Numbers 33:38-56 / Before the Promised Land
📖 Scripture
38 At the Lord’s command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.
39 Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.
41 They left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
42 They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
43 They left Punon and camped at Oboth.
44 They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab.
45 They left Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad.
46 They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.
47 They left Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, near Nebo.
48 They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.
49 There on the plains of Moab they camped along the Jordan from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses,
51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,
52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.
53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.
54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.
55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.
56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’”
✅ Scripture Summary
✅ Memory verse
– Numbers 32:23
✅ Reflection
A Shift in Leadership (33:38–49)
Another impactful event along the Israelites’ journey was the death of Aaron. The leader was brother to Moses and a priest who offered sacrifices on behalf of the people. He had traveled with them for over forty years, and his death on Mount Hor resulted in a significant shift in leadership as the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land. A change in leadership can be disconcerting for both for the followers and the remaining leaders. When we continue to seek God, however, change does not need to be unsettling or worrisome. It can mark the start of a new season in the journey ahead, with God as our ultimate leader and guide.
Think about the impact of the leaders you follow. How will you respond if there is a change in leadership?
Tolerating Idols (33:50–56)
When entering the promised land, the Israelites are told that they must destroy all the carved images, idols, and high places where other gods are worshiped. Every inhabitant is also to be driven out because they will become like barbs and thorns, causing trouble for them. These directions from God give us a picture of what idolatry can do. Allowing even a small portion of idolatry to remain in our lives is like allowing a thorn to remain on our clothes and poke into our side. It will be painful and will distract us from focusing on God and His work. We must not tolerate even a “small” idol because it can grow into a much bigger problem in the future.
What idols have been the greatest temptations for you? Ask God to uproot any distracting idols so that you can focus entirely on Him.
“Perhaps the greatest gift God gives us when our circumstances won’t stop changing is that he reminds us that we are hidden in the unchangeable Christ, who is the true constant, outlasting even change.”
– Abigail Dodds
✅ Prayer
✅ Essay
The Smallest Pebble
One of my favorite daily pastimes is taking walks around my neighborhood, especially in the morning when everything is quiet and peaceful. I love the feeling of the morning sun’s rays on my face, the smell of the crisp air, and the sound of the chirping birds. Sometimes, however, this enjoyable experience is disrupted when a rock or twig finds its way into my boot. It amazes me how the smallest pebble can jostle around and prevent me from walking properly. I might tolerate it for a few more steps, but eventually, I have to stop and take it out because it is distracting and, at times, painful.
The pebble reminds me of how disruptive an idol can be. Allowing even the smallest bit of idolatry to creep into my life affects my entire being, preventing me from moving forward in my walk with God. I am no longer focused on the beauty around me because I am instead focused on the idol that demands my attention.
Unlike a pebble in a shoe, an idol can be a desirable source of temptation. However, I hope that I will perceive idols like the smallest pebbles or twigs—undesirable nuisances that affect my walk and distract me from appreciating the beauty around me. If I detect a small idol trying to creep its way in, