The Book of Numbers – A Conclusion and a Contemplation

We made it to the end of the book of Numbers…Yaaay!. I hope you have been blessed through this study. I have enjoyed learning through this series, but am in much need of a break, I will be taking a month off from blogging for some rest and hope to come back feeling refreshed.

Let’s get into the final passage in Numbers.

This passage of scripture presents an interesting issue that needed addressing regarding the inheritance of Zelophehad’s daughters. These were the very women whom we were introduced to in Numbers 27, where they petition Moses about how land would be inherited in families that had no sons. The Lord had instructed Moses that the land from fathers would go to their daughters in absence of sons. With this, new questions arose; what would happen to the family land if the daughters married into other tribes? Would not this mess up the proportion of land distributed among tribes in accordance with the original intention? This led to God instructing that the women could marry whomever they chose to, but it had to be within their tribe. This was so that the family allotment of land would stay with the tribe and not pass from tribe to tribe.

Numbers 36:10 “So Zelophehad’s daughters did as the Lord commanded Moses.” 

Through the book of Numbers, we have often encountered rebellion and disobedience from the people towards God and his appointed leader Moses. But as we close this book, the very last chapter ends on a note of obedience. A couple of chapters before, we had looked at boundaries that God places and how they are good for us. These daughters of Zelophehad did not protest on the boundary of marrying within their tribe. God gave them the freedom to marry whomever they chose, but at the same time they respected the boundary God placed on them.  God had listened to their plea earlier and they were rewarded with inheriting the land from their father. This ask of God in light of his grace and provision led them to obey the Lord with willingness. May we remember that it is within God’s boundaries that we find freedom and joy.

As we wrap up the book of Numbers, there are many lessons we have looked at and learnt.  With the long time we have spent in this one book, it is good to look back and reflect on some of the important lessons that stood out through this study.

• God has a plan for us and he will fulfill his promises – If you have had a word from God and are yet to see it unfolding, do not get stuck on the difficulties and do not let how much time has passed to dullen your hope, hold onto him because he will come through.

• To never overlook or take his grace and provision for granted – God had set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt, but we saw them yearn to go back to Egypt in the middle of the wilderness. When going through challenges, we can get so caught up in focusing on the trial that we can forget how far God has brought us in our spiritual journey, and we may miss taking note of the provision and grace of God in the midst of our wilderness. May we always stay grateful.

• We might not like the path he leads us on as we journey towards his plan and purpose but we can be assured that he is with us every step of the way just like he was with the Israelites.  

• God sees our hearts and rewards a willing and obedient heart as he did with Joshua and Caleb.

• With a responsibility to lead like Moses had, came a greater responsibility to ensure that he honoured and obeyed God in all that he did. We may not be like Moses leading a nation but God has given each of us areas of influence, be it at home, at work, in your community, in church etc. Wherever he has placed you, remember that as priests and ambassadors of Christ we have a responsibility of honouring his name.

• God desires a relationship with us and he is a faithful God. Through the time in the wilderness, the Israelites depicted varying levels of faithfulness and loyalty to God. But God was unchanging. Yes, in light of their rebellion, he did punish them, but he never stopped being there for them, he continued to carry them through towards the promised land. So, when you falter, when you desire to do right by God and your heart is willing but your flesh is weak, know that the Lord is never going to abandon you. This does not mean we take his grace and forgiveness for granted. But may it be used as a shield to protect us from the enemy’s lies that we are too far gone to be restored and renewed to the Father, and may it spur us to live a life pleasing to him.

I would love to hear any lessons or reminders that you have got through the book of Numbers.

Thank you to each one of you who have joined me in this study. One of the greatest gifts I receive through sharing my studies on the blog is accountability besides encouragement. I do not think I would otherwise manage to complete an in-depth study of Numbers on my own. There were a couple of times I felt I lost my drive to go on through this book, but since I had committed to it on the blog, I pushed through that slump in motivation. So again, thank you.

God Bless.