The Boundaries of the Land (Num. 34:1-15)

3/3/2009 7:28 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  The boundaries of the land

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Numbers 34:1-15

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2  "Command the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to its borders. 3  ‘Your southern sector shall extend from the wilderness of Zin along the side of Edom, and your southern border shall extend from the end of the Salt Sea eastward. 4  ‘Then your border shall turn direction from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim and continue to Zin, and its termination shall be to the south of Kadesh-Barnea; and it shall reach Hazaraddar and continue to Azmon. 5  ‘The border shall turn direction from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and its termination shall be at the sea. 6  ‘As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea, that is, its coastline; this shall be your west border. 7  ‘And this shall be your north border: you shall draw your border line from the Great Sea to Mount Hor. 8  ‘You shall draw a line from Mount Hor to the Lebo-hamath, and the termination of the border shall be at Zedad; 9  and the border shall proceed to Ziphron, and its termination shall be at Hazar-enan. This shall be your north border. 10  ‘For your eastern border you shall also draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham, 11  and the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain; and the border shall go down and reach to the slope on the east side of the Sea of Chinnereth. 12  ‘And the border shall go down to the Jordan and its termination shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders all around.’" 13  So Moses commanded the sons of Israel, saying, "This is the land that you are to apportion by lot among you as a possession, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine and a half tribes. 14  "For the tribe of the sons of Reuben have received theirs according to their fathers’ households, and the tribe of the sons of Gad according to their fathers’ households, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their possession. 15  "The two and a half tribes have received their possession across the Jordan opposite Jericho, eastward toward the sunrising.’”

            This section gives the boundaries given by the Lord to Moses for the children of Israel.  These verses are divided up giving the Southern borders, (vv 3-5), and then the western border which was the Mediterranean Sea (v-6).  Next the north border was described (vv-7-9), and finally the Eastern border (vv 10-13).  The Transjordan borders were given in verses fourteen and fifteen.

            Moses says this in Numbers 33:55, “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about 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.”  This statement would become true in the nation of Israel for although the kingdom under David and Solomon did come close to conquering all of this land Israel has never had all of this land described in these verses under their control at one time.  However there is a day coming when all of this land will be under the control of the nation of Israel and King Jesus will set on the throne from Jerusalem and rule the entire earth from that throne and that will last for 1000 years. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “As Dr. Wiersbe writes in his commentary on this section it is difficult to be hard on the nation of Israel for not conquering all of this land when I as a believer and part of the Church have claimed all that I am in Jesus Christ and live a life that is totally pleasing to the Lord.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1. Begin to claim all that I am in Christ Jesus.
2. Give myself to the Lord for service and worship.
3. Trust the Lord to guide my path today.
4. Continue to learn contentment.
5. Have my mind renewed by the Spirit and the Word of God.

 

3/3/2009 7:56 AM