Num. 36, Preparing to Enter the Land (6)

There was one final “tweaking” of the law concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, a man of the tribe of Manasseh.  What would happen to their inheritance if they married outside of Manasseh?  The land generally goes with the husband, and that might mean some man from Judah or Asher could have an inheritance within the tribe of Manasseh.  Again, we see the ability of Moses to come to the LORD and for there to be an answer.  The women were free to marry whomever they wished, but only within the tribe of Manasseh.  And this is what these women did.

Num. 36:13 summarizes what was determined by the LORD after the situation with Balaam and Israel’s harlotry with Moab (Num. 26-36).  They were at what might be called the “staging location,” the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.  There is still one major event, and that is the death of Moses which will be accompanied by thirty days of mourning (Deut. 34:8).  Before Moses dies he will deliver the contents of the book of Deuteronomy. 

I want to conclude this last post on Numbers by repeating something we presented at the beginning: a list of lessons to be learned from Numbers.  (A more detailed list is in post #4; we are giving a shorter version in order to provide ourselves one last opportunity to benefit from this great record of God’s dealings with Israel.)

·       Numbers reveals the strengths and weaknesses of Moses’ character.

·       Numbers reveals the weaknesses of the people and human nature in general.

·       Numbers reveals the effect of a righteous man’s prayers.

·       Numbers reveals God’s loving care for His people.

·       Numbers reveals God’s intimacy with those who love Him.

·       Numbers reveals God’s judgment upon sin.

·       Numbers reveals the parallel between Israel’s and a Christian’s experiences.

On that last item, consider.  Israel was delivered from Egypt’s bondage.  But then they became self-confident and zealous for the flesh.  The result was the great discouragement of another 38 plus years of wilderness wandering and the death of an entire generation.  In terms of faith in the LORD, and a greater willingness to look ahead to the land rather than back to the leeks and garlic of Egypt, God has been preparing the nation spiritually, a heart preparation for driving out, destroying, dispossessing and dwelling.