CHAPTER 2 – BLOODLINE AND LINEAGE: IN HIM IS STRENGTH
Moses and Aaron are not allowed to enter into the Promised Land partly due to Moses speaking to Israel without God telling him to impart the message that Israel heard from Moses. Saying to Israel, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch water out of this rock?” Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock. Their action set Moses and Aaron apart.
They were showing how the water came forth by their effort instead of setting God apart from Moses and Aaron—not revealing how it is God who will bring forth water out of the rock for the congregation of Israel. And for their cattle to drink from, Moses was to only speak to the rock although Moses and Aaron will not enter into the land of milk and honey, they will die before Israel comes into the Promised Land; never to enter into the land of milk and honey.
Knowing that they will die before they finish their purpose, Moses had to continue in his leadership position; he had an immense task to lead the children of the congregation of Israel to the Promised Land. It is now inaccessible to them. His purpose hasn’t changed just because he doesn’t have permission to enter into the Promised Land.
Therefore, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. Thus, saith thy brother Israel, “Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us. ‘How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; (four hundred years). And the Egyptians vexed our fathers and us: and when we cried unto the Lord, He heard our voice and sent an angel and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and behold, we are in Kadesh; (it’s a sanctuary a sacred place).’” A city in the uttermost of thy border: Let us pass; I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through thy fields, or through thy vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s highway; we will not turn to the right hand or the left until we have passed thy borders.
This clear explanation by Moses for the king of Edom by way of his messengers is an abridgment of their family connection. Explaining their family’s hard labor, their subjection to slavery, and how the angel of the Lord brought them out of bondage; look, we are here in Kadesh, a sacred place, a sanctuary.
Israel is the brother of Esau; Edomites are the descendants of Esau; Israel is of the children of Jacob; Israel and the children of the king of Edom are relatives.
The power of God throughout the land is evident because of what God has done for Israel wherefore, Moses informs the king how they were in bondage for a long time, and it was only by the angel of the Lord who has brought them out of Egypt, and we are here in Kadesh.
Moses wants to pass by their land as he leads Israel to the Promised Land, promising the king how they will pass by if permitted to do so without taking any fruit from their area. They will not take the fruit out from their fields or their vineyards, nor will they drink from their wells: they only want to pass through their land. Edom said unto him, “Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the Sword.”
The children of Israel state to the king that we will go by the highway: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, we will pay for it. The children of Israel are adamantly expressing that they will disobey the king’s response to their request. They will travel by the high way; therefore, the children of Israel oppose the king’s answer and say, “If they or their cattle wanted to drink from their wells, they would pay for the water.” But Edom, the king, said, “No, you shall not go through.” Then, Edom came out against Israel with many people and with a steady hand, an impudent, hard, stiff hearted stroke with deadly intent. Thus, Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore, Israel turned away from him.
Moses’ speech to Israel in Deuteronomy (2:4, 5); he reveals how God spoke to Moses commanding Israel, saying, “Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir. And they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: meddle not with them, for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.”
The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, “Aaron shall gather unto his people. For he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.” The Lord said unto Moses, “Take Aaron and Eleazer, his son and bring them up unto mount Hor: and strip Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazer, his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people and shall die there.”
The Lord commands Moses to bring Aaron and Eleazer defined as God is my help, unto the mount of promotion. God takes Eleazer from where he is as a priest, and God brings him to where He will establish him upon mount Hor; the God of help will promote Eleazer. Eleazer, God is my help, is to become a high priest, the Lord will pass the authority of the Priest’ office, stripping Aaron of his clothing, putting them upon Eleazer, his son.
The changing of the priest’s office from Aaron to Eleazer on Mount Hor is for Moses to hallow Eleazer so that he may minister unto God in the priest’s office. In essence, the garments are holy, and Eleazer is anointed therein and consecrated in them. Aaron’s work is now finished. He has completed the work of the Lord. Therefore, Eleazer shall put on the holy garments; he shall wear them seven days when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the sacred place as the Lord commanded. Moses did as the Lord commanded, and they went up unto mount Hor, the mountain of promotion in the sight of all the congregation. Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazer Aaron’s son: and Aaron died there at the top of the mount.
Moses and Eleazer came down from the mount: when the entire congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel. Aaron died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel came out of Egypt on the first day of the fifth month. Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old.
The transference of the office of the high priest upon mount Hor was suitable for promoting Aaron’s son Eleazer. The transition had taken place upon the apex of mount Hor; defined as “The Mount of Promotion” it confirms the changeover of the Priesthood; only the: Most High God can institute a change of office upon a mountain that is named to establish the Lord’s sponsorship. After his father’s death, Eleazer has the endorsement from the Lord. The God of Israel is in concurrence with Moses, and the children of Israel acknowledge Eleazer as elevated to the position of High Priest.
After the change of office was accepted and approved by the Lord God of Israel, Moses, and all of the children of Israel then came King Arad, the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south. He heard tell that Israel came by way of the spies; then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners; and Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord and said, “If thou wilt indeed deliver these people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”
The last time Israel vowed a vow unto God, his name was Jacob saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God.” The Lord is the God of Israel. As a result of all that Jacob had pledged unto God, and all He has done for Jacob; never leaving him, keeping him in the way, giving him bread to eat and clothed him with clothing for Jacob to put on, allowing Jacob to return to his father’s house in peace: Now the Lord is Israel’s God.
Therefore, the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites. They utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah: defined as devoted and utterly destroys.
Names during this age, it is assured to reveal the character, purpose, position, and the plan of God; the name Hormah gives clear evidence of the Lord’s individuality, allowing the Israelites to destroy their enemies utterly because God is devoted to Israel. Now Israel journeyed from Mount Hor by way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: going around their territory instead of going through Edom. And the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God and Moses, “Wherefore, have ye brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? ‘For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.’”
Israel lacks the strength to obey God. Their intellectual observation of what the Lord has done for them is deficient of temperance, trust, patience, and respect for the Lord. Israel continuously expresses its desire to return to Egypt. Every time they opt to believe in their cognitive deficiencies, Israel has brought forth retribution from God. Therefore, the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many people of Israel died. Fiery serpents are venomous snakes. Israel has tempted God with...