18,759 --> 00:29:32,180 but yet he provides a way, he provides salvation through faith and through his Son who was lifted up and held high 267 00:29:32,180 --> 00:29:36,740 and who bore the curse for us. 268 00:29:36,740 --> 00:29:49,099 So the very thing that symbolized death, you know, his death on a cross becomes this source of life for us. 269 00:29:50,480 --> 00:30:01,900 So when you think about the cross, which was a Roman instrument of death and torture, what is it now to us? 270 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:14,940 It's a symbol of salvation. So you took what was a symbol in that time of the most brutal way of dying. 271 00:30:14,940 --> 00:30:30,920 It was a symbol of judgment for sure. And now God has redeemed that as doorway to eternal life. 272 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:40,460 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church as we praise God and discuss his word. 273 00:30:40,460 --> 00:30:46,640 Don't forget to join us for Worship Live Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 274 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:49,720 Be blessed and have a great day!