Daily Bible Reflection 10/31

Continuing a plan to get through the entire Bible in a year, follow as I journal through the reading. I have chosen a straightforward approach that begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. This will not be an in-depth study or a comprehensive commentary. There are plenty of sources for such material. This is stage one Bible reading, taking the text at face value and sharing impressions.

Today’s reading comes from the book of Numbers, chapters 26 through 27, as Israel prepares to at long last enter the Promised Land. Some impressions from the text:

God did not require a census to know how many people were in the congregation from any given tribe. The census was for Moses and Eleazar’s sake, so that they could divide the land proportionally. Which land went to which tribe was determined by the casting of lots. This was not mere chance, but a means by which God distributed the people where he wanted them.
Though Moses did not get to the enter the Promised Land on account of his sin at the waters of Meribah, God did allow him to see the land from a mountaintop. This was surely a bittersweet moment. But Moses was going to a “Promised Land” of his own after death, and therefore not really losing anything.
The succession of Joshua from Moses plays out like a royal coronation, with Joshua coming before Eleazar the high priest to face inquiry and be granted authority. Neither Moses nor Joshua were kings, but their role came as close to royal as Israel would have before King Saul.

Return soon as we continue our year-long journey through the text of the Bible.

Catch up on the previous entries:

Archived Genesis posts (scroll down in link).

Archived Exodus posts (scroll down in link) .

Archived Leviticus posts (scroll down in link).

The book of Numbers lives up to its name. – Numbers 1-2

The Levites take their place as ministers of the tabernacle. Numbers 3-4

Tests and tributes. – Numbers 5-6

Israel gives generously toward the consecration of the tabernacle. – Numbers 7

God leads Israel from Sinai into the wilderness. – Numbers 8-10

Rebellion and disobedience run rampant among Israel. – Numbers 11-13

Rebellion proves costly. – Numbers 14-15