The Feed Mill

Today’s Bible Reading: Numbers 34-36

Today’s Devotional: Numbers 34:1-2

Boundaries of Canaan

Just as with the Law, with the Tabernacle, and now with the handing out of the land; boundaries or distinctions were given so that the children of Israel would understand now the specific will for each of the tribes and families. God’s general will was that the children of Israel were to possess the Land, but God’s specific will was how and where each individual family were to possess what was given to them. We see that God is not only concerned with the general state of the children of Israel but also the specific calling, circumstances, and situations, Num 34:1-15. Each body within the congregation and each family within the body or tribes, Num 34:16-29.

These boundaries would then be marked by two facts:

1. They would have to take control of the land, what God says is His promised peace and rest for them, by conquest. The children of Israel were to drive out the nations who were there because they had defiled the land. They were not to live there any longer when the children of Israel would go in to possess the land, because they would be a snare and a stumbling to the children of Israel if they were left in the land.
2. Never believe the land was given because they had earned it. It was given by God as an inheritance, which are freely given and not earned.

These two facts are similar for the Christian today, for the Christian to inhabit continually the Spirit filled life. By allowing things to be replaced, of the things which do not fit within the character of who God is and how it is he has said to approach Him from His Word. Ephesians 4:17-5:22 Paul tells the Christian, as a new creation in Christ Jesus, there are certain things that need to be removed from our lives and certain things that need to be added. A we use the Word to give us the value system of what needs to be removed and what needs to be added, Philippians 1.

And second the Christian should never believe that it’s by anything of our own merit why God does or loves us, but it’s because that’s who He is. That’s what Grace means; Jesus + Nothing = Everything. Galatians 5, Paul encourages the Christian not to become entangled again to being completed, fulfilled, or growing spiritually by anything other than Christ and what He freely gives, His Grace and Peace.