May 18, 1999, Tuesday

Would you think that your relatives would offer you

kindness after you had suffered much difficulty? Do

you think safe passage to another country is reasonable

as a request to make from people of another country?

Moses tells us that Israel asked for favor from the

people of Esau's descendants, the Edomites. With much

affliction that Israel had suffered in Egypt, Moses

thought perhaps his own relations would show kindness-

"Please let us pass through your country. We will not

pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink

water from wells; we will go along the King's Highway;

we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left

until we have passed through your territory" (Num 20:17).

Whatever the reason, previous jealousy that Israel now

had God's blessing, or guarding the resources of water

in the land, Edom refused Israel the right of passage.

It was a reasonable request and the ambassadors asked

for safe passage again stating that no trespass would

be made against any man's property, either in ground

or in water and they would make all speed to go quickly-

"So the children of Israel said to him, "We will go by

the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your

water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through

on foot, nothing more" (Num 20:19). It was shameful for

Edom to refuse their kindred relations safe passage and

upon this second request, even threatened Israel. To the

honor of Israel they turned away from Edom and did not

seek a quarrel. Reasonable requests are often denied by

unreasonable men to those that are favored by God.

As Israel sought a way to the land that God promised to

them in Canaan, they met other opposition. With another

similar request to the leaders of Sihon and Bashan, they

were met with fierce attacks and Israel was then at war-

"Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside

into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from

wells. We will go by the King's Highway until we have

passed through your territory" (Num 21:22). God did not

let them perish, but defeated the offensive against the

aggressors and no survivors were left. Along the highway

that they traveled to Canaan, God trained and taught them

in His holiness, but not without opposition.

Let us remember Who has the holier and righteous way.

God's Name is Jehová Elohim. He is the God who puts

our feet on a Highway of Holiness that allows us to

enter at the narrow gate of eternal life, not the wide

Broadway that leads to destruction. Lift your hands,

heart to Him for His Creation and provision of the

righteous way. You can Trust Him and Praise Him

Today for a holy way and better way!