The First is a Great First Step

Numbers 21:1–3 (ESV) When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.” 3 And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.

Something wonderful begins to happen for Israel in Numbers 21. They start winning battles against Canaanite kings. But here at Hormah, the more important thing is that they learn how to win battles. 

It's interesting how the text gives us clues that they have circled back in many ways from their tremendous fall of Numbers 13-14. First the text tells us that the Israelites are going "by the way of Atharim" - which means "by the way of the spies." Secondly, Hormah is the place Israel is soundly defeated when they disobey God and charge into the Promised Land after God told them no because of their disbelief. A generation was judged for disbelieving the Lord could give them the victory over their enemies. A new generation is growing up in their place. What will be their response to similar circumstances faced?

They have come back to familiar ground, but the results will be very different. When some of their own are captured, they could have thought history was repeating itself.

They decide to take their case to God.
"And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”

It is here we see how to break free from whatever was handed down to us by previous generations. Israel first turns to God. They do not run and flee. They do not fall to pieces in disbelief. But most importantly, they give their firsts to God. They vow that this city - their first victory will be God's spoils. 

Of course we may have a hard time with this. We think "How could they wipe people out?" But we must remember that God gave the Canaanite people 400 years to repent and they did not. Further, this was a very evil people, beyond repair. Many societies in history reach a point of no return. This is where our government gets the term "just war" from. Sometimes there is no more negotiating and no more mercy allowable for the benefit of the greater good. Israel was God's tool for judgment on these too-far-gone civilizations. 

The fact that Israel devotes them to destruction and God accords them this option is because ultimately the whole world belongs to God. This vow of Israel was showing they were starting to understand that. Giving the first fruits of their increase to God was an act of faith and obedience. God will bless the rest when we trust Him with the first. Many Christians fail to see God act in large ways in their lives. This is the reason. They fail to put Him first financially. It is NEVER that God needs it. It is always that we NEED to see He owns it. He can do with it what He wants. Trusting Him is not only prosperous and right, it is simply common sense when you believe right things about God.


The nation experiences her first military victory. In a big way this small passage shows them turning the page on a generational curse. They will not be like their parents, they will believe God and trust Him. And then they show it in their giving.