The Midianites

The Midianites

In the Book of Numbers, in Chapter 10: verses 29–36, we learn that..,

One day, Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab, son of Reuel, the Midianite, 

“We are on our way, to the place the Lord promised us, for he said, ‘I will give it to you.’ 

Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!” 

But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.” 

“Please don’t leave us,” Moses pleaded. “You know the places, in the wilderness. where we should camp. 

Come, be our guide. 

If you do, we’ll share with you all the blessings, which the Lord gives us.” 

They marched for three days, after leaving the mountain of the Lord, with the Ark, of the Lord’s Covenant, moving ahead of them, to show them …where to stop …and rest. 

As they moved on, each day, the cloud of the Lord …hovered over them. 

And whenever the Ark set out, Moses would shout, 

“Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered! 

Let them flee before you!” 

And when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel!” 

Then, in the Book of Numbers Chapter 31, the Lord says to Moses,

 "On behalf of the people of Israel, take revenge on the Midianites for leading (some of) them into idolatry. 

After that, you will die and join your ancestors.” " 

So Moses, as his last official act, in leading God’s people, said to the people, 

"Arm some of your men, to go to war against the Midianites, and carry out the LORD's vengeance, on them.”

We then see, later in Scripture, that even after the Israelites were in the promised land, whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites would invade. 

They would camp on the land, and ruin the crops, and not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.

Even in the time of Judges, Gideon and his 300 men  had to march against and defeat the Midianite invaders.

All this animosity existed (and still exists) even though the Midianites are Ishmaelites, descended from the patriarch Abraham, cousins of the Israelites.

This is God’s Word,for all of God’s people.

Praise be to God!


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