Numbers 21:10-35; Turning Sorrow into Song ~ 20260607 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
2026.06.07 Numbers 21:10-35; Turning Sorrow into Song; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20260607_numbers-21_10-35.mp3
Numbers 20 chronicles death; death of Miriam, death promised to Moses and Aaron, the death of Aaron the high priest, and the transfer of his responsibility to his son Eleazar to serve the next generation.
Numbers 21, this next generation faces opposition and cries out to the Lord for help, and he gives them victory where they had previously been defeated. But their hearts still need to be transformed. There is no water, and so they speak venomous words against the Lord and against Moses. They call his good gifts, his provision ‘worthless’. They called the bread from heaven ‘worthless’. Jesus said:
John 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ...35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
In a conversation about God’s miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness, Jesus claimed to be the bread who comes down from heaven, the bread of God. In describing this bread as ‘worthless’, they foreshadow a rejection of God’s provision in Jesus, and outside of Jesus there is nothing but to be given over to the power of the serpent. But as rebels, through their mediator, they cried out for rescue, and God decreed that his own curse on them be lifted up for all to look at, and whoever would look would live (Jn.6:40). You, who have spurned Jesus as insufficient, not enough for you, deemed his cross repulsive, repugnant, offensive, recognize your desperate situation and look to Jesus, lifted up on a cross, who became a curse for you; turn away from you sins, turn to Jesus, look and live!
Numbers 21 records the beginnings of transformation in this next generation. They began by seeking the Lord’s help and experiencing his gift of victory, but they tried out their parents’ habit of grumbling and complaining, and found that it ends in death. They confessed their sin, and God provided a way for them to escape the death they deserved.
Turning Sorrows into Song; March to the Land
In the rest of Numbers 21 we see a transformation of their grumbling and complaining into rejoicing, celebration of God’s provision, into song. The people begin to turn their sorrows into singing.
Numbers 21:10 And the people of Israel set out and camped in Oboth. 11 And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD, “Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon, 15 and the slope of the valleys that extends to the seat of Ar, and leans to the border of Moab.”
This travel narrative advances quickly toward the land. It is a staccato list of the movement of the people (a more complete list is in Numbers 33); there is no narrative, no record of grumbling or complaining. After the detour around Edom by way of the Red Sea, they travel north crossing the brook Zered east of Moab and then across the Arnon river into Amorite territory.
God gave specific instructions in Deuteronomy 2 not to engage Edom or the descendants of Esau in battle, for he had given them the region of Seir as a possession. He warned them not to engage Moab or the descendants of Lot, for he had given them Ar as a possession. Later he would warn not to attack Ammon, the other descendants of Lot. Crossing the Arnon would bring them into Amorite territory, a people who were not related to Abraham. An excerpt from ‘the Book of the Wars of YHWH’ is cited, a scrap of poetry or song describing the geography of the area. They sing of the valleys, the slopes, the rivers.
God’s Gracious Provision: Water
Numbers 21:16 And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!— 18 the well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and with their staffs.” ...
Here YHWH himself takes the initiative. ‘Gather the people together that I may give them water’. God knows our needs before we even ask (or complain; Mt.6:8). Sometimes the Lord withholds his blessings until we look to him, until we are gathered together so that we recognize it is the Lord that is providing our needs. Here the people are gathered together to receive a gift from the Lord, and here for the first time since crossing the Red Sea (Ex.15:1), they break into song. Spring up O well! Rather than leading them to an oasis, rather than striking or speaking to a rock, this time they were gathered together to dig a well at the Lord’s direction. This could be a work song, as the people encouraged one another to dig. Notice this was not top-down leadership, where the princes and nobles sat under palm branches while they supervised the workers working. No, the leaders led by serving, by digging, working together at the instruction of the Lord to provide water for the people. And this was an occasion for singing, celebrating the provision of the Lord (Ps.5:11). He alone is the source of our every blessing.
Sihon King of the Amorites Defeated
Numbers 21:18 ...And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that looks down on the desert. 21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.
The Amorites were among the Canaanite tribes that the Lord had promised all the way back to Abram (even before he was renamed Abraham) that he would drive out before them (Gen.15:16-21). In fact it was the Amorites whose iniquity would bring about God’s judgment when he led his people in to dispossess them.
The people sent a diplomatic message to Sihon king of the Amorites with the same offer they had made to Edom; Sihon responded the same way; he refused them passage and mustered his army to meet Israel in the wilderness.
But this time went differently.
