Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

God was clear. This is the land that will be an inheritance within its borders. Which is why the land is never truly sold, why it returns during Jubilee, and a tenth of it (what it produces) was brought as a tithe. This was to be their land, but it would BELONG to God. He marks it out in detail, with distinct borders. But what is listed is smaller than the original land grant to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21). The original land grant is also larger than present-day Israel. Personally, when it speaks throughout scripture of a restoration of Israel, I think the modern state is a partial fulfillment. I believe a greater fulfillment is coming.

Moses was very clear that the land would be divided by lot to the nine tribes, because two and a half tribes already received their inheritance. They would not have a land grant within the land. All this was a total looking ahead to what they WOULD have – they hadn’t even crossed into the land at all at this point, remember? It was a vision of TO BE. If they stopped short, they would be stopping before the fulfillment of this very clear vision.

As with the tribal princes and the twelve spies, God spoke to Moses and told him the best men to accomplish the land grant lottery – if they listened to Him and obeyed (which ten of the spies did NOT – Numbers 13:25-14:10. They were the men chosen to bring the promise to pass. They would also be responsible for taking it. They had the choice to believe the vision of God for the people, or to be selfish in their choices and go with what seemed good to them (like the two and a half tribes did). It is all about our willingness to trust in God or our choice to refuse to trust in God. Blessings or loss of blessings (by YOUR actions, not His). Future inheritance or personal wants and desires.

“Command the Israelites that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their property cities to live in; and you will give to the Levites pastureland all around the cities.” (Numbers 35:2)

The people were ordered to give to the Levites six cities out of their inheritance for cities of refuge, and forty-two cities for regular use, plus pastureland around the cities for their livestock. Instead of a lot of land or an inheritance of territory, the Levites would be spread out throughout the whole land in a total of forty-eight (48) cities. Those with large lots would give more cities, and those with small lots would give less.

These cities are where the Levites would live when they weren’t serving in the tabernacle/Temple. It is from them that they would live, tend livestock, and teach Torah (the scriptures) to the people in the area around them. The six cities of refuge are where anyone could flee for mercy (vindication) when they accidentally – by total mistake – killed someone. They would still stand trial, but this would protect them in the meantime. They could dwell there until the high priest died (which, like the Jubilee, would reset things). If it was NOT accidental – by total mistake – then they would be put to death as a murderer.

The deal with accidental killing is that they would be safe from avengers as long as they were in the cities of refuge. If they left, they would be at the mercy of the avenger. They lived there in perpetuity – unless the high priest died. It is the same for us today. If we stay in God’s yard, in harmony with Him, we’re protected. If we leave, and go it alone, we’re in danger and outside His protection. But our high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) died for us, so in Jesus our refuge becomes wherever He is – much larger territory than a single city (John 10:10). This is why we seek to never speak negatively, but to speak positively and side with the aver of life (Yahweh – Romans 6:23). We can receive Jesus, the refuge for our mistakes, OR we can reject that refuge and choose to intentionally act wrong (against Jesus’ commands, against the Word, sin).

Since the land was their inheritance, it needed to be valued. They need to preserve the inheritance they were given. Some chiefs came to Moses concerned about the land that daughters of fathers with no sons hold. Their issue was NOT with the females holding land, but if those women married outside the tribe, their land would be subtracted from their tribe’s inheritance and be added to their husband’s tribe’s land. So their tribe’s inheritance as a whole would shrink.

Moses validated their concern, but repeated what God had told them before (Numbers 27). In a case like this, the daughter’s could marry whom they wanted (no forced marriages), but she needed to pick someone of the same TRIBE as her father was so that the inheritance stayed within the TRIBE, even if not in his specific immediate-ish family. The daughters of Zelophad (from Numbers 27) did just that. And the tribe lost no inheritance. We can protect our inheritance (spiritual or physical) God has promised us – like Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5). Or we can NOT care about our heritage – like Esau (Genesis 25:29-34) – and scorn it. Every choice affects the future. Blessing or cursing. Victory or defeat. Jesus (life) or selfishness (death).

Summary

Key Players: God, Moses

Key Themes: Future Vision, Valuing Inheritance, Vindication

Key Verse(s): Numbers 34:1-2; 35:2-3; 36:10-12,13