What can we learn from Moses' approach to the king of Edom? Setting the Scene at Kadesh • Israel has reached Kadesh on the edge of the Promised Land (Numbers 20:1). • Before advancing, “Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom” (Numbers 20:14). • Edom descends from Esau, Jacob’s twin; tensions have simmered for centuries (Genesis 25 – 36). Moses’ Respectful Diplomacy “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that has befallen us” (Numbers 20:14). • “Your brother” recognizes shared lineage and seeks reconciliation. • Moses recounts Israel’s oppression in Egypt (20:15), God’s deliverance (20:16), and their present need (20:17). • He asks, he does not demand: “Please let us pass through your land” (20:17). • He pledges self-restraint: “We will not drink water from your wells; we will stay on the King’s Highway” (20:17). What We Learn • Humility before authority – Moses, though leader of two million people, approaches as a petitioner (1 Peter 5:5–6). – He honors the civil ruler God has set over Edom (Romans 13:1). • Appeal to shared identity – “Brother” underscores covenant roots and diffuses hostility (Psalm 133:1). – Believers likewise appeal to common grace when engaging the culture (Acts 17:26–28). • Transparency and truthfulness – Moses lays out Israel’s history honestly (Ephesians 4:25). – No manipulation, only facts—and God’s intervention credited. • Commitment to peace – “We will go by the main road” (Numbers 20:19) reflects Romans 12:18: “If it is possible…live at peace with everyone.” – Deuteronomy 2:4–6 later commands Israel to buy food and water from Edom, proving Moses meant what he said. • Respect for property and boundaries – Pledging not to touch wells models biblical ethic: “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). – Even God-given promises do not cancel neighborly obligations (Proverbs 22:28). • Grounding requests in God’s faithfulness – Moses reminds Edom, “The LORD heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt” (20:16). – Past deliverance fuels present confidence without arrogance (Psalm 105:1–5). When Peace Efforts Are Rejected “Edom came out against them with a large army and strong hand…So Israel turned away” (Numbers 20:20–21). • Israel does not retaliate; they reroute at God’s direction (Deuteronomy 2:8). • Patience under provocation foreshadows Christ “who, when He suffered, He did not threaten” (1 Peter 2:23). • God still guides His people; closed doors redirect, not defeat, His purposes (Proverbs 16:9). Echoes of Christ • Like Moses, Jesus approached hardened hearts with grace first (Matthew 23:37). • Christ also pledges respectful entry: “I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20). • Rejection brings consequences, yet the offer remains genuine and peaceful (John 1:11–12). Take-Home Applications • Approach opponents as image-bearers before seeing them as obstacles. • Speak truth seasoned with grace; recount God’s works naturally in conversation. • Seek peace, honor boundaries, and leave outcomes to the Lord’s sovereignty. • When denied, avoid bitterness; trust God’s redirection and keep moving in obedience. |
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