Numbers 21:24 And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon.
The history given here that the Amorites had taken this land from the former king of Moab becomes important 300 years later in Judges 11 when the Ammonites come against Jephthah and demand he return the land Israel took from them. He responded that the land in dispute was not taken from Ammon, but from the Amorites, who took it from Moab, and Israel will possess whatever YHWH gives them to possess; Ammon can possess whatever their god Chemosh has given them to possess (Jud.11:21-24).
This time, with no divine prohibition to prevent them, Israel engaged in battle with the Canaanites. Where their fathers were afraid even to attempt to approach the inhabitants, their children stepped out in faith and the Lord gave them victory. Again they break into song.
Numbers 21:27 Therefore the ballad singers say, “Come to Heshbon, let it be built; let the city of Sihon be established. 28 For fire came out from Heshbon, flame from the city of Sihon. It devoured Ar of Moab, and swallowed the heights of the Arnon. 29 Woe to you, O Moab! You are undone, O people of Chemosh! He has made his sons fugitives, and his daughters captives, to an Amorite king, Sihon. 30 So we overthrew them; Heshbon, as far as Dibon, perished; and we laid waste as far as Nophah; fire spread as far as Medeba.” 31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.
This is a victory song, a taunt song mocking the powerless false gods of other nations. Moab’s god Chemosh has sold his sons and daughters to an Amorite king, and now YHWH has shown himself more powerful than even the victorious Amorites or their false gods. It matters what god you worship! The Lord gave his people total victory over their enemy.
Og King of Bashan Defeated; The Battle Belongs to the Lord
Numbers 21:33 Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”
Here YHWH gives them a word of encouragement; ‘do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand’. Was not the previous victory enough to carry them on? We learn from Deuteronomy 3 that:
Deuteronomy 3:1 (For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.)
Og was a remnant of the Rephaim, a giant whose bed was 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide, and it was put on display by the Ammonites in Rabbah. This is exactly what ignited fear in the 10 spies:
Numbers 13:28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. ...33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
Rephaim, Anakim, Nephilim. Goliath was 9.5’ tall (1Sam17:4). Giants. ‘Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand’. When David faced Goliath he understood
1 Samuel 17:46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, ...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.”
‘The battle belongs to YHWH. That the earth may know that there is a God in Israel’
Numbers 21:35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.
Deuteronomy 3 records
Deuteronomy 3:4 And we took all his cities at that time—there was not a city that we did not take from them—sixty cities, the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides very many unwalled villages. 6 And we devoted them to destruction, ...
A Greater Purpose: The Fame of the Name of YHWH
These lands east of the Jordan were given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. But there was a greater purpose in all this.
Deuteronomy 2:24 ‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. 25 This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’
YHWH making a name for himself; In Joshua 2, Rahab told the spies:
Joshua 2:9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
The people of Gibeon deceived Israel into making a covenant with them:
Joshua 9:9 ...because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.
God is glorified when he triumphs over his enemies, when he extends mercy to those who turn to him, and when his people rejoice and sing. Psalm 135 says:
Psalm 135:8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; 9 who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; 10 who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, 11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 12 and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel. 13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. 14 For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
The fame of the name of YHWH, his renown endures forever. YHWH vindicates his people, and has compassion on his servants.
God’s fame, his renown, is put on display most eloquently in the name above every name (Phil.2), the name of Jesus, who humbled himself to become human, to become obedient to death, even death on a cross, to rescue rebels. He was lifted up on a cross, so that whoever would acknowledge their need for him, look to him for rescue, would be given the gift of eternal life.
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2026.06.07 Sermon Notes
Numbers 21:10-35 Turning Sorrow into Song
Jesus is the true bread from heaven; rejected by men
Numbers 21:5; John 6:33, 35; Isaiah 53:3; 1 Peter 2:4
Transformation of a generation: prayer, confessing sin,
believing, victory, singing
The Lord knows what you need before you ask him
Matthew 6:8; 7:7-8
The people respond in song
Numbers 21:17-18; Exodus 15:1; Psalm 5:11
The iniquity of the Amorites brings judgment
Genesis 10:15-18; 15:16-21
It matters what god you worship
Judges 11:21-24
The battle belongs to the Lord
Deuteronomy 3:1; Numbers 13:28, 33; 1 Samuel 17:46-47
Glory to God; for the fame of the name of YHWH
Deuteronomy 2:24-25; Joshua 2:9-11; 9:9-10; Psalm 135:8-14
Philippians 2:5-11
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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org