Edom Numbers 20 Part 3

Numbers 20:14 "And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us......v17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country....v18 And Edom said unto him Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword."

Over 400 years have passed. Jacob has died and Esau has died. Yet, the old wounds are still there in their descendants. Esau was the eldest of the two twins but Jacob through deception received the blessing from Issac. The wound apparently never healed although Jacob was welcomed home by Esau. How did it all start?

Esau has come in from the field and was very hungry. Jacob was preparing food....

Genesis 25:30 "And Esau said to Jacob Feed me I pray thee...v31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. v33 ...and he sware unto him and he sold his birthright unto Jacob."

Genesis 33 tells of the homecoming and their friendly greetings.

Esau was Edom as the Bible tells us in Genesis 36:1 "Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom." Edom is also called Seir. Edom lies south of the ancient land of Judah. It extends from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akaba. See Armadedon also.

It was the promise of God that mattered here more than the blessing of Issac. Look over in Genesis 28 verse 13. Jacob is talking to the Lord in a dream and the Lord responds: "...the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;" And again in Genesis 32 verse 28 after Jacob had wrestled with the Lord "...Thy name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed."

So in our passage Israel is asking for passage through Edom and is refused by the king of Edom and is threatened if Israel tries to pass through the land even though they promised to stay on the high road v19. Israel turns aside and comes to mount Hor. Again they do not enter the promised land at Kadesh. The first time it was because of unbelief. Now it is because of Edom.

Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well."

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