Audio Download

Numbers 21:1-35  The Fiery Serpent on a Pole

[Study Aired September 25, 2023]

Num 21:1  And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. 
Num 21:2  And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. 
Num 21:3  And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.
Num 21:4  And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 
Num 21:5  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 
Num 21:6  And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 
Num 21:7  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 
Num 21:8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. 
Num 21:10  And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth. 
Num 21:11  And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising. 
Num 21:12  From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared. 
Num 21:13  From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 
Num 21:14  Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, 
Num 21:15  And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab. 
Num 21:16  And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. 
Num 21:17  Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: 
Num 21:18  The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah: 
Num 21:19  And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth: 
Num 21:20  And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon. 
Num 21:21  And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 
Num 21:22  Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high way, until we be past thy borders.
Num 21:23  And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 
Num 21:24  And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.
Num 21:25  And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof. 
Num 21:26  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, even unto Arnon.
Num 21:27  Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: 
Num 21:28  For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon. 
Num 21:29  Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 
Num 21:30  We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba. 
Num 21:31  Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 
Num 21:32  And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there. 
Num 21:33  And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei. 
Num 21:34  And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. 
Num 21:35  So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land. 

Introduction

This chapter is about the defeats and victories the Israelites experienced when they encountered in the wilderness, king Arad of Canaan, king Sihon of the Amorites and king Og of Bashan on their way to the promised land. It also chronicles the various stages of the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness as they get closer to the border of Canaan and the fiery serpents sent by the Lord among the people of Israel when they spoke against the Lord for the hardships they were going through in the wilderness.  

As we stated in the previous study, from chapter 20 to the end of the Book of Numbers talks about the history of the fortieth year (which was the last year) of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. Spiritually, it shows us the circumstances leading to our exit from Babylon to possess our bodies (land). As we can see from the word of the Lord, no matter the differences in our circumstances and challenges, all the Lord’s elect go through the same experience.

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

Today’s study shows us some of the battles we encountered as the Lord started preparing us to leave Babylon and the provision the Lord has made to ensure that we become victorious in our walk with Christ in this wilderness of life.

Being Held Prisoners by the Canaanites

Num 21:1  And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.
Num 21:2  And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. 
Num 21:3  And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.

King Arad, the Canaanite fighting the Israelites and taking some of them prisoners, signifies our being overcome and held captive by our flesh. As we are aware, our walk with the Lord while we were in Babylon was characterized by our flesh dominating us. Although we desired to walk in the righteousness of Christ, we found ourselves being overcome by our flesh. This is what characterized our walk in Babylon or the churches of this world:

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

In our desperation, we cried to the Lord to deliver us from our own flesh, or the old man within us, just as the Israelites in verse 3 vowed a vow before the Lord that if He delivers the Canaanites into their hands, they will utterly destroy them. Looking back, we can see that the Lord heard our prayer of desperation as our gradual victory over our flesh is a testament that through us the Lord would completely destroy our old man or flesh, which in this case is represented by the Canaanites.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The Fiery Serpent on a Pole

Num 21:4  And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 
Num 21:5  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 
Num 21:6  And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 
Num 21:7  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 
Num 21:8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. 

As indicated in the previous study, the Edomites did not allow the Israelites to pass through their land, which was the quickest way to the promised land. This means that they have to go around the land of the Edomites as they journeyed toward the land of Canaan. It was very frustrating for the Israelites to go through such a long route, especially when they did not have enough water and food in the wilderness. This is the experience of every elect. The Edomites represent our flesh, and since we did not have what it takes to overcome the flesh when we left the world (Egypt), we have to go round in circles in Babylon where there is lack of the truth of the word of the Lord (lack of water and food). We ended up complaining about our circumstances just like the Israelites did. When we complained, we were basically telling the Lord that He is not in charge of our situation. That is why the Bible enjoins us to resist complaining or grumbling.

Php 2:14  Do all things without grumbling or disputing, (ESV)

1Co 10:9  We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 
1Co 10:10  nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 
1Co 10:11  Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (ESV)

Php 4:11  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 
Php 4:12  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 
Php 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)

In response to our complaint, the Lord sent fiery serpents, which signify the devil, to bruise our heels, and therefore we became spiritually worse off or dead. That was the situation of our lives in Babylon – we were spiritually dead. 

Gen 3:13  Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Gen 3:14  The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 
Gen 3:15  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

The Israelites being bitten by the fiery serpents is actually the Lord causing the devil to bruise our heels in this life (destroying our walk with Christ) as the Lord told the serpent to do in the verses above. However, that is not the end of the story. The Lord also told the serpent that we shall bruise his head. The bruising of the serpent’s head means that the Lord will provide a solution for us to overcome the devil’s power making us alive in Him or bringing salvation to us first, and later the whole world, by instructing Moses to create a bronze serpent on a rod, whose mere contemplation is sufficient to cure anyone bitten by the fiery serpent. That which cured us of the curse was shaped into the likeness of that which wounded us. The image of the serpent on the pole thus foretells Christ’s crucifixion, which brings redemption to humanity and causes us to triumph over the mortal serpent.

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

Joh 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 
Joh 3:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Joh 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 12:33  This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

It is insightful to note that in verse 7, Moses prayed for the people when they recognized they had sinned against the Lord. This prayer can be compared to our Lord Jesus’ prayer when He was on the cross and asked the father to forgive the sins of all those who crucified Him. Stephen also prayed the same kind of prayer. We, as the Lord’s elect, must show mercy to people when the Lord gives us the opportunity to show mercy. In the Lake of Fire age, we shall show mercy to all humanity as a result of the mercy we have received from the Lord.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

The Journey to the Land of Canaan

Num 21:10  And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth. 
Num 21:11  And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising. 
Num 21:12  From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared. 
Num 21:13  From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 
Num 21:14  Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, 
Num 21:15  And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab. 
Num 21:16  And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. 
Num 21:17  Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: 
Num 21:18  The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah: 
Num 21:19  And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth: 
Num 21:20  And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon. 

