This Bible study is all about the Israelites who were a people devoted in surrender to God as they got ready to receive the promised land.
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Before the Israelites could enter the Promised Land, they needed to prepare themselves in several key ways. They had to organize and number their tribes for battle and to allocate the land as inheritance. They also needed to be reminded of the significance of sacrifices and maintaining a close relationship with God. Additionally, the importance of their words, especially when making vows, had to be emphasized. These preparations were essential for the Israelites to be ready to enter the Promised Land and live as God’s people in Canaan.
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Read all about how the Promised people were devoted in surrender, before reflecting on it below
Numbers 26-30
The second census counted the promised people
After the plague that had taken the rest of the first generation of Israelites, the new generation needed to be counted. This was done to show that they also had individual importance in God’s plan. God wanted a personal relationship with the New generation rising up, just as he did with the first generation who He had led out of Egypt. The census also prepared the Israelites for war by taking inventory of those able to serve in the army. It also served to count the Israelite clans and families, allotting the land to each person when they entered Canaan.
The Israelites had spent 38 years wandering in the wilderness, yet no real change was seen in the nation’s population size. Although they had multiplied greatly in their captivity in Egypt, they stagnated in their freedom in the Wilderness. The changes that were seen, however, were within the individual tribes. The descendants of Simeon decreased by 63%, while the descendants of Manasseh increased by 64%. Some tribes had massive shifts while others had little variation.
How is your faith changing as you walk with God? Are you experiencing spiritual growth or decay? Is your family growing closer to God or stagnating in their faith? What is the health of your church and community (Hebrews 5:12-14)?
Life is but a breath
Numbers 26:64 tells us that not one of the men who was counted in the first census was alive to be counted in the second. This speaks to the finality of life. In just 38 short years, the promised people who saw the miracles in Egypt – the 10 plagues and parting of the Red Sea – had perished. Now a New generation was left to trust God at His word and enter into the promised land.
How are you living your life for God today? D you realize that your time to serve Him and others on earth is short (1 Peter 1:23-25)?
Zelophehad’s daughters as part of the promised people
The daughters of Zelophehad understood that without male heirs, their father’s name and lineage would vanish. They recognized that land inheritance was tied to family names. Without sons, their father’s legacy would be lost and his land unclaimed. Their faith was demonstrated in that although they had not moved into the promised land, they were looking ahead in faith that God would fulfill His promises to His people. Because of this, they boldly approached Moses, seeking an answer. Moses responded by praying to God and receiving an answer not only for Zelophehad’s family, but for other cases of inheritance that might also pop up.
Just as Zelophehad’s daughters boldly approached Moses, you are called to approach the throne of God. How do you go before God (Hebrews 4:16).
The Spirit of the Lord si on His promised people
The time was approaching to enter the promised land. Although God had promised Moses that he would see the land, due to his disobedience at Meribah, he could not enter it. Therefore, God led Moses up a mountain to view the land, fulfilling His promise and telling Moses that he would soon be gathered to his people. God chose Joshua, a man filled with His Spirit, to be the next leader. From this point on, Moses would share the authority and responsibility of leading the Israelites with Joshua, who would be guided by Eleazar the Priest.
Are you filled with the Spirit of God? Who is instructing you (John 8:47)?
The promised people were called to make Daily offerings
Every day, the Israelite nation was instructed to give back to God the sacrifices that belonged to Him. These offerings were commanded by God and had to be made daily, both in the morning and evening. The sacrifices belonged to God, whether or not the Israelites were faithful in fulfilling the sacrifices and presenting them in the way God commanded. It was not something that the Israelites could improvise or skip out on as they saw fit. They were to know God’s desire with the sacrifices and follow it completely.
How do these sacrifices apply to you today? Although we are no longer under the Old Testament law, are there morning and evening rituals that God has called you to (Psalm 92:1-2)?
Sabbath and Monthly Offerings from the promised people
Just as the Israelites were called to the daily ritual of morning and evening sacrifices, so they also had weekly, monthly, and annual offerings to observe. These offerings were made in addition to the regular daily offerings. They served as another reminder for the Israelites to stay focused on God. Each of the annual offerings and festivals pointed to the faithfulness of God and the deliverance of the coming Messiah. Each sacrifice served as a reminder of the need for atonement to be made on behalf of the people.
These regular rhythms acted as checkpoints for the Israelites to remember to worship God. Do you worship daily, weekly, and monthly, aware of the sacrifice Jesus made for you (1 Peter 1:3)?
Decreasing bulls
The Festival of Tabernacles (also called the Feast of Booths) was to last for seven days. During this time, bulls were to be sacrificed, with the number decreasing by one each day. So one the first day, thirteen bulls were offered, the second day has twelve bulls offered, and so on until the last day had only seven bulls sacrificed to God. This diminishing of bulls was to represent that as one walks with God, drawing closer to Him and aligning their will to His, their desire for sin diminished. As the people grew in grace and communion with God, their sins became less and less atonement was made.
How have your mind and actions changed as you’ve walked with God and become closer to Him (Ephesians 4:22-24)?
A promised people were not to break a vow
As the people were getting ready to cross into the promised land, God was reminding them of the importance of living for Him and keeping their word. Vows are often made in times of trouble and forgotten or ignored when the crisis has passed. Numbers 30 shows that God holds us accountable when vows are made.
Do your words have value? Are you faithful to do what you say you will do, or do you say you will do something only to ignore it if it becomes inconvenient for you (Matthew 5:33-37)?
A Woman’s value under Biblical headship
Most of Numbers 30 focuses on a woman who has made a vow. Here we see that women were allowed to make a vow to God and have a direct dealing and relationship with Him. This shows the significance that God places on women in a time when they were devalued. We also see women were under the headship of her father or husband. The men were able to approve of or reject any vow the woman had made. This shows the principle of Biblical submission where a woman was under the authority of her husband. It also shows that the husband was responsible for the woman fulfilling the vow. If she did not, the husband would bear the consequences as if he were the one making the vow.
What is the significance of this passage when it comes to how you view submission, authority, and headship (1 Corinthians 11:3)?
Reflect on what it means to be a promised people devoted in surrender to God
The Israelites knew where they stood in their relationship with God. They had established daily, weekly, and monthly rituals of sacrifice and remembrance, acknowledging their need for salvation and expressing their gratitude through worship. Their lives were marked by a steadfast devotion to God and a willingness to surrender their will to His. How are you living in devoted surrender to God as one of His promised people?