INTERESTING FACTS : "The Holy Book of the living God suffers more from its exponents today than from its opponents. " Leonard Ravenhill [CHRISTIAN EVANGELIST AND AUTHOR][1]

DAILY READING : [NUMBERS 31 - 32]

TEXT :  Num 32:22 And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

THEME : OBEDIENCE

After God gives Moses orders to destroy the Midianites and the children of Israel send twelve thousand men to do so, Moses is once again upset with the disobedience of the people of God. The leaders of the armies killed the men in battle, but saved the women. This was for the purpose of keeping the women for themselves. Yet, Moses reminds the officers, that these women - who worshiped false gods, were the means of God's judgment on Israel when they committed fornication with them and worshipped their gods. Balaam who gave this counsel to Balak in sending in the women to seduce the men of Israel was also killed in this battle. Balaam' sin, although it took time, found him out. Everyone who sows reaps. It only depends on what we sow - righteousness through the Spirit of Christ unto eternal life, or unrighteousness through the flesh unto eternal punishment. Everyone sows, everyone reaps. So much more we need to be careful of all that we do, for the day approaches when we shall give account.

It may seem repulsive to some that God could, or would give an order to kill all the women and small boys taken captive. Concerning this fact, Adam Clarke comments.

For this action I account simply on the principle that God, who is the author and supporter of life, has a right to dispose of it when and how he thinks proper; and the Judge of all the earth can do nothing but what is right. Of the women killed on this occasion it may be safely said, their lives were forfeited by their personal transgressions; and yet even in this case there can be little doubt that God showed mercy to their souls. The little ones were safely lodged; they were taken to heaven and saved from the evil to come.

Jamieson, Faucet, and Brown add -

"The displeasure of the great leader, though it appears the ebullition of a fierce and sanguinary temper, arose in reality from a pious and enlightened regard to the best interests of Israel. No order had been given for the slaughter of the women, and in ancient war they were commonly reserved for slaves. By their antecedent conduct, however, the Midianitish women had forfeited all claims to mild or merciful treatment; and the sacred character, the avowed object of the war (Num_31:2, Num_31:3), made their slaughter necessary without any special order. But why "kill every male among the little ones"? It was designed to be a war of extermination, such as God Himself had ordered against the people of Canaan, whom the Midianites equaled in the enormity of their wickedness."

TRUTH FOR TODAY : WHAT WE SOW WE REAP!

In Numbers 32:23 we have a principle of life - your sin will find you out. This is because of yet another principle of life - the law of sowing and reaping. We read in Galatians 6 -

"Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [Gal 6:6 - 8].

Then again in 2nd Corinthians -

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." [2Co 9:6]

When Reuben chose to say on the east side of Jordan, it was interpreted as an act of treason. Yet, Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh assured Moses they would fight with Israel in Canaan. They simply wanted the land on the east of Jordan because of its verdant pastures for their cattle. It was a matter of preference not treason.

After pledging their fidelity and loyalty to the nation of Israel, Moses warns them if the they do not keep their word, judgment would fall on everyone - as it did in the wilderness to their parents, and in particular, on these three tribes. Yet, they assure Moses they will fight, and they did. Matthew Henry comments -

Here is the good effect of plain dealing. Moses, by showing their sin, and the danger of it, brought them to their duty, without murmuring or disputing. All men ought to consider the interests of others as well as their own; the law of love requires us to labour, venture, or suffer for each other as there may be occasion. They propose that their men of war should go ready armed before the children of Israel into the land of Canaan, and that they should not return till the conquest of Canaan was ended. Moses grants their request, but he warns them of the danger of breaking their word. If you fail, you sin against the Lord, and not against your brethren only; God will certainly reckon with you for it. Be sure your sin will find you out. Sin will surely find out the sinner sooner or later. It concerns us now to find our sins out, that we may repent of them, and forsake them, lest they find us out to our ruin.

We must all be sure of this, whether in darkness or light, God sees and knows all. Further, He will judge accordingly. God's judgment is always just. With respect to our relationship with God the Father through Christ and the Holy Spirit, we must show a pattern of good works [righteousness] that the Bible says accompanies [true] salvation.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

In particular, in the days in which we live, with the explosion of false prophets and teachers, the flood of gross immorality, and the negotiating of the Christian faith with those God declares are His enemies, we must all beware of what we sow. For it is certain that whatever we plant in the ground will, in the course of time, sprout up and increase. In others words, no matter how deep sin is buried in the soil of darkness where "no one knows" - God knows. Therefore, our faith must please Him, not Men.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.