24 February

Bible in 365 Days

Numbers 31-32

Numbers 31

Here we have the story of the end of Balaam. It took place in connection with a war directly resulting from the sin of the people committed through the influence of Balaam. They had corrupted the national life by cohabitation with the women of Midian. This, as specifically stated, resulted from "the counsel of Balaam."

In this war Phinehas led as priest. This is arresting as revealing the peculiar and religious note of the conflict. It was the relationship of the people to God that was imperiled. Phinehas, who on a previous occasion had stayed the plague by his action now led the twelve thousand chosen men on the mission of judgment. It has been suggested that in all probability some of the actual numbers in this chapter are inaccurate, that in the process of translation and copying, mistakes have been made. That is quite possible. It is, however, a matter of no real moment. The method of this enterprise was most drastic and hard, but, as so constantly in the perusal of the history of those times, it must be interpreted by the age in which it happened. In the fuller light which has come in the process of the ages such methods are unnecessary and therefore are never commanded.

Numbers 32

We have here the record of what without doubt was a wrong committed by two and a half tribes, of Moses' failure in judgment, and, consequently, of a grave mistake.

Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh looked on the lands which recently had been depopulated by the conflict and desired immediate settlement therein. The distinctly avowed purpose of Jehovah for His people was that they should go over Jordan. The request of these two and a half tribes was of the nature of compromise.

There is no account of Moses seeking divine guidance as he had so constantly done. His own first judgment was against granting the request in this matter. He pointed out to the two and a half tribes that in essence it was of the same spirit which their fathers had manifested forty years before and which had resulted in the long and wearying discipline of the wilderness.

They, however, persisted in urging their plea, promising that they would cross the Jordan to help in the conflict there. Moses yielded to them and so permitted their settlement on that side of the river. Subsequent events reveal how wrong the compromise was.

No desire of our own for early and easy realization of peace ought to be allowed to interfere with the declared will of God. No policy of compromise can ever justify a modification of a divine method toward the accomplishment of divine purpose.