NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passages: Numbers 33:50-56, 34:13-15
Discussion Questions:
— Why was it important for the Israelites to destroy the idols and high places devoted to false gods?
— How do God’s promises serve as a motivator to remain faithful to Him? Explain.
— What actions can you take to safeguard yourself from the influence of beliefs and practices that are contrary to what God has outlined in His Word?
Food for thought:
We’ve all seen it. The “For Sale” sign is removed from the plot of land. Workers show up and conduct the survey. They put little orange marker flags in the ground. Trenches and holes are cut and dug. From there, the ground is leveled and concrete trucks show up. Construction crews arrive at the site day after day.
In a few months the house, subdivision, or apartment complex is complete. Every step occurred according to a plan that someone developed beforehand. In today’s session, we see how God’s plan requires believers to act on the instructions He gives.
God’s people had camped in the plains of Moab, from which they could see the land they would possess. The Jordan River was the dividing line for the Israelites. On the eastern shore was their past; to the west was their future. The Lord had a twofold message for His people about their responsibilities after they crossed the Jordan.
First, they were to drive out the inhabitants. Of course, God would be the One who actually defeated the Canaanites, but He would use Israel to accomplish His plans. Second, His people were to remove any remnant of idolatry from the land. Stone images, cast images, and high places were all to be targets of Israel’s cleansing. This would help Israel avoid spiritual distractions and remain loyal to the Lord. After ridding the land of its current inhabitants and destroying all vestiges of their pagan worship practices, only then could the Israelites take possession of the land. The only way the Israelites could inhabit the land was by honoring the God who gave it to them (see Deuteronomy 9:5).
God could give Israel the land because it belonged to Him (Psalm 24:1). The land would be divided among the tribes by casting lots. The people did not see this as leaving things to chance. They understood that God controlled the process and could reveal His will through it (Proverbs 16:33).
The Lord warned what would happen if His people did not drive out the Canaanites. The words “barbs” and “thorns” (Numbers 33:55) suggest pain and physical damage. God knew the spiritual damage that the Canaanites could do if they remained in the land with His people. In fact, Israel’s penchant toward pagan worship led to the Assyrians and Babylonians conquering them and removing them from the land centuries later.
Numbers 34:1-12 delineates the geographical boundaries God allotted for His people. Nine and a half tribes would live between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. The remaining tribes (Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh) would live in the land taken from the Amorites east of the Jordan. However, they would not fully possess their land until they helped the other tribes conquer Canaan.
God was fulfilling the promise He had made to His people and to the patriarchs centuries earlier. The tribes received these lands as an inheritance. They understood that ultimately the land was a gift from God.
Following God’s plans is just as important for believers today as it was for the Israelites. Seeking His will and taking steps of obedience will often require believers to remove potential distractions that pull our focus from Him. We can expect to encounter challenges while following God, but we can be sure that God will keep His promises to us. His instructions are trustworthy because He is trustworthy!
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/ExploreTheBible.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by Lifeway can be found at Lifeway.com/SundaySchool .
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