Day 72, Chronological Bible Study
Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Numbers 27:1-11; Numbers 34–36 Here is a review of last week's lessons on our podcast A Place to Call Our Own We all want a place to call our own. Families desire to have their own homes, and teachers want to instruct their students from their own classrooms. Office workers want to hang their hats and coats in their own spaces. Pastors or Elders pray for their own places of ministry. How can we know if we have our own place in heaven? In today’s Bible reading, we see that the Israelites also want their own place. Sure, they now have a recognized homeland. However, until God brings them into the Promised Land of Canaan, they are still strangers and wanderers in the wilderness (Hebrews 11:8-9). The Promised Land The Promised Land is a picture of heaven. Those delivered from their slavery to sin and forgiven by God’s grace are adopted into his family (more...), but they are wanderers and strangers on earth. One day, we will realize our heavenly citizenship (Hebrews 13:14; Revelation 22:14). Her territorial borders Before Israel enters the Promised Land, the LORD marks out her borders. Her territory begins at the southern edge of the Salt Sea. It stretches west across arid regions of desert wilderness to the Wadi of Egypt. The western border is the Mediterranean Sea. Her northern territory begins in Lebanon and Syria. It then travels southeast around the Sea of Galilee. Then along the Yarmuk River, the border goes south to the Jabbok and Arnon Rivers and ends at the Dead Sea’s mouth (see map). This place will be home to the Israelites. The Promise Land is often likened to heaven. Is there a place in heaven where we can call our home? Jesus said, In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:2-3, NIV). Is our place in heaven secure? If so, we can rejoice! If not, we can guarantee a glorious and spacious room (some might call it a mansion). We cannot get it by holding it with a Visa card, but with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! (more...) Then God seals us with his Holy Spirit so that we are one of his children with all the rights, privileges, and an inheritance in heaven (Ephesians 4:30; 1Peter 1:3-5). In our own space or place, we want security and safety, and we want fair treatment. Under Israel’s theocratic system of government, God sets up a justice system in the Promised Land. He orders six cities of refuge built. Here, an accused murderer can flee to find protection until his case is decided (also see Deuteronomy 19). So, would everyone who murders another person be protected? No. God is just and does not let the guilty go free and threaten the community. Family members could retaliate on behalf of their murdered loved ones and avenge their loss. No one, however, could be put to death unless at least two witnesses saw the crime. The accused murder, unless found guilty, was to live in the city of refuge until the high priest died; then he could return to his home and property. However, if he was tried and found guilty, he was turned over to the avenger of blood. Through this system, God brought justice and peace to the land. One day, there will be no murders or other violence; the new (or rejuvenated) earth will be a place of perfect peace and safety; Jesus will reign (Isaiah 9:7). A principle we may apply from these sanctuary cities is to treat people with fairness. If someone is accused of wrongdoing, we should hear his side of the story before coming to conclusions and exercising discipline. We should do this before turning him over to be judged by our governing authorities. However, if he is guilty, and especially if there is no repentance, we need to have disciplinary procedures. They should be exercised with equity. Securing Our Position In today’s Bible reading, we also learn that there is a threat to one clan of Israel because God granted property rights to some widows (Numbers 27:1-7). The danger is that if they marry into some other tribe, their property rights will be lost. The situation is resolved by the decision that the widows must marry within their tribe and so preserve their inheritance. How well do we protect property rights for widows and their families and others who might lose them? We should speak up for the widows, orphans, and those who are destitute, defending their rights and caring for their needs (Psalm 68:5; Malachi 3:5; James 1:27). We were once spiritually destitute orphans. Who preserves our spiritual inheritance for us? Jesus says he left us the Holy Spirit to be with us. When we come into God’s family, we are not like orphans, alone and destitute (John 14:17-18). The Apostle Peter writes, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5, NIV). It is the LORD who preserves our heavenly inheritance. Let us praise him for that. Discussion How is the Promise Land like heaven? Is our place in heaven secure? How can we know? Focus verse Deuteronomy 16:20, NIV “Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study: Enter your prayer here: Sample Prayer Please send your comments to me, Rod, the author Looking Ahead: Like the Israelites, we want the best for our children, but we all make mistakes. When we reflect on our lives, what did we do we regret and wish the next generation would do differently? Join us for the first Bible study in the book of Deuteronomy called, Remembrance and Restoration. Previous Lesson  |  Next Lesson Back to top of page Return to Chronological Bible Studies main page Go to Scriptures main page Go to Topics main page Go to Home page re-edited 3-10-23

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