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Law of Possessing the Land - Numbers 33
Law of Possessing the Land - Numbers 33
God had promised the land to Abraham, renewing this promise to Isaac, Jacob, and to Israel. The TIME of this was when they came out of Egyptian bondage - Acts 7:17. Joshua would lead them in the taking of the land.
In preparation of taking the land, God gave these instructions and warnings. First, they were to drive out ALL the inhabitants of the land. Second, they were to destroy all the idols, images, and places of worship (high places) in the land. (33:52).
God then warned them of disobedience to these commands, putting it in the familiar 'IF... THEN' framework. IF you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land... THEN. As we read Joshua and Judges, we see that they simply failed to follow God's instructions in this matter! The 'then' stipulation plainly said 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" (vs. 55). And so they were! The history of Israel in the land is a history of problems brought about by idolatry, high places, and ungodly neighbors! Of course, the real 'problem' was that Israel did not obey God! All of these other problems were the consequences of their disobedience.
The more drastic consequence was that such disobedience would bring God's judgment upon them! God warned: "And as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you" (vs. 56). If they chose to live like the alien, they would be judged and punished like the alien! As God drove the alien out of the land, SO he would drive Israel from off the land. They did, and He did.
God's commandments are 'for our good always! “So the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today" (Deuteronomy 6:24). We might not understand the 'why' at the time, but if we trust God we will obey. As in this commandment, God knows what the consequences of our choices will be. God therefore gave a law that was designed to protect Israel from major apostasy - IF ONLY they would listen.
A good commentary on this idea is found in Psalm 81:
10 “I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. 11 “But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. 12 “So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices. 13 “Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! 14 “I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries." (Psalm 81:10–14).
God STILL desires that His people listen to Him and walk in His ways! Have we learned this lesson? Do we trust God to follow His teaching even when we are not sure WHY He teaches this? Do we listen to our OWN wisdom, or do we trust God?
Hugh DeLong
