Num 34:2 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter we see how God cares for His people in all respects. He establishes the borders of the land they will possess. He also regulates the way in which the division should take place. The hand that has led the people through the wilderness is also the hand that sets the borders of the land to which He leads His people. The LORD assigns Canaan as an inheritance to Israel. The borders that the LORD further indicates do not correspond to those which He mentions to Abraham ( ). The area He promised Abraham is much larger. The border is already indicated here. The border separates what belongs to God from what does not belong to Him. It is necessary that we know what to conquer and what not to conquer. A border indicates an area, but at the same time delineates from what is outside. If God indicates the borders of what we should conquer, we should not conquer the wrong pieces. Here we see that the wilderness side of the Jordan falls outside. We should not make things our property that God has not given us as inheritance. For example, the borders of our spiritual land are indicated in the letter to the Colossians. There we see that we have died and been raised with Christ. We are called to seek “the things above” ( ). We “share in the inheritance of the saints in Light” ( ). It is about Christ in us, He is our life. The border of the land is what belongs to Christ. We are warned of what lies outside, so that we do not allow ourselves to be captured by it: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” ( ). Here is talk of philosophy and the traditions of men. This is beyond the borders. We should not get involved in this. Philosophy and tradition impair the fullness of God in Christ in Whom we are brought to fullness. Canaan itself is called “the Beautiful [Land]” ( ). It borders on wildernesses and seas and is surrounded by unattractive landscapes. The inheritance given to the church in Christ is connected to the Father. This inheritance is in stark contrast to everything that the world contains and has to offer: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” ( ; cf. ). We must not go beyond what God has revealed to us. The borders within which we can enjoy everything God has given us are set by God’s Word. These borders are there, so that we may respect them, so that we may remain in the enjoyment of the blessing. Exceeding God’s borders means losing the blessing.

‏ Numbers 34:2

Introduction

In this chapter we see how God cares for His people in all respects. He establishes the borders of the land they will possess. He also regulates the way in which the division should take place. The hand that has led the people through the wilderness is also the hand that sets the borders of the land to which He leads His people.

The Inheritance of Israel

The LORD assigns Canaan as an inheritance to Israel. The borders that the LORD further indicates do not correspond to those which He mentions to Abraham (Gen 15:18). The area He promised Abraham is much larger.

The border is already indicated here. The border separates what belongs to God from what does not belong to Him. It is necessary that we know what to conquer and what not to conquer. A border indicates an area, but at the same time delineates from what is outside. If God indicates the borders of what we should conquer, we should not conquer the wrong pieces. Here we see that the wilderness side of the Jordan falls outside. We should not make things our property that God has not given us as inheritance.

For example, the borders of our spiritual land are indicated in the letter to the Colossians. There we see that we have died and been raised with Christ. We are called to seek “the things above” (Col 3:1). We “share in the inheritance of the saints in Light” (Col 1:12-13). It is about Christ in us, He is our life.

The border of the land is what belongs to Christ. We are warned of what lies outside, so that we do not allow ourselves to be captured by it: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Col 2:8). Here is talk of philosophy and the traditions of men. This is beyond the borders. We should not get involved in this. Philosophy and tradition impair the fullness of God in Christ in Whom we are brought to fullness.

Canaan itself is called “the Beautiful [Land]” (Dan 8:9). It borders on wildernesses and seas and is surrounded by unattractive landscapes. The inheritance given to the church in Christ is connected to the Father. This inheritance is in stark contrast to everything that the world contains and has to offer: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1Jn 2:16; cf. Acts 26:17-18).

We must not go beyond what God has revealed to us. The borders within which we can enjoy everything God has given us are set by God’s Word. These borders are there, so that we may respect them, so that we may remain in the enjoyment of the blessing. Exceeding God’s borders means losing the blessing.