After the serpent experience, the first place the people of Israel moved to was Oboth which means ‘waterskin.’ The name of the place therefore means ‘a receptacle used to hold water.’ As we draw closer to our exit from Babylon, the Lord causes us to become receptive to the truth of the word of the Lord. The next place the people of Israel moved to was Ijeabarim which means ‘ruins.’ It is as the Lord begins to open our eyes and ears that we come to see the ruins of the church system (Babylon) of which we are part. From Ijeabarim, they went to Zared which means to ‘be exuberant in growth.’ The little knowledge of the truth we have received causes us to become exuberant in our quest to know the Lord and His words more.

The next stop in the wilderness for the people of Israel was Arnon, which means a ‘brawling stream.’ The truth of the word of the Lord we have received wrestles against the idols of our hearts (false doctrines). After Arnon, the people of Israel journeyed to Beer which means a well. This means that the Lord continues to open our eyes to the truth of His words, but the truth we receive is very limited since the water here is a well and not a flowing stream. As we began to thirst for more of the word of the Lord, we, therefore, like the Israelites sing a song that the well would spring up more water. Being guided by the Lord, we, as princes and nobles of the Lord, begin to dig the well for more water, that is seek for more truth of the word of the Lord. 

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

From Beer, the people of Israel came to Mattanah which means ‘a gift.’ It is at this point we begin to see that the opening of our eyes to see and our ears to hear is not by ourselves. It is all a gift from the Lord. 

1 Pe 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Eph 2:9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 

From Mattanah, the Israelites traveled to Nahaliel, which means ‘valley of God.’ A valley in the scriptures can signify the Lord’s judgment as shown in the following verses:

Joe 3:12  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

Joe 3:14  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

The truth we are learning from the word of the Lord will result in us being judged by the Lord. The purpose of the Lord’s judgment on our old man is to cause us to learn righteousness. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

From Nahaliel, the people of Israel journeyed to Bamoth, which means ‘heights of Baal.’ It is as we are being enlightened and judged through the fire of the word of the Lord that we come to understand the heights of the failure of Babylon or the churches of this world. From Bamoth, the people of Israel moved to the top of mount Pisgah which overlooks Jeshimon. Pisgah means ‘division’, and Jeshimon means ‘desolation’ or ‘waste.’ This means that we come to clearly see the divisions in the churches of this world or Babylon and also come to see the end of Babylon, which shall be a desolation or a state of complete destruction at the right time designated by the Lord 

Rev 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 
Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 
Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 
Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Rev 18:11  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

The Conquest of Sihon, King of the Amorites

Num 21:21  And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 
Num 21:22  Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high way, until we be past thy borders.
Num 21:23  And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 
Num 21:24  And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 
Num 21:25  And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof. 

When we were in Babylon, we did not clearly see the enmity between our flesh and the new man the Lord is creating within us which is after the spirit. We think we can be at peace with our old man, who is represented here by Sihon, king of the Amorites. We want our old man or our flesh to assist us to serve the Lord just as the people of Israel wanted Sihon to aid them in their journey toward the land of Canaan by letting them pass through his land. However, our Lord wants us to know that we are at war with our old man.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

In verse 23-25, Sihon the king of the Amorites came to Jahaz and engaged the Israelites in a battle and was defeated. The name Jahaz means to be ‘trodden down.’ The fact that Sihon moved to Jahaz means the Lord has taken away his defenses to be trodden down by the Israelites. As a result of the defeat of Sihon, the Israelites dwelt in the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and all their villages. At this point in our walk with the Lord, while He is preparing us to leave Babylon, the truth that we have received together with our fiery trials as a result of His word destroys part of our flesh (Sihon) and therefore, we start to possess our bodies (take over the cities of the Amorites) for the Lord as we learn righteousness.

1Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 

Num 21:26  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, even unto Arnon. 
Num 21:27  Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: 
Num 21:28  For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon. 
Num 21:29  Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 
Num 21:30  We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba. 

Heshbon means ‘stronghold.’ As the Lord is preparing us to possess our land, certain habits in our lives that we are not able to overcome which have become strongholds (Heshbon) in our lives are dealt with by the Lord. What we need to understand is that possessing our bodies is a process which takes a lifetime. There are therefore many Heshbons in our lives, but by the grace of God, all the strongholds or habits that are difficult for us to disengage will be dealt with gradually by the Lord for us to possess our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Isa 23:11  He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
Isa 25:12  And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.

Num 21:31  Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 
Num 21:32  And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
Num 21:33  And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.
Num 21:34  And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.
Num 21:35  So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.

As indicated, as we begin to understand the truth of the word of the Lord and our fiery trials begin, the strength of our flesh or our old man begins to be destroyed as the Lord comes with His brightness to consume the old man.  

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The defeat of the Amorites at Jaazer and that of Og, king of Bashan, are all symbols of our flesh or the old man that the Lord destroys on our behalf with His coming into our lives. The name Jaazer means ‘helpful.’ This means that Israelites were helped by the Lord in the defeat of the Amorites. The death of our old man or our flesh is a process, and in the early stages of our walk, some aspects of our flesh are dealt with easily, just as the Israelites easily overcame the Amorites and King Og of Bashan.

Psa 124:1  A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 
Psa 124:2  If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
Psa 124:3  Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Psa 124:4  Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
Psa 124:5  Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
Psa 124:6  Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Psa 124:7  Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 
Psa 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

May His Name be Praised forever. Amen!!