28th.: At Hormah
After a short break in the wilderness of Zin, the Israelites moved on.
They soon came near to the kingdom of the Canaanite King Arad. King Arad fought the Israelites.
He also took some Israelites as prisoners (Num. 21:1).
Because of this, “And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said,
‘If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.’
And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them,
and their cities. And he called the name of the place Hormah” (Num. 21:2-3).
Why would God hearken to Israel’s request, since they were always complaining about Him not providing?
1. It is presumed that the Jews were not misbehaving at this time.
2. God sent Israel to Palestine, at a time when the iniquity of the Amorites
(and presumably the other inhabitants) had become full
(that is to say, the sins of the Amorites had become totally disgusting (see Gen. 15:16).
We conclude that it served God’s purpose for Him to forgive Israel, and hearken to Israel’s request, and wipe out king Arad, and his people.
Likewise, if we mess up, we too can receive forgiveness from God, and He will help us.
“Thou was a God that forgave them, though thou took vengeance of their contrived evil deeds." (Ps. 99:8b-c)