This overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders includes some sample introductions to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???

“Can you share some instructions that someone once gave you, that were very important to follow?”

(For example, we closed on our house sale in Texas a few weeks ago, and they gave us some very detailed instructions on how to get the money wired to us, that we had to follow, number one, so that the money went to the right place; and number two, to avoid it being hijacked by wire fraud. So we really had to pay attention to the instructions and follow them carefully)

You/your group can share your answers, and then transition to the lesson by saying: As we continue our study in the Book of Numbers today we see how God gives His people instructions — and it is important that we obey Him when He does!

???ALTERNATE DISCUSSION/OPENING???

Discuss the following quote:

“We become proficient at what we practice. This is true for obedience and for sin.”  (Rosaria Butterfield, Openness Unhindered, p. 37)

And again, transition to the lesson by saying that our lesson in Numbers this morning reminds us of the importance of obeying God. 

CONTEXT:

As we saw last time, 40 years had passed since Israel had left Egypt in the Exodus, and now they were on the verge of entering the Promised Land once again, this time from the plains of Moab, as we shall see. In this setting, God now gives His people some specific instructions He wants them to follow when they enter the land. 

OUTLINE:

I. Commands (33:50-56)

II. Compromise? (34:13-15)

TEXT:  Numbers 33:50-56, 34:13-15

I.   Commands  (Numbers 33:50-56)

:50 gives us the context here: “Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho …”.

You should use a MAP to show your class where Israel is right now: “in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho.”  

On virtually any Bible map you can find Jericho on the map and see roughly where Israel was here: they were just east across the Jordan, ready to go into the Promised Land near Jericho.

Then in :51 and following, God gives Israel instructions on what they were to do when they went into the Promised Land:

A. Destroy (:51-52)

51 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places”

You might post this verse on your board/screen, or distribute it on a slip of paper, and ask your group to call out/mark what God commands the Israelites to do when they go in to Canaan.

(NASB: “drive out … destroy … destroy … demolish”)

— “drive out” the inhabitants of the land (Hebrew “yarash,” “take possession by force”)

— “destroy” all their figured stones (Hebrew “abad,” “perish or destroy”

— “destroy” all their molten images (Hebrew “abad”)

— “demolish” all their high places (Hebrew “shamad,” “exterminate, bring to nothing, destroy”)

??? DISCUSSION QUESTION???

“Why do you think God commanded the idols and high places to be destroyed?”

(Because they were evil, and He didn’t want them to take them and be tempted to worship them, themselves — which DID happen! From the time Israel came into Canaan, until their exile to Babylon, they were continually tempted to worship the false idols, and use the high places to worship them. 

??? DISCUSSION/APPLICATION QUESTION???

“What are some ‘idols’ that God’s people today may need to  destroy from our presence?”

(Pornography; satanic/occult materials; alcohol/drugs/anything that might tempt us to addiction; ungodly reading materials, DVDs, and so on. Anything that might be a temptation to us.)

The point is, just as in Israel’s day, there are things that God’s people do not need to have in close proximity, lest we be tempted with them. The exact application may be different for different people, depending on their individual inclinations and temptations. When we know what our specific temptations are, we need to follow Romans 13:14 and “Make no provision for the flesh, in regard to its lusts.” Destroy/remove those things from your midst. 

B. Distribute  (:53-54)

:53 “and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. 54 You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the larger you shall give more inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to anyone, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers.”

In :53 God tells them His purpose for them coming to the land, to “take possession of the land and LIVE in it.” So this isn’t a “raid;” they are coming to Canaan to LIVE there permanently. 

In :54 He gives them instructions on how they are to divide the land. This is a good question, right: how are they going to divide the Promised Land when they come to it?

ILLUSTRATION: 1889 SOONER LANDRUN: 

In 1889 much of the land of that is now called Oklahoma was opened up for a “land run”: thousands of people on horses and covered wagons lined the boundaries of the land to be given away, and at the signal of the pistol shot, they were off. When they found a piece of land they liked, they could “stake a claim” to it by marking it off. Some settlers sneaked into the land early to mark their claim; these were given the name “Sooners” — which became the nickname for the University of Oklahoma sports teams!

But the land run of 1889 was a madhouse, as you can see from the picture I pulled off the internet — not to mention the problems of the “Sooners” and so on. 

