The preceding chapters in Numbers 17-19 show the first step toward community transformation begins with yourself. Pray for more passionate love for Christ personally and among other believers in your community. Follow God’s leading so you embrace His calling for your life. Give generously to your local church and kingdom projects. Spend regular time in confessing sin. Encourage others to walk in holiness. Then you are in position to rely completely on His power and surrender every provision for God’s use. God sends the power of the Holy Spirit for deliverance and healing when you look to Him in faith. Finally you can pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Numbers 20-21 explain this progression to possess your community with God’s glory.
When Miriam died there and no water was found for the congregation, they quarreled against Moses and Aaron asking why they had been brought into the wilderness to die. God’s glory appeared to Moses and Aaron when they came to the doorway of tent of meeting and fell on their faces. God told Moses to take the rod and speak to the rock before their eyes so it would yield water. Moses said, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” He struck the rock twice with his rod and water came forth abundantly. Because Moses did not believe and treat God as holy in the sight of Israel, he could not bring them into the land. God proved Himself holy among them (Num. 20:1-13). Leaders must treat God as holy before others in obedience knowing the end does not justify the means.
The king of Edom refused to let Israel could pass through his land from Kadesh along the king’s highway. The Lord said that Aaron could not enter the land because he rebelled against His command. After his garments were put on his son Eleazar, Aaron died on the mountain top (Num. 20:14-29). Rely completely on the power of God instead of unbelief or trusting self to prevent spiritual and physical death.
The Canaanite king of Arad fought against Israel and took some of them captive. Israel vowed that if God delivered them into their hand, they would totally destroy their cities. The Lord listened and delivered up the Canaanites so they could destroy them (Num. 21:1-3). God demands total surrender of every provision for His use.
When they set out to go around Edom, the people became impatient because of the journey. People complained against Moses about no food or water and loathing “this miserable food.” The Lord sent fiery serpents and many people died from the bites. When the people admitted their sin, Moses interceded and made a bronze serpent set on a standard so everyone who was bitten could look at it and live (Num. 21:4-9). God delivers and heals when you look to Him in faith.
Assemble the people so God could give them water. Israel sang a song that exalted a well that the leaders dug and established with staffs (Num. 21:10-20). God sends the power of the Holy Spirit to provide for you.
Israel asked Sihon, king of the Amorites, if they could pass through his land and remain on the king’s highway without drinking water from their wells. When Sihon refused, Israel defeated and took possession of the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok. Israel took and lived in all the Amorite cities in Heshbon, which was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who formerly devoured Ar of Moab. Moses spied out Jazer and dispossessed the Amorites living there. The Lord said to Moses not to fear the king of Bashan. God would give him into his hand and possess their land (Num. 21:21-35). Use spiritual weapons of prayer to possess your community with God’s glory instead of relying on the world’s resources.
Ask God to lead you through the progression to possess your community with God’s glory:
1. Leaders must treat God as holy before others in obedience knowing the end does not justify the means
2. Rely completely on the power of God instead of unbelief or trusting self to prevent spiritual and physical death
3. God demands total surrender of every provision for His use
4. God delivers and heals when you look to Him in faith
5. God sends the power of the Holy Spirit to provide for you
6. Use spiritual weapons of prayer to possess your community with God’s glory instead of relying on the world’s resources
