For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Num. 31
Everything and everyone who came into the Israelite camp after battle had to go through the purification process. All of it had to pass through the special purification water that was mixed with the red heifer’s ashes. Anything that could withstand fire also had to pass through fire. So they passed through the water and the fire. Hmm…that sounds very familiar! These are the baptisms we read about in the New Testament. There is the baptism of repentance, where we pass through the water to demonstrate our desire to turn from ourselves to God. Then there is the baptism of God’s refining fire. We are able to withstand that fire because Jesus passed through the fires of hell on our behalf.
Num. 32
Timing in the Bible is a funny thing. Two and a half of Israel’s tribes wanted to settle in the land east of the Jordan. Moses agreed to allow it because they promised to go fight for their brothers to drive God’s enemies out of the land across the Jordan. They simply needed to build some pens for their livestock and fortified cities – of which there were 17 – for their families. Um…exactly how long did it take to rebuild 17 fortified cities?!? The descendants of Manasseh even had to first capture their cities before they could repair and settle in them.
I’m not sure how any of this particular portion of Israel’s story answers any of the four questions presented with this reading plan. Except, perhaps, for the stern warning to not discourage others from obediently trusting and following God. I do wonder if the entire community helped these two and a half tribes in their efforts. And I wonder how long this little delay actually took.
Num. 33
Interesting choice of words – “they will harass you in the land where you will live.” (Num. 33:55b). That makes it sound like the inhabitants of the land would heckle and oppose them. Maybe they did. But why, then, would God say, “And what I had planned to do to them, I will do to you.” (Num. 33:56)? Why would God pass judgment on His people because of the actions of others?
From what I see in the Bible, the people of the land didn’t so much harass the Jews as entice them away from God. When I looked up the word, “harass”, however, the first definition I saw was, “Subject to aggressive pressure or intimidation”. That makes sense! God told His people here, in a not so direct way, that they would not be able to stand up to the pressure. As the saying goes, if you play with fire, you will get burned.
I think that is a good thing for us to remember too. Why intentionally put ourselves in a situation that has potential to pressure us away from God? If we are doing that, then we are not intentionally pursuing God. In other words, we are going our own way. What we need to understand is that when we are going our own way, we do not have what it takes to be holy. Thus, we can only remain faithful to God when we are going His way. It is then that He gives us the power to withstand the pressure we did not invite.