Wandering: A Study In Numbers预览

What does it say?

Israel asked for help from Edom. Instead of help, they found opposition. 

What does it mean?

Israel’s request to use the “King’s Highway” was reasonable. This route, commonly used by many for travel and trade, provided safety and shortened the north/south journey. Edom had the opportunity to help their “brother” Israel in a time of great need. These two nations were descendants of brothers, Jacob and Esau. But what should have been a helping hand became a threat of violence. Israel faced the sting of rejection along with the harsh reality that their difficult journey would be much longer. 

How should I respond?

There are times when each of us encounters opposition for no apparent reason. Even when our motives are pure, the actions and attitudes of others can seem to conspire against us. Are you facing rejection that you do not understand? What unexpected opposition is making a difficult situation even worse? Regardless of the source, consider that God has allowed it to happen. We don’t always know why, but the Lord often uses obstacles to shape and mold us to be more like Him. What have you learned about God in your current circumstance? What have you learned about yourself? How do you need to respond in order to accomplish God’s purpose for you and for the other person?