We’re finishing Numbers this week and moving into Deuteronomy. Four books down, 62 to go! Let’s keep pressing on, trusting that the Spirit will transform us into Christlikeness as we behold wonderful thing in the Word of God.
An enemy king asks a pagan prophet to curse Israel. Yet, out of the prophet’s mouth comes blessing. Pay particular attention to 24:14-19. This is a prophecy about the “latter days” and it tells of a singular king, signaled by a star, who will exercise dominion. A hint of the True King to come. A beautiful foreshadowing, but followed by sin and idolatry in Numbers 25. Is this pattern familiar yet?
In these chapters, we begin looking toward the Promised Land again by taking a census of the new generation who will actually go into the land. There’s a beautiful exception in chapter 27 when an inheritance is allowed to the daughters of Zelophehad. [As an apologetic aside: the Bible is surprisingly less patriarchal than many assume. This is one passage you could point to if you encounter that argument.] The final section of chapter 27 sets the scene for new leadership of Israel as they enter the Land. I see a connection in these texts about legacy and inheritance.
The next generation is reminded about the offerings at sacred times and the weightiness of vows. Likewise, let us also be careful what we say for we will give an account for our words and commitments. Consider the words of Jesus from Matthew 5:33-37:
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No ,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Numbers 31 is pretty interesting because we learn a bit more detail about Balaam and why the people of Israel committed adultery with the Midianite women. The Lord cares about the purity and integrity of his people – he is concerned for their undivided devotion to him, so he commits the Midianites to destruction – even Balaam, who blesses Israel one moment and works for their destruction in another moment. Then, in chapter 32, Reuben and Gad like the land they see and request to stay there rather than receive a portion of land in the Promised Land. Moses grants their request as long as they fight alongside the other tribes as all of Israel drives out the inhabitants of the Land.
Clarity is always our friend – and I think these chapters provided clarity for the next generation. These are practical instructions: remember where you came from, know what you’re tasked to do, understand your boundaries, and submit to your leaders. I think these instructions remain helpful for us as Christians under a new covenant. Remember our identity in Christ, know the mission of making disciples, know that we’re commissioned to the ends of the earth, and submit to Jesus’ leadership.
We’re at the end of Numbers, but don’t skim chapter 35. The cities of refuge are some of the most beautiful provisions for the people of Israel. If you’ve ever wondered how the Lord’s justice and mercy come together – read this chapter carefully. D.A. Carson helps us understand:
“Probably two reasons account for this stipulation that the slayer must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. (1) His death marked the end of an era, the beginning of another. (2) More importantly, it may be his death symbolized that someone had to die to pay for the death of one of God’s image-bearers. Christians know where that reasoning leads.”
Welcome to the longest sermon ever: Moses’ sermon about Israel’s history and the Law of the Lord. If I can summarize the point of Deuteronomy in a sentence, it’s this: The people of God remember their identity by rehearsing their history. That’s what Moses is doing. He explains the law and encourages Israel to be faithful as they enter the land.