“Day 34 (Numbers 34)”

Monday, March 06, 2017

God Offers

In ancient days there were no survey crews with instruments for determining property lines. People cited towns and geographical features to identify boundaries. The children of Israel are ready to enter the land and Moses now gives them the boundaries of the land they will possess (Numbers 34). At the beginning Moses had appointed twelve men to help him with the census. Now he appoints ten men to help Joshua and Eleazar with dividing the land for the people to live in.
 
First, notice God left nothing to chance. How many times do families squabble over inheritance? No room for that here. God is specific about who gets what. God had planned and promised. How many times do we live our lives catch-as-catch can? How often do we get up and wherever the wind blows us that day is the direction we go? Is there a lesson to be learned of the value of planning and preparation? Is there a lesson to be learned about the value of boundaries in one’s life? Certainly we are not able to plan for every contingency and the unknown that comes. But, for that which we can, why not imitate what God has done?
 
Second, God had promised the land, a large portion, to the Israelites. Wherever they put their foot they would claim the land. God offers us great spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3-13). Do we leave them unclaimed? God offers us the opportunity of prayer. Do we leave that great privilege laying on the table?  He offers us the encouragement of each other. Do we claim the blessing we can receive from each other? How many times do we, like Israel, leave unclaimed all God has promised and offered to us? Are we putting our feet on the promises of God?
 
I am impressed as we have worked through this book about how God plans, purposes and defines what He gives and wants. It is no different today. We operate at our best when we live as God designed for us to live. There is great peace, confidence and harmony in our lives and the lives of others with whom we interact.

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