You Can't Pick and Choose Which Instrucitons of God You'll Follow and Expect To Be Blessed

Numbers Chapter 33: Reviewing the Journey from Egypt to Sinai, from Kadesh to Moab, and Getting Instructions for Conquering Canaan

Intro to Numbers 33:1-56

Day 91. Thirteen weeks of social distancing for us since we came back from the U.S.  Who would have thought? But what is that to 40 years in the desert as the Israelites experienced when they left Egypt to head to the Promised Land of Canaan?

This chapter reviews the details of the journey geographically and then tells us what God wants Moses to tell the sons of Israel with respect to actually “crossing over Jordan” and finally reaching ‘home’.

The Passage

Verses 1-49 describe the trip, and all the stops. It covers their starting place from Rameses (a.k.a. Heroopolis or Pithon in later times; and then Abu-Keisheid), in bold view of the Egyptians who were still burying their first-borns that had been killed by the Lord in an effort to get the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Verse 49 finally has them camp by the Jordan (on the east side) in the plains of Moab. We pick up the actual text from there:

⁵⁰ Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying, ⁵¹ “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, ⁵² then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places; ⁵³ and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. ⁵⁴ You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the larger you shall give more inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to anyone, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. ⁵⁵ But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live. ⁵⁶ And as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.’”

Thoughts on the Passage

The first 49 verses speak pretty well for themselves. It was a journey that has never been repeated in terms of its length and I don’t believe that too many are lining up to be the first to repeat it in the same manner. And now finally, they are on the cusp of the promised land. Just cross that river and conquer it, boys.

Then from verse 50 to the end of the chapter we have God’s “Law of Land Possession” as some Bible scholars have dubbed it.

We note in verse 50 that this was not to be a “learn as you go” operation. God gave the instructions once, and they were clear and specific. In verse 51, we can see there was no “if you cross over the Jordan” but rather “When you cross over”. This was going to exactly as God would describe it. And anyone who knew God, knew that. There’s no room for wondering. It is the same for us today – when God says something will happen in His Word, it will happen. When somehow the Holy Spirit has assured us of something happening in our lives, it will happen. Doubting only delays the inevitable.

So, here’s the summary of the instructions:

1.     You’ll cross the Jordan into Canaan

2.     Drive out all the inhabitants

a.     Notice you don’t have to kill them, just drive out

3.     Destroy all their figured stones and molten images

a.     All evidence of idolatry in the land needs to be totally erased; a lot of it were likely lewd sexual depictions of their corrupt and demonic worship practices and behaviors

4.     Demolish all their high places

a.     All evidence of their religions and worship need to be totally erased

5.     Take possession of the land

6.     Live in it (it is yours to possess given by God)

7.     You’ll inherit the land by lot by families (land given proportionally by numbers)

8.     If you don’t drive out the inhabitants, those that remain will become “pricks in your eyes and thorns in your side” and trouble you greatly.

9.     And if that’s the case, I will do to you as I plan to do to them.

a.     That is, they will ultimately drag you down, says Chuck Smith, and God would have to destroy/drive the Israelites out the land, as He did to them.

b.     Residing in close quarters with sinners has its negative influence.

Wow. Those are the terms. No chickening out allowed. Failure to carry out the orders in totality has great consequences. And as we will find out later in the Old Testament – Israel did fail in following the instructions totally. And that was a big problem for them. David Guzik says there’s a lesson there for the church as a whole and as a local assembly: You can succeed in the eyes of men (as the Israelites were about to do) but if you fail in the eyes of God, you still lose big-time.

God was clearly telling the Israelites, “don’t even think of associating with them”.  They did think and they allowed it.  And they suffered the consequences as we will see. There’s no more valid or serious warning one can receive than a warning from God – guaranteed execution if ignored.

Wrap-up

While we don’t see yet what the Israelites did in response to these instructions from God, we can note that God instructs and warns His children to do what is right in His eyes. Let’s get this right – you and I don’t have to agree with those instructions. Our disagreement is useless except for our own peril and possible destruction.

You and I may know what God expects. We know what God has told us in His Word. We know what the Holy Spirit may be speaking to us. And so, we do as much of it as we can. But not all. It’s the part that we don’t do that will give us trouble.

For me, it is to be patient when things are happening that I don’t like – in my own life, my family, my friends, church, etc. It was to trust fully in God and leave things totally to Him after I’ve told Him about my concerns.

What’s the part still left that you and I are following in what we know God wants? Maybe it’s time to do what we can to obey that as well.  May God help us to do so.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.