You will experience terrible failure and crushing conflict on the road that leads to where I'm taking you, but it is the right road even when it feels like it's killing you. - Dr. Larry Crabb
Exodus covered a year; Leviticus only a month - but the Book of Numbers encompasses more than 38 years of the Israelites wilderness journey. The Hebrew title of this book gives us an idea of the theme of Numbers. In Hebrew this book is titled In the Wilderness instead of Numbers.
Christians flinch when they are reminded of the military census of the tribes, a tedious read, yet much needed part of preparing the Israelites for the promised land battles that lay ahead.
Our very own Katie Chaney took the time to put this census down on paper in an understandable way. You can thank her for the graphic above! (I'm just sorry I can't enlarge it for you.)
My favorite story in Numbers is when Moses sends out the twelve to spy out the land. Ten return and share a bad report about giants and fortified cities - inciting the Israelites to cry out in fear as well. God is far from pleased and lets them know they will die in the wilderness and never cross over to the promised land. (Can you imagine his heartache? He had just parted the Red Sea for them!) Caleb and Joseph respond in obedience and faith and become the only two of their generation to enter into the promised land.
This story is a great reminder to me of each person's promised land calling. No matter what the Lord has done in our past to prove His faithfulness, we fear and second guess our calling, falling short of taking our own promised land real estate. We need to remember the faith of Joshua and Caleb and respond the same way.
I don't know about you, but I want my feet to walk on every square inch of my promised land!
A Few Questions to Ponder
The Book of Numbers gives us a big vision. Ask yourself these questions:
- Where is God taking you?
- What will it take to get there?
- What inward spiritual qualities must God develop in you along the way?
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