Numbers 34

Devotional:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give these instructions to the Israelites: When you come into the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your special possession, these will be the boundaries.  The southern portion of your country will extend from the wilderness of Zin, along the edge of Edom. The southern boundary will begin on the east at the Dead Sea. (Numbers 34:1-3).

While God had promised land to Abraham, up to this point the boundaries of that land had not been explicitly stated. Here God gives them the boundaries of their land and says that this territory would be divided up among the 9 ½ tribes (as Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh would remain on the other side of the river) by Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and a leader from each of the 10 tribes (notice that Caleb of Judah is first among the leaders of the tribes). Sadly, Israel does not seem to fully conquer this territory. Therefore, this chapter is both a reminder of God keeping His promise to Abraham and also a reminder that the people of Israel looked forward to something…or someone greater to come. May this chapter point us to Jesus as the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to His people.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the promise of a land that is even greater than the land you gave the Israelites – my eternal home in the new heavens and the new earth. Help me remember my heavenly citizenship during my earthly journey and to trust you to deliver abundantly more than I could ask or imagine.

Share it:
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?