Today's readings from the One Year Chronological Reading Plan are Numbers 32:1-33:56.
There are a few different takes on Chapter 32.
Some say that the Reubenites and Gadites were willing to settle for the land outside the Promised Land (since it was excellent for cattle grazing), especially if it meant no fighting, and therefore originally intending to shirk their duties of war alongside their fellow Israelites but later agreed to go to war when Moses insisted on it.
Others say that they were planning to help their brothers all along but were still willing to settle for the land not in the Promised Land, maybe assuming the land couldn't get any better for cattle grazing, despite the fact that they hadn't seen it for themselves.
Either way, whether they had good or bad intentions, I personally find it sad. They are finally on the verge of receiving the Lord's promise - the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey - and they don't want it. Do they not have faith that the Promised Land would be the best land? Are they simply complacent? Are they worried the other land might be worse for cattle grazing and so they're determined to get the first scoop? I don't know, but to me, it's just sad. God intended for them to inhabit the Promised Land, and it seems to me like they're settling for second best.
But, isn't that just like us sometimes? Don't we often settle for second best? Either we assume this is as good as it's going to get, or we feel like it won't be worth the extra effort, or maybe that we even know better than God what the best plan is for our lives? To me, this is a reminder to never be willing to settle for anything other than God's best, God's plan, for our lives.
Another interesting note - verse 23 says "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out." And what would the sin have been? Not doing what they had promised - which basically means, doing nothing. Sins of ommission are just as sinful as sins of commission.
Chapter 33 starts off with Moses recounting the journey they'd taken since leaving Egypt. Talk about a lot of times taking down and setting up camp! That would've taken a lot of work, especially after the tabernacle was built. I think it's worth it for us to do the same - when you take stock of your spiritual life you can see how far you've come, you can be reminded of how God has worked in our lives, and we can hopefully learn from our past mistakes!
The chapter ends with the instructions to utterly destroy the Canaanites because to allow any of the wicked practices of the Canaanites to remain and for the Israelites to live alongside that type of environment, would eventually lead to their ruin. Unfortunately the Israelites do not obey God (once again!) and they are eventually carried off into exile.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
From the Life Application Study Bible...
Just as the Israelites were hesitant to clear out all the wicked people, we are sometimes hesitant to clear out all the sin in our lives, either because we are afraid of it (as the Israelites feared the giants), or because it seems harmless and attractive (as sexual sin seemed). But Hebrews 12:1,2 tell us to throw off "the sin that so easily entangles" us. We all have "idols" we don't want to let go of (a bad habit, an unhealthy relationship, a certain lifestyle). If we allow these idols to dominate us, they will cause serious problems later.
We often think those little bad habits are harmless. But sin is never harmless, no matter how "big" or "little" we may think it is.
Tomorrow's readings: Numbers 34:1-36:13 (concluding the book of Numbers!)
2 comments:
Good thoughts, Tammy. I hadn't thought about the Reubenites & Gadites as "settling for less" before.
As for my sister and her little bitty baby - both Rebekah and Vance are doing well. Rebekah is now producing milk, in spite of having such a premature baby and a C-section, both strikes against you in terms of breastfeeding. Not insurmountable, but they make it more challenging. Vance was born at not quite 26 weeks weighing 1 lb 12 oz and about 13.5 inches long. He's breathing entirely on his own for periods of time, which is VERY good for such a little preemie - often when they are so young they need to be intubated. He's never needed that, for which we are thankful. They're also giving him breastmilk through a feeding tube and he's doing well with that.
Thank you so much for your prayers. We definitely see God's hand at work here and we're so thankful that so many people are lifting them up in prayer.
Just realized part of my post was missing, it's fixed now :)
Miriam - thanks for much for updating us on Rebekah. So glad for the praise reports you've been able to share - praying for more to come!
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