Week 57, Day 1: Passing on Inheritance
Today’s Reading: Numbers 36:1-13
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
The last chapter of Numbers contains some tying up of loose ends. We had been told before about the complaint brought up by the daughters of Zelophehad. He had died without sons but his daughters petitioned that their father’s portion of the inheritance not be cut off. The Lord granted that the daughters would receive the inheritance. Now the others in their tribe express their concern that such circumstances opens up for that portion of the inheritance to go to another tribe when the women marry outside of their tribe. Thus the Lord decrees that when the daughter receives her father’s inheritance she is to marry only within her tribe. This way the inheritance will remain with her father’s tribe.
Question: Were such commands optional? God restricted who these daughters could marry. What if the daughters didn’t want to marry within the tribe, could they choose to marry outside the tribe? What applications could be made to New Testament commands regarding marriage?
Week 56, Day 5: Cities of Refuge
Today’s Reading: Numbers 35:1-34
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
In this chapter Moses is told to command Israel to give a portion of their inheritance to the Levites. They are to give 42 cities and their surrounding fields to live in. Each tribe was to give cities for them to live in, each giving based on the size of their inheritance. In addition to these cities they were to give them 6 cities to be cities of refuge. These cities were to be places of refuge for the manslayer. The Lord then gives details of who is to be regarded as a manslayer. This is a very interesting section to me since we see a practice in our justice system of trying to sympathize with criminals or killers. A wife can kill her husband by shooting him 15 times and the courts want to characterize her actions as excusable because she was abused. This portion of scripture indicate that God views such actions as murder, not manslaughter. Man slaughter is clearly defined as accidental death caused to another. If the act was done suddenly, without enmity or without lying in wait (planning it) or with any deadly weapon (an object of stone, wood, iron, etc), then it could be classified as manslaughter (22-23).
God also emphasizes the importance of punishing those guilty of murder. They were not to allow a ransom to be paid for sparing the guilty (30). The spilling of blood pollutes the land. God said they were not to allow the land to be defiled since He dwelt in the midst of Israel. The only way to make atonement for blood being shed was that the blood of those guilty of murder to be shed (33).
Even the one guilty of manslaughter could not escape punishment (living in the city of refuge for the rest of the days the high priest lived) (32). Also justice needed to be established on the basis of at least two witnesses (30).
Question: What do you think happens when a country begins to make excuses for murderers? What is wrong with a different standard of punishment for those who are rich or famous?
Week 56, Day 4: Dividing the Land
Today’s Reading: Numbers 34:1-29
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
In this chapter the Lord details the borders of the land Israel is to receive as an inheritance. He then tells Moses that he is to send one leader from each tribe to portion the land out. After the land has been divided into sections they will allot each of the 9 and a half tribes left to receive their inheritance their portion by lot (26:55-56). In this manner the dividing of the land would be done impartially.
Question: Why is there wisdom in sending one leader from each tribe to participate in dividing the land?
Week 56, Day 3: The Journey Recounted
Today’s Reading: Numbers 33:1-56
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
It is close to time for Moses to die and Joshua to take over leading Israel. Moses recounts the journey from Egypt to where they are now. And then he looks to the near future. Israel will be going into the promised land soon. So Moses warns them to be sure to drive out all the inhabitants of the land and destroy all their figured and molten images. They are also to demolish all the high places. He tells them very clearly that if they don’t do this then the inhabitants who remain will become pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides and trouble Israel. And if this was not bad enough God warns them that if they don’t drive out the inhabitants and destroy their idols then he will do the same to them (vs. 56).
Question: Why would it be good to remind Israel of the places they have journey through getting to where they are?
Week 56, Day 2: The Eastern Possession
Today’s Reading: Numbers 32:1-42
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
The tribes of Gad and Reuben decide that they want to have their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan since the land is good for livestock. They approach Moses, Eleazar and the leaders of the congregation to request that they have this as their possession. The problem is emphasized when they say “do not take us across the Jordan”. Moses very quickly rebukes them for acting like their fathers by discouraging their brothers from entering into the promised land. Gad and Reuben then agree they will send their armed men into the promised land to help their brothers take the land. In exchange for this they will be given the land east of the Jordan for an inheritance.
This account is interesting since Gad and Reuben have not yet seen the land that God has promised to give them. How can they know that this land is what they want without seeing the land God has promised them? I see here a warning for us today. We need to be on guard that what we see now does not keep us from inheriting what God has promised. The children of Isreal were promised and given a land flowing with milk and honey. They were to trust in God to receive this land. And yet here Gad and Reuben see something that looks good to them so they say we’ll take this. When we consider the things in this world, what could possibly compare to the dwelling that God has prepared for His children in heaven? And yet so many times in the pursuit of getting more or enjoying life we put these things before our service to God. In essence we say that we are willing to give up what we could receive for what we can get right now. Be on guard brethren. Do not forget that God has much more to offer us than what this world offers. Don’t let the world distract us and get us off of the path we are to walk in.
Question: How could our actions discourage our brethren from entering into the promised land?
Week 56, Day 1: Midian Punished
Today’s Reading: Numbers 31:1-54
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
God directs Moses to send out 12,000 men to go and destroy Midian because of their actions in getting Israel to sin by worshipping their idols. Note that only 12,000 men were sent. We are not told how many people were in Midian but this number sounds small. They did not need to send out all of the army because God was with them. Among those killed are Balaam (vs 8). We are also told that it was through his counsel that Midain caused the sons of Israel to sin at peor (vs 16). So even though Balaam had not cursed Israel outright, he told Midian how they could get Israel in trouble with God. I have wondered at times if Midian and Moab would of had any trouble from Israel if they had just let them pass. I can understand being worried that Israel was there to conquer everything but we know that Israel was not after the land Midian now possessed. It was only after they made themselves a thorn in Israel’s side that they were destroyed.
