2/28/2009 7:27 PM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: The tribes’ defense; The agreement
Bible Reading &
Meditation Reference: Numbers 32:16-42
Message of the verses: “16 ¶
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds
for our livestock and cities for our little ones; 17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go
before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our
little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the
land. 18 "We will not return to our
homes until every one of the sons of Israel Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has
fallen to us on this side of the Jordan
28 ¶ So Moses gave command concerning them to
Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the
fathers’ households of the tribes of the sons of Israel kingdom of Sihon ,
king of the Amorites and the kingdom
of Og , the king of Bashan ,
the land with its cities with their territories, the cities of the surrounding
land. 34 The sons of Gad built Dibon and
Ataroth and Aroer, 35 and Atroth-shophan
and Jazer and Jogbehah, 36 and
Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran as fortified cities, and sheepfolds for sheep. 37 The sons of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh
and Kiriathaim, 38 and Nebo and Baal-meon—
their names being changed—and Sibmah, and they gave other names to the cities
which they built. 39 The sons of Machir
the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took
it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. 40 So Moses gave Gilead
to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he lived in it. 41 Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its
towns, and called them Havvoth-jair. 42
Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah after
his own name.
This is the
final two sections from chapter thirty-two of Numbers as explained in Warren
Wiersbe’s book.
Moses and
these tribes got all of the details of this agreement ironed out and it was
given to Joshua and to Eleazar so that if they did not keep their bargain or
vow then they would be subject God, for in verse 23 of chapter 32 Moses writes
these now famous words: “But if you will
not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will
find you out.”
Warren
Wiersbe points out in his commentary on the decision of these Transjordanic
tribes that he does not think that they made the right chose because for one
reason they would not be in the Promised Land, for they may have made a choice
just like the choice that Lot made for he was walking by sight and not by
faith.
Dr. Wiersbe
goes on to say, “According to Hebrews 4, claiming the inheritance in the
Promised Land is an illustration of the different ways believers today relate
to the will of God and the inheritance He has for us now in Jesus Christ. Some people are like the older generation of
Jews that perished in their wanderings and never entered the land. Others are like the ten spies who visited the
land and saw its wealth but failed to enter in.
The Transjordanic tribes entered the land but didn’t stay there. They preferred to live on the border and
raise their cattle. God wants His people
to be like the new generation that trusted God, entered the land, claimed the
victory, and enjoyed the blessings.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I want to be like the new generation that
trusted God, entered the land, claimed the victory, and enjoyed the
blessings. By God’s grace I will be like
them.
My Steps of Faith for
Today:
- Fear only the Lord.
- Learn Contentment.
- Give myself to the Lord for worship and service.
2/28/2009 7:51 PM
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