Numbers 21:21 says, And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, Verse twenty-two adds, Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high way, until we be past thy borders. The people of Israel asked Sihon the king of the Amorites for permission to pass through their land by way of the highway, using nothing of the Amorites resources as they passed through. As followers of Christ, we cannot just assume we have the right to use the things of this world that belongs to others without their permission. Verse twenty-three continues, And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. Sihon refused their request, and went to war with them instead. We need to be prepared for the people of the world to refuse reasonable requests from Christians and to have them go to war with us instead. Verse twenty-four states, And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. Israel defeated the Amorites all the way to Jabbok, where the people of Ammon lived, who were a strong people. Even if some of those who oppose us today a Christians are stronger than others, if we are acting under God's guidance, they cannot defeat us from an everlasting perspective. Verse twenty-five adds, And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof. The people of Israel took all the cities of the Amorites, and lived in them. Verse twenty-six continues, For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. Hesbon was mentioned, because it was the city of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, which had been taken from the king of the Moabites. Even those who are at war with Christians may also be at war with each other. Verse twenty-seven says, Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: Verse twenty-eight adds, For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon. Verse twenty-nine continues, Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. Verse thirty continues on, We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba. People spoke proverbs about Sihon defeating the Moabites and taking Hesbon. It is not unusual to hear of some country taking, or at least attempting to take, possession of some other country today, but ultimately they will all lose if they are not following God by having put their faith in Jesus Christ. No matter who is in charge in this world, God has insured us as followers of Christ that the final victory is ours through our faith in Him. Verse thirty-one concludes, Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. The people of Israel then lived in the land of the Amorites. We are really just living in the world today as Christians, even if we happen to possess it physically. This world will never be our everlasting home. Verse thirty-two states, And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there. Moses then sent spies to Jaazer, and they took the cities there. Verse thirty-three adds, And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei. The people of Israel then turned and went up by the way of Bashan, and Og, the king of Bashan went to war against them. Even if we defeat one enemy of God, we should expect another to arise until Christ returns to claim His people. Verse thirty-four continues, And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. God told Moses to not fear Og, because God had delivered him into Moses's hand. The people of Israel did not just go to war with these other kings, but when these kings went to war with them, the people of Israel had God on their side. As followers of Christ today, if we are at war with the world, it should be because they initiated the war, and we must continue to live by faith in God, and if we do, we know that the ultimate victory is ours. Verse thirty-five concludes, So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land. Moses and the people of Israel totally destroyed Og and his people and took possession of their land. As long as we are followers of Christ, one day all our enemies will be defeated and we will take possession of our heavenly home, even if it is not in this lifetime.
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