Numbers 33:1-56
Q.1. How did God ensure that the miraculous deliverance of Israel was understood by His people as real history? – (Num.33:1-4)
Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22). He was well qualified, under God’s direction, to keep accurate records of Israel’s journeys. His journals ensured that the history was preserved, and not relegated to being seen as ‘fairy stories’ (c.f. 2 Pet.1:16). This deliverance commenced the day after that fateful Passover, when – 3 … the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the Lord had struck down among them. The Lord had also executed judgments on their gods (Num.33:3b-4). Some two million Hebrews had been miraculously set free from slavery.
Q.2. What message did the travel summary of Israel in the wilderness convey? Did God keep His promises? – (Num.33:5-39, 48-49)
What followed was a forty year history of rebellion and failure. Their deliverance had started with such promise in Egypt but took time until after the death of Aaron in the fortieth year (Num.33:38). God kept His promise that a whole generation, apart from Caleb and Joshua, would perish in the wilderness (Num.14:28-34).
Q.3. How was the Promised Land to be divided amongst the tribes. What was their priority upon entering the land? Why? – (Num.33:50-56)
The inheritance in the Promised Land was divided amongst the families of the tribes by divine lot. Larger families were given more, and smaller families less. The Lord gave a solemn instruction, to drive out the inhabitants and to destroy all their figured stones, molten images, and high places, because – 55 … if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live. 56 And as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you (Num.33:55-56).