10/14/2026
10/14/26
Seek -> Find -> Follow
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)
Daily Deep Dive Into Kingdom Living
Now the children of Israel moved on and camped in Oboth. And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, in the wilderness which is east of Moab, toward the sunrise. From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered. From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. … From there they went to B**r, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” Numbers 21:10-14, 16 (NKJV)
The Israelites then journeyed on going around Edom. They crossed the Zered and Arnon rivers. They faced a wilderness that was difficult to travel because of the terrain. But God gave His people the strength they needed to make the journey. They came to B**r, the well where God told Moses to gather the people and He would give them water. The wilderness travel was difficult and there was no water or food available other than manna and quail God delivered each day. God led them to B**r where there was a well and the people could quench their thirst.
Interestingly, we don’t see the people complaining to Moses because of the lack of water. They actually sang a song of praise (vs.17). This was the first time since leaving Egypt that we see the children of Israel singing. Reading further we see they journeyed to Mattanah, then to Nathaniel, then to Bamoth, and finally to the top of Pisgah which overlooks the wasteland.
This entire journey from the place where the poisonous snakes were threatening the people to Pisgah must have taken several days or even weeks. Remember, the children of Israel were a group of close to two million people. They also had all their tents and equipment to carry plus all the animals. Daily progress may have been only a few miles. Plus, they walked the entire distance through a land that was wilderness and wild and likely rough terrain.
Looking at the summary of this journey, verses 10 to 20, we do not see any complaining from the people. They now have seen God deal with complainers and those who were not trusting Moses and Aaron or God being judged severely. They seem to have gained a new respect for the Lord and journeyed by faith in Him. When I think about the difficulty of the journey, I can see where my faith in God and in those He appointed to lead would be the source of my strength and mental resolve to keep walking and not complaining.
To this point we see some pictures of Jesus Christ appearing between the lines. He was in the manna as the Bread of Life. The manna fell from heaven so it seemed, and Jesus descended from heaven to walk with us on the earth. In the Bible we see water for drinking is a picture of the Spirit of God. When we read in Ezekiel, chapter 47, he describes a vision where water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple. John in his visions of the new Jerusalem (Revelation 22) describes a pure river of water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Jesus called those who thirst to come to Him as He would give them living water. Those who believe in Him receive the Holy Spirit, that living water, that nourishes the soul. Water was also used for washing. This represents the Word of God that washes away the fog and the dirt so we can clearly see and understand what God is saying to us through His Word.
Yesterday, we read about the fiery serpents that plagued the Israelites and the remedy was the bronze snake lifted up on a pole. Those who had faith in the remedy would look to that bronze serpent and would be healed. Those who didn’t believe in that or wouldn’t look to the pole would die of the venom. Just like the bronze serpent was hung on a pole, Jesus was hung on a cross and if we believe in Him and what He did in our place, we receive the cleansing of our sins and the promise of eternal life. Warren Wiersbe in his commentary on the book of Numbers said, “The manna emphasizes Jesus’ incarnation, the serpent His crucifixion, and the water His ascension and the outpouring of the Spirit.”
As we read the history of the children of Israel and then look for references to what living as a citizen of God’s kingdom involves, we see in just what we read today the importance of following God’s law obediently, walking with Him by faith, and trusting in His Son, Jesus, who is pictured in this ancient history long before He actually came to earth to bring His message of salvation. Jesus stated several times that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. That kingdom rested on Him. When we walk by faith in Him, we gain citizenship in heaven and are given the Holy Spirit who becomes our guide to navigate our time on earth demonstrating to the world around us what kingdom living looks like. Like the Israelites, we are chosen by God to bring His message of love and forgiveness to the world around us today.
Father, in the Scripture we read today we see a summary of the travel of the children of Israel as they journeyed around Edom. One could easily skim over this passage and not see Your hand there leading the Israelites and teaching them important life lessons that focus on following You obediently and trusting You totally. You were exposing the children of Israel to parallels that point us to Jesus. Your Word is so rich and comprehensive and it is a joy to read it and learn from You. Thank You, Father. Thank You. Amen.