The amount of booty that Israel gathered from destroying Midian was enormous. It is impressive that the leaders of the army didn’t see a problem with bringing back the women even though these were the very women who had invited them to sin at Peor and brought such trouble on Israel. It makes you wonder if they simply liked the looks of the women are were trying to avoid killing them. A very self serving motive instead of remembering the reason for why they were taking vengence on Midian. Too often people allow the appeal of the looks of things to persuade them to get close to sin. They are enticed by how inviting something looks and don’t think about the implications of their actions. What back could come from being close to certain actions or going to certain places. Moses chided the commanders and told them to kill all the women who had “known” a man. Only the young and innocent were spared. Thus Israel purged out the influence that might come from these people.
Question: Can you think of a time in the past few years where you did something without really thinking about whether it would have a negative effect on your dedication to God? Did you learn any lessons that could help you be on your guard better in the future? How can brethren help someone avoid engaging in activities that could be detrimental to your relationship with God?
Week 55, Day 5: Vows
Today’s Reading: Numbers 30:1-16
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Moses spoke to the heads of each tribe regarding the keeping of vows. If a man makes a vow or oath he is to keep it and do all that proceeds out of his mouth. Regarding a daughter still living in his household, a father was given the right to annul the vow the day he heard of it. If he didn’t say anything that day then she was bound to keep her vow. In a similar way, when married her husband was able to confirm or annul her vow the day he hears of it. The Lord required for Israel to take very seriously the taking of a vow and to make sure to keep it. But he also reemphasizes the role of women as submissive to their husbands/ fathers and that the man is in a leading role in the family. This pattern has not been changed in the NT. This is not popular today and thus part of the reason why people want to ignore parts of God’s commands.
Question: Why is it important for people to keep the vows they have taken? Why should this be warning for people to be careful what vows they make?
Week 55, Day 4: Feast of Trumpets
Today’s Reading: Numbers 29:1-40
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Moses continues in this chapter of reminding Israel of the appointed times they are to present offerings to Jehovah. The seventh month is a very important month for Israel. Below is a summary of the events detailed for the seventh month:
1st day – blowing of trumpets (Feast of trumpets, Lev 23:23-25)
Offering: 1 bull, 1 ram, 7 male lambs, 1 male goat. Also the new moon offering and the normal daily offering
This is the new year on the Jewish calendar (new moon, vs 6).
10th day – a holy convocation, humbling themselves, no work (Day of Atonement, Lev 23:37)
Offering: 1 bull, 1 ram, 7 male lambs, 1 male goat.
15th day – a holy convocation, no laborious work, begins a feast for 7 days (Feast of Tabernacles or booths, Lev 23:34)
Offerings: Day 1 – 13 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, 1 male goat, Day 2 – 12 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, 1 male goat, Day 3 – 11 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, 1 male goat, Day 4 – 10 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, 1 male goat, Day 5 – 9 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, 1 male goat, Day 6 – 8 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, 1 male goat, Day 7 – 7 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, 1 male goat,
On Day 8 they were to have a solemn assembly, do no laborious work and offer 1 bull, 1 ram, 7 male lambs and 1 male goat.
So Moses reminds Israel of the sacrifices that God expects for them to keep.
Question: How important do you think it was for Israel to give these sacrifices? Could Israel decide that the number of animals sacrificed could be lowered to offer a smaller number? Why can people recognize that it would be wrong to change the number of animals required to offer each day but cannot see the importance of seeking Bible guidance in how we worship God?
Week 55, Day 3: Sacrifices
Today’s Reading: Numbers 28:1-31
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
God tells Moses that he is to command Israel to be careful to present His sacrifices at the appointed times. He then goes over the sacrifices to remind them. What struck me was the thought of just how many animals Israel would have sacrificed over the years. You have rivers of blood shed at the tent of meeting and later at the temple. This should impress upon us how perfect and complete Jesus’ sacrifice was. He gave Himself once and for all. Once He shed His blood there was not a need for the continuation of sacrifices like under the law of Moses. To emphasizie how many animals were sacrificed I’ve summarize the appointed times below.
Each day 2 lambs – morning and at twilight
Each 7th day (Sabbath) 2 lambs
At the beginning of each month 2 bulls, 1 ram, 7 lambs, 1 goat
1st month, beginning the 15th day, for seven days (vs. 24) 2 bulls, 1 ram, 7 lambs, 1 goat
At fest of first fruits 2 bulls, 1 ram, 7 lambs, 1 goat
There was continually, each day a burnt sacrifice that was to be offered at the tent. Each day adds up to a lot of animals.
Question: Why is it that the sacrifice of Jesus was the end of the sacrificial system? Why could the sins of bulls and goats not remove the sins of Israel permanently (see Hebrews 10:1-4)?
Week 55, Day 2: Moses’ Replacement
Today’s Reading: Numbers 27:1-23
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
It has come the time for a replacement to be appointed for Moses. God does not want Israel to be like sheep without a shepherd when Moses dies in the wilderness. The Lord tells Moses to take Joshua. Joshua is described as a man in whom is the Spirit. Joshua has been Moses’ attendant for a long time (Num 11:28). He had demonstrated his devotion to God and belief in God’s words by being one of only two spies who gave a favorable report about taking the land. Now he is to be commissioned and given some of Moses’ authority. He will soon be the one who leads Israel.
Question: Why do you think Eleazar is involved in the process of commissioning Joshua?