When the Word of the Lord is sent to someone, it carries authority concerning what it reveals or commands. Thus, Heaven stands ready to act on behalf of that person. No matter how much the enemy tries to make them abandon the mission received from God, their steps will be directed by Him, and they will succeed in the work entrusted to them. On the other hand, those who resist the command will pay a high price.

During the 40 years of wandering in the desert—a kind of divine “school”—the hand of God protected the people of Israel from all evil (Deuteronomy 29:5). Those who belong to the Lord and serve Him with reverence do not feel the hardships of the heat of the day or the cold of the night (Psalm 121:6), for they are protected and sustained by the Father’s love. The wonders are so many that one cannot even count them (Psalm 139:17-18).

The verse under study brings God’s clear command: as they passed through Esau’s territory, they were to be prudent, carefully guarding themselves to avoid evil. In this way, their needs would be supplied by the Lord. They would only be attacked or become ill if they disobeyed divine instructions and longed for the food of Egypt. Once, dissatisfied with the manna, they asked for meat and ate so much that they became ill (Numbers 11:1–20ff). When they sinned, they experienced thirst—and that indeed happened. Therefore, Moses had to bring water from the rock twice (Exodus 17:5–6; Numbers 20:11). Sin brings harmful consequences!

On the other hand, God always gave them the water they needed, and for years they did not go thirsty. There is no water in the desert, except in small oases here and there, but the precious liquid was provided to quench their thirst: And they did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out. (Isaiah 48.21). God cares for and protects His people wherever they may be led. The Lord is our bread and our drink (John 6:55).

That generation of Israelites did not understand what was happening to them. There was no water in the desert, yet God made them drink from Christ, the Rock that followed them. Thus, the water they received satisfied them, even though they did not understand how it happened: and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.  (1 Corinthians 10.4). When we serve Christ, He works within us!

The command was not to disturb Esau, for the Most High provided for his descendants in Seir, whose name means “rough” or “hairy” (Deuteronomy 2:4–7). God warned that the sons of Esau would be afraid of the Israelites, and they were instructed not to touch anything that belonged to that people. They obeyed; however, when God’s people requested passage, they were mistreated by them (Numbers 20:14–21).

The Israelites had to be careful and, out of fear of God, heed His warning. Everything the Almighty speaks to us must be obeyed without question. Those who disobey Him fall into transgression and face serious consequences. Take heed!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares