Day 71, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Numbers 32, 33
Keeping Commitments
What does it take to keep a commitment—an oath or promise, resolve, allocation of people and other resources, sacrifice, or perseverance? All these things are helpful and often necessary. There are two commitments in today’s Bible reading: the commitment of the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, and the commitment of the LORD. One more thing is needed more is needed to keep a commitment, and it is vital.
Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh propose a deal
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, God finally brings the second Israelite generation to the brink of inheriting the Promised Land. This is Canaan, the land promised to their ancestor, Abraham.
Two and one-half tribes of Israel—the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, make a controversial proposal to Moses. Since the east side of the Jordan River is good land for livestock, these tribes want to live there and consider it God’s provision as part of the Promised Land. They had recently occupied the land conquered from the Midianites (Numbers 32:1-15). They will consider this land as their inheritance from the LORD.
At first, Moses does not receive this proposal well. He thinks of it as a rebellion like Israel’s first generation out of Egypt. They had refused to enter Canaan because they were afraid of the giants in the land. We might infer Moses’ thoughts to be, Oh no, here we go again— more trouble! These tribes will discourage the rest of the tribes from going into the land, and again, we will suffer God’s wrath!
It is not that way. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh offer a compromise, a deal. If they can build their towns now, they will arm themselves and go before the other tribes into battle. They will win the Canaanites’ war before settling into their own inheritance east of the Jordan River (Numbers 32:16-19).
This proposal is accepted by Moses and the Israelites. In faith that they will keep their word, Moses assigns territory to them for their inheritance. However, if they fail to keep their end of the bargain, they will lose their allotment east of the Jordan River. They will have to accept their inheritance west of the Jordan with the rest of the tribes. Then Moses communicates this agreement to Joshua and the high priest, Eleazar, because Moses will soon die.
Commitment’s Cost
The commitment of these two and one-half tribes involves risk and sacrifice. The men have to provide secure dwellings for their families, cattle, and flocks but then trust the LORD to take care of them while their armies are away. They will spend a long time fighting battles in Canaan, and some may lose their lives. Still, they must be faithful to their commitment to get the deal they want.
Commitments involve risk, sacrifice, and faithfulness. Therefore, we should count the costs before we decide to make them.
The LORD’s Commitment
Numbers 33 recounts the journey of Israel through the wilderness over forty years. From this, we see that God was with them all the way. He is faithful! The character of the LORD is also holy, just, and longsuffering. He could not let the first generation inherit the Promised Land because of their rebellion and idolatry. However, in his grace, he will bring the second generation of Israelites into the land. He will keep his promise to Abraham and his descendants! God is also gracious to us. Even after we mess up and suffer for it, he forgives and gives us another chance to obey him.
Warning: Do not lose your inheritance!
The LORD says to Moses,
Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them” (Numbers 33:51-52, 55-56, NIV).If we are real believers in God and his Son, we are delivered from our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ (more...). The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual life, and we are cleansed and made righteous children of the LORD, set apart to him. We have a sure hope of heaven like the Israelites had of Canaan. God is faithful!
In our daily lives, however, we will be tempted and tested. If we compromise morally or fail to do God’s will completely, we will be harmed by our actions, God will suspend his blessings, and he will discipline us. We must, therefore, be careful. We need to entirely remove personal evil from our lives and live in the fear (reverence) of the LORD. We should become increasingly set apart from the world’s sinful practices and more dedicated to God (this is called sanctification). He wants us to live an abundant life, free from the trappings of sin. Where is our commitment—to the world and its empty pleasures—or to God and the abundant life we can have through him? We must be faithful!
Here are a few Bible verses that relate to our study today: John 17:17; 1Corinthians 6:9-11; 1Thessalonians 5:21-24; 1Peter 1:15-19; James 4:8; Colossians 3:1-17.Discussion
What things are required to keep our commitments? Which one is vital? Why?
God keeps his commitments. What does that show us about him? How does he demonstrate that in our lives?
.Focus Verses
1Thessalonians 5:21-24 (NIV)
Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
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Looking Ahead: God is committed to keeping the covenant he made with Abraham and their descendants, the Israelites. He gives them the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. Now they will have A Place To Call [Their] Own. Find out more about this and how it applies to us in our Next Lesson.
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