God tells us in His word that He is not a God of disorder and confusion (I Corinthians 14:33), so He had a different plan — a more organized plan — for the distribution of the land for His people. It would be distributed by “lot.” “Lot” is the Hebrew word “goral,” which referred to a set of small stones, sticks, or clay pieces, that they would throw to make a determination — something like “rolling dice” today. 

HOWEVER there is a distinction between just “rolling dice” and what the people of Israel did: they purposefully SOUGHT THE LORD for His will to be revealed before they cast the lots. 

Proverbs 16:33 says “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”

One example we have, from the New Testament, is from Acts 1, where the apostles were seeking to replace Judas, and wanted to decide between two who were put forward. Verse 24 says “and they PRAYED” and asked God to reveal the right person when they cast the lot. This gives us some insight as to how they practiced the casting of lots, and that they sought God in prayer first. (I will add that this was the LAST time we see God’s people decide in this way — and I personally believe it was a wrong decision; the “replacement apostle” was Paul — and we don’t see them cast lots again. In New Testament times, we seek God’s will through His word, and through His Spirit’s leadership.)

However, at this time, they did seek God in prayer, and asked Him to reveal His will through the casting of lots. The Old Testament refers to the practice 88 times (Henry Morris, ICR), including: 

— when the priests would serve in the tabernacle/temple (Luke 1:9 says Zacharias was serving because the lot had fallen to him)

— when Israel was defeated by Ai, they cast lots in Joshua 7 to reveal who the guilty party was who caused it.

— and here God commanded Israel to divide the land with the lot. Joshua 14 goes on to tell how Joshua, Israel’s new leader, and Eleazar the priest, divided the land to the tribes by casting lots. 

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???
“WHY do you think God use the lot to divide the land?” What might be the advantage of doing it that way?

(It avoided confusion like in the “Oklahoma Land Run”! There would be no “greedy race” for it. Also it eliminated any claims of partiality from the leaders in the distribution: this is where the lot fell to them. Everyone could accept that, and trust that God’s will was done. Like :54 says, “Wherever the lot falls to anyone, that shall be his.” No racing; no fighting. That’s the end of it!)

You/your group can share your own thoughts. 

This whole idea of the distribution by the lot is an interesting thing. But it is also notable — and I would emphasize this — that as we touched on, it is NOT commended as a practice for Christians in the New Testament. We are to seek God in His word, and the leadership of His Holy Spirit, who now abides in all His people. “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” was the New Testament mode of decision (Acts 15:28).

(Suggestion: you might consider doing a segment here on “New Testament decision-making.” Henry Blackaby in his study, “Experiencing God,” wrote that there are 4 means Christians should consider when making a decision: 1) God’s word 2) prayer 3) circumstances, and 4) godly counsel. When you’re facing a decision: pray, look at what God’s word says, consider any circumstances God may be speaking to you through, and then get godly counsel (the word “godly” is a key here!) to help direct you. Then allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, as the apostles did in Acts 15:28.)

C. To Deter  (:55-56)

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. 56 And as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.’”

So WHY did God want Israel to drive the inhabitants of the land out? He tells them here: if you don’t, it will “come back to bite you” — they’ll “become as pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you.”  In other words, their presence will tempt you and draw you into sin.  Then He tells them in :56 “as I plan to do to them, so I will do to YOU.” So when they do draw you into their ungodly practices that they are being judged for, then I’ll judge YOU just like I’m judging them. So drive them out; don’t keep them around. It’ll cause you to stumble, and bring judgment on you in you don’t. Let what I am doing to them, deter YOU from getting involved in the same sins.

So a couple of applications here:

1) Just like we were talking about in Point I, don’t keep things around that cause you to stumble. God said, don’t leave these people around who will drag you into their idol worship and ungodly practices. Get rid of them, so they don’t tempt you.

2) A second application here is, God is no respecter of persons. He’ll judge sin wherever He finds it. He was judging these wicked Canaanites for their abominable sins. By the way, many do not realize just how horrific the sins of the Canaanites were. Some have gone so far as to question God for commanding Israel to drive them out/destroy these nations. But it is difficult for us to understand today how absolutely wicked the Canaanites were: 

— In Leviticus 18:20-30 God gives numerous commands against incest, bestiality, homosexuality, burning children as sacrifices to gods, and so on. And He says in :24, “Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. :25 For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants.” 

