Read Numbers
32-33 & Mark
10:1-31
To discover:
As you read note God’s intentions for Israel
as she enters the land.
To ponder:
Despite his utter holiness, God welcomes requests given in
the right spirit. So the Reubenites and Gadites request land not promised by
him, on the east of the Jordon river. Moses’ assumption that this reflects Israel’s
prior lack of faith that the land will be taken is recorded in detail. This
reminds us as readers to guard against that “evil,” and so follow the LORD
“wholeheartedly” (32v11-12). Moses’ concern is that, just as they are about to
receive their inheritance, Israel
will “make the LORD even more angry” and cause her destruction.
However the
two tribes are ready not just to enter the land but “go ahead” of the Israelites,
until the nation is properly established. Their courage to “fight before the
LORD” displays their faith. Moreover, they want none of the blessings of their
inheritance or even to return to their families until they have finished
serving God’s purposes. So Moses gave the land requested to these two tribes
and the half-tribe of Manasseh (the tribe of Joseph became two tribes named
after his sons Manasseh and Ephraim).
We are also to “fight the good
fight.” Our lives are to be given in faithful and courageous service, advancing
God’s kingdom against his spiritual enemies not with the sword but the word.
And we too must be ready to make sacrifices to this end, desiring nothing of
our inheritance until we have played our part and God’s purposes are
accomplished (Lk 9v23-27, 2 Tim 3v7-8).
Chapter 33
summarises Israel’s
journey before entering the land. We’re told God himself commanded Moses to record
the stages. This was a reminder of the miracle of the Exodus, whereby God
judged Egypt’s “gods”
so that Israel
were able to march out “boldly” in full view (33v3-4). It also plotted his
faithful leading of Israel
in fulfilment of his promises. Christ brought judgement on all evil powers by
disarming them through the cross, so they can no longer enslave believers to
sin or the fear of death (Col
2v13-15). By recalling this, we are kept mindful that the “gods” of the world
are false and so impotent. And by considering God’s acts in his church since
then, we remember his faithfulness to his promises, strengthening our faith.
You can
imagine Israel
at this point massed on the plains of Moab
waiting to enter. Here God instructs them. They are to “drive out the
inhabitants,” destroy their means of idolatry, take possession of the land and
distribute it by lot (see 26v52-56). The reason for this cleansing of the land
is also given: Without it the peoples there “will become barbs in your eyes and
thorns in your sides” – causing Israel grief and pain, and limiting the degree
to which they enjoy the land, just as these things limit the outcome of
farming. Indeed, by leading Israel
into the same sin and idolatry as the Canaanites, it will mean her being driven
out just as the Canaanites are due to be (33v55-56).
We are
called to keep ourselves from temptation and not be yoked to unbelievers.
However, the NT gives no suggestion the church should mirror Israel
in these actions. Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, but of the next (Jn
18v36). Our inheritance is no earthy nation but the new creation. And it is
when Christ returns that false religion and its followers will be removed. For now,
Christians are called to faithfulness to the Lord whilst living within a
hostile world, overcoming not with force but “by the blood of the lamb and the
word of their testimony” (Rev 12v1).
Praying it home:
Thank God for the inheritance to come. Pray you and
Christians you know would hold loosely to the things of this world and so give
yourself wholeheartedly and courageously to building God’s kingdom?
Thinking further:
None today.
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Continuing to benefit greatly from this blog-thanks Jon. Is the 2 Tim reference today actually chapter 4 rather than chapter 3? (Out of character I actually looked them all up today!)
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