Subject: Grace to others - Numbers 18-20

Numbers 20:14-21 (ESV Strong's)

Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. 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.” But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.” And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.” But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

Subject:  Grace for others

The Christian life is about receiving and giving grace.  God gave us grace and we are to give others grace.   Grace is the oil that smooths out life and gives life.   Think about how refreshing it is to have someone give you grace.  When you mess up and make a huge mistake and they extend to you grace!!  Think of how it is when we sin and sin and sin and God, in His abundant love for us gives us grace.   Think about the truth of the that and the feeling that follows that truth.   In the above passage, however, the Edomites did not have grace.  They did not allow Moses and the people to pass through their land where God wanted them to go.  Not only did that offend the nation of Israel, it also offended God and violated the character of God.   The prophet Obadiah would eventually prophesy destruction against the Edomites for their lack of Grace.  Edom was a descendant of Essau. Essau sold his birthright to Jacob (Israel) for some stew.   Edom's lack of forgiveness and grace is what is pictured above.  We should be a forgiving and people of Grace.  That is an example of God's grace and magnifies Him!!!