So God specifically says here in Leviticus that He’s having Israel judge and expel the Canaanites because of the great extent of the wicked, perverse things they were practicing These weren’t “nice, innocent” people Israel was dispossessing and killing. They were unspeakably evil.

— We see an example of the iniquity of the inhabitants of Canaan in Genesis 18, in the story of Sodom & Gomorrah. These wicked people saw the two angels visiting Lot, and demanded that he give them over to them. This was a wicked place! And this was some years BEFORE Israel came to Canaan. The wickedness of the land had increased. 

— In fact, God had said to Abraham hundreds of years before in Genesis 15 that Israel would come and take this land one day in the future, “for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete” — in other words, they’re not as bad yet as they’re going to be; when they are ready for judgment, He will use Israel to judge them.  So don’t question God’s judgment. The Judge of all the earth will deal justly (Gen. 18:25). He was righteous in His judgment of these Canaanites. 

— AND God told Israel here in :56, if you start doing what they are doing, then “As I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.’” He said in Leviticus 20:28, don’t follow the Canaanites in these evils “so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you.”

In other words, God’s saying, These nations are wicked; that is why I am judging them. And He is an impartial judge: if they do it, He’ll judge them. If you do the same things, He’ll judge you too.

This should have been a deterrent for His people: DO NOT follow these practices — or the judgment that is coming upon these nations, will come upon YOU!  

I Timothy 5:20 refers to this idea of deterrence: “Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.” In other words, when everyone sees how those who continue in sin are rebuked publicly, it will deter THEM from sinning. The Bible does teach the idea of deterrence. 

So these were God’s commands to Israel in Numbers 33:50-56, to destroy, to distribute, and to deter. 

???DISCUSSION/APPLICATION???

What should be our response to God’s commands?

(Our response should always be obedience. Israel was to respond with obedience to God’s commands then — and WE should respond with obedience to God’s commands today.)

ILLUSTRATION

During Washington’s famous raid on Trenton, N.J., in December 1776, when they crossed the frozen Delaware River to attack the Hessians, one of the soldiers, John Greenwood, wrote:

“‘None but the first officers knew where we were going, or what we were about … ‘This was not unusual, however, as I never heard soldiers say anything, nor ever saw them trouble themselves, as to where they were or where they were led. It was enough for them to know that wherever the officers commanded they must go …’.” (David McCullough, 1776, pp. 277-278)

The success of the American Revolutionary Army depended upon the complete obedience of the soldiers. They were not to question, just obey — even in a frozen river crossing on Christmas Eve! And their obedience led to victory, and our Independence. 

Even more important than a solider obeying his officer, is for the Lord’s children to obey HIM. Numerous times in scripture, God emphasizes the importance of obedience:

— In the Old Testament, Leviticus 22:31 says: “So you shall keep My commandments, and do them; I am the LORD.” 

— God told Saul, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of lambs” (I Samuel 15:22)

— In the New Testament Jesus said “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15)

— James 1:22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

You can add others; there are so many exhortations in scripture for God’s people to obey Him.

??? DISCUSSION/APPLICATION???

“What are some responses that we often substitute for obedience to God’s commands?”

(— outright disobey: “I can’t do that.” 

— question it: “I don’t understand why He would have me do that, so I’m not going to do it.” 

— procrastinate/put off: “Sure, I’ll do it … one day …”

— justify: “Well, He didn’t really mean …” (by the way, this very much echoes Satan’s “Has God said …?” from Genesis 3 in the Garden of Eden! We need to be very careful about “explaining away” what God has clearly commanded!)

ASK your group to do some introspection/self application:

“Is there any command you know that God has given you, that you know you are not obeying?” If so, you need to ask Him to help you obey it today! God gives us His commands today, just like He did Israel in Numbers, so that we will obey them!

II. Compromise?  (Numbers 34:13-15)

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.’”

So after Chapter 33 closes, the first part of Numbers 34 opens with God outlining for Moses & Israel the borders of the Promised Land that is to be distributed among the tribes. It basically runs from the bottom of the Dead Sea, to the Mediterranean Sea, north to the area around the Sea of Galilee, and down the Jordan River. (Again, it would be helpful if you can show this on a MAP.) 

But now in :13-15 Moses says, this land is for the 9 & a half tribes only — because in Numbers 32, the tribe of Reuben, and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh asked to have this land on the EAST side of the Jordan River, because it was a broad land, and they thought it would be good for their livestock. If you go back and read that chapter, you’ll see that Moses was initially furious with them for “settling” for something less than the Promised Land, but they said they’d help their fellow tribes take Canaan, then come back to this land, so he agreed and let them do it.

So these 2 & 1/2 tribes would dwell on the east of the Jordan, and the other 9 would get the Promised Land, the land of Canaan. 

Now, I’m going to be honest with you: I’m kind of surprised this section in Numbers 34:13-15 was added to this week’s focus passage. All it says is that the 9 & 1/2 tribes get the land of Canaan, and the 2 & 1/2 tribes get the land of Gilead they asked for east of the Jordan. That’s it. That’s all it says. So what are we to do with this passage? I think there’s application you can make with it, but it may be a little speculative:

— I think you can make the point that these two-and-a-half tribes picture those who “settle” for something less than God’s best.  

God had promised His people the land of Canaan. THAT was the Promised Land — not this territory east of the Jordan.

But Numbers 32 says when they “saw” the land was good for cattle, they asked to have it, instead of an inheritance in Canaan. “Seeing” is the opposite of faith. You could say they “settled” for what they could see, instead of what God had promised them by faith.

I’m not alone in this idea that their settling there was a compromise. The great Puritan pastor Matthew Henry writes: 

“Two things common in the world might lead these tribes to make this choice; the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. There was much amiss in the principle they went upon; they consulted their own private convenience more than the public good. Thus to the present time, many seek their own things more than the things of Jesus Christ; and are led by worldly interests and advantages to take up short of the heavenly Canaan.”

So Henry says they gave in to “the lust of the eye” and asked for what they saw there, and “took up short of … Canaan” — a sad example of all who “take up short of the heavenly Canaan.” 

So I’m not the only one who thinks this might have been a compromise.

And things did not work out well for them historically, either. These tribes were the first to be taken away into captivity by the Assyrians, out there on the other side of the Jordan. And one commentator says they were never really heard from again, as people of God, in His plan. So although it is not outright “taught,” I think there’s some evidence that their settling out there across the Jordan was a compromise, something short of God’s best.

Now, someone may say: “But Moses said they could have it.” Yes he did (32:33). But sometimes God allows us things we ask for, even when they are not the best. 

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???
“Can you think of a time when God allowed something, when it was not His ‘best’?”

(We see several examples in scripture:

— In I Samuel 8 God allowed Israel to have a king, when He really didn’t want them to have one; He wanted them to see HIM only as King. But He allowed them a king when they persisted to ask for one — though it was not His best, and it cost them in the long run.

— In Genesis, Sarai had tried to “scheme” a way to get an heir, and Abraham had the child Ishmael through Sarai’s servant Hagar. In Genesis 17 Abraham asked God to bless Ishmael. God said He would indeed bless him — but again this would cause long-range problems that we see to this day! It wasn’t His best, but He granted the request.

ILLUSTRATION:

Can you recall a time when you gave one of your kids something, that you didn’t think was best, but you let them do it anyway — perhaps to learn a lesson?

(When I was a child our family went to a carnival. We each had 50 cents to spend on whatever we wanted. I heard a carnival hawker say, “50 cents, everyone’s a winner!” I asked dad if I could do it. He advised me not to; it would not be worth it. But I was persistent. I said: “But Dad, he said everyone is a winner!” He finally let me do it. And I “won” a little, ugly plastic parrot. As I looked at that plastic parrot, I knew that everyone was NOT a winner! My Dad did not want me to do that; but he allowed me to do it, and learn a difficult lesson.

The point is, sometimes God does the same thing with us. If we ask Him for something repeatedly, He may give us what we think we want. We may end up regretting it, however. 

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???

“What are your thoughts on the old saying:  

“Be careful what you ask for.”

There’s a lot that you/your group can share here. It seems like this is what God did with the two and a half tribes who wanted their possession on the other side of the Jordan. He gave them what they asked, but they did not prosper there. I believe their example serves as a warning to God’s people today: don’t “settle” for less than God’s best. Don’t keep asking Him for something that is not His best. If you persist — He may just give it to you!  

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