August 5, 2024
Numbers 34:1-15 (HCSB)
Boundaries of the Promised Land
34 The Lord spoke to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these borders: 3 Your southern side will be from the Wilderness of Zin along the boundary of Edom. Your southern border on the east will begin at the east end of the Dead Sea. 4 Your border will turn south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, proceed to Zin, and end south of Kadesh-barnea. It will go to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon. 5 The border will turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, where it will end at the Mediterranean Sea. 6 Your western border will be the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea; this will be your western border. 7 This will be your northern border: From the Mediterranean Sea draw a line to Mount Hor; 8 from Mount Hor draw a line to the entrance of Hamath, and the border will reach Zedad. 9 Then the border will go to Ziphron and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your northern border. 10 For your eastern border, draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham. 11 The border will go down from Shepham to Riblah east of Ain. It will continue down and reach the eastern slope of the Sea of Chinnereth. 12 Then the border will go down to the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea. This will be your land defined by its borders on all sides.” 13 So Moses commanded the Israelites, “This is the land you are to receive by lot as an inheritance, which the Lord commanded to be given to the nine and a half tribes. 14 For the tribe of the Reubenites and the tribe of the Gadites have received their inheritance according to their ancestral houses, and half the tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance. 15 The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, eastward toward the sunrise.”
Micah Williams
At this point in the Israelites journey, they had fought their last battle against the Midianites and were preparing to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. In these next chapters, we will see God’s instruction to Moses for the Israelites to follow once they crossed the Jordan. Since Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:8-13), it is also at this time that Joshua will take over leading Israel (Numbers 27:15-23, Deuteronomy 31). In Numbers 34:1-15, God assigned the tribes their inheritance and set their boundaries, with some receiving land in the wilderness and others near the Great Sea or mountains. Do you suppose some of the tribes might have been dissatisfied with their inheritance? Maybe a beach house seemed more appealing than the barren wilderness. Yet, it was exactly what God had personally chosen for them. Today, let's be thankful for our daily portion and inheritance from God. If you're struggling to do so, consider John 3:27, which reminds us that everything we receive is from God. Through faith in Christ, we can find contentment in any circumstance (Philippians 4:11-13).
Boundaries of the Promised Land
34 The Lord spoke to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these borders: 3 Your southern side will be from the Wilderness of Zin along the boundary of Edom. Your southern border on the east will begin at the east end of the Dead Sea. 4 Your border will turn south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, proceed to Zin, and end south of Kadesh-barnea. It will go to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon. 5 The border will turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, where it will end at the Mediterranean Sea. 6 Your western border will be the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea; this will be your western border. 7 This will be your northern border: From the Mediterranean Sea draw a line to Mount Hor; 8 from Mount Hor draw a line to the entrance of Hamath, and the border will reach Zedad. 9 Then the border will go to Ziphron and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your northern border. 10 For your eastern border, draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham. 11 The border will go down from Shepham to Riblah east of Ain. It will continue down and reach the eastern slope of the Sea of Chinnereth. 12 Then the border will go down to the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea. This will be your land defined by its borders on all sides.” 13 So Moses commanded the Israelites, “This is the land you are to receive by lot as an inheritance, which the Lord commanded to be given to the nine and a half tribes. 14 For the tribe of the Reubenites and the tribe of the Gadites have received their inheritance according to their ancestral houses, and half the tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance. 15 The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, eastward toward the sunrise.”
Micah Williams
At this point in the Israelites journey, they had fought their last battle against the Midianites and were preparing to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. In these next chapters, we will see God’s instruction to Moses for the Israelites to follow once they crossed the Jordan. Since Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:8-13), it is also at this time that Joshua will take over leading Israel (Numbers 27:15-23, Deuteronomy 31). In Numbers 34:1-15, God assigned the tribes their inheritance and set their boundaries, with some receiving land in the wilderness and others near the Great Sea or mountains. Do you suppose some of the tribes might have been dissatisfied with their inheritance? Maybe a beach house seemed more appealing than the barren wilderness. Yet, it was exactly what God had personally chosen for them. Today, let's be thankful for our daily portion and inheritance from God. If you're struggling to do so, consider John 3:27, which reminds us that everything we receive is from God. Through faith in Christ, we can find contentment in any circumstance (Philippians 4:11-13).
Recent
Archive
2025
January
January 1, 2025A Note From Pastor HDJanuary 2, 2025January 3, 2025January 4, 2025Sunday Connect Lesson for January 5, 2025January 6, 2025January 7, 2025January 8, 2025January 9, 2025January 10, 2025Questions for the WeekJanuary 12, 2025January 13, 2025January 14, 2025January 15, 2025January 16, 2025January 17, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 19, 2025January 20, 2025January 21, 2025January 22, 2025January 23, 2025January 24, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 26January 27, 2025January 28, 2025January 29, 2025January 30, 2025January 31, 2025
February
Questions for the WeekConnect Lesson for Sunday, February 2February 3, 2025February 4, 2025February 5, 2025February 6, 2025February 7, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 9, 2025February 10, 2025February 11, 2025February 12, 2025February 13, 2025February 14, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 16, 2025February 17, 2025February 18, 2025February 19, 2025February 20, 2025February 21, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 23, 2025February 24, 2025February 25, 2025February 26, 2025February 27, 2025February 28, 2025
March
Questions for the WeekConnect Lesson for Sunday, March 2, 2025March 3, 2025A Note from Pastor HDMarch 4, 2025March 5, 2025March 6, 2025March 7, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for March 9, 2025March 10, 2025March 11, 2025March 12, 2025March 13, 2025March 14, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for March 16, 2025March 17, 2025March 18, 2025March 19, 2025March 20, 2025March 21, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for March 23, 2025March 24, 2025March 25, 2025March 26, 2025March 27, 2025March 28, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for March 30, 2025March 31, 2025
No Comments