IN THIS chapter God outlines the boundaries of the promised land — north, south, east and west. The same faithful One who had guided His people in all their wilderness wanderings now arranges where each would dwell in their homeland. He tells Moses the borders of each of the nine and a half tribes who were to enjoy that beautiful country. The other two and a half tribes chose to live on the other side of the Jordan.
How good of God to tell Moses all about the land even though Moses could not enter it himself. He fully revealed His mind to Moses for we read that He made known His ways, that is Himself, to Moses, but the people only saw His acts (Psalm 103:77He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)).
But God’s earthly people never took complete possession of Canaan. They only took part of it and even that they lost through their unfaithfulness. Israel drove out some of their enemies, but then they settled down, not having the energy to fight for the rest. And isn’t this true of us, His heavenly people? How little have we entered into the breadth, and length, and depth and height of all that God has given to us in Christ, the risen and glorified One. To enter into and enjoy our heavenly portion brings conflict and the tendency is to draw back and take the easy way. The result is that there remains yet much land to be possessed. May the Lord stir us up to seek to enjoy more of the blessings of that heavenly land where Christ is gone.
Then in chapter 35 God takes care of His servants. The Levites were not to have any inheritance for their portion was in Himself. But the children of Israel were to give them cities to dwell in. They were not to live in one spot but were to be spread out over different parts of the land.
They were to have forty-eight cities — that was four from each tribe, and each city was to have 2000 cubits of land around it for a place for them to keep their cattle and their goods. God takes care of His servants and His people also have the privilege of having a share in providing for those who devote themselves to His service.
How wonderfully God provides for His own — for all those who trust and seek to honor Him. “There is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” Psalm 34:9,109O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. (Psalm 34:9‑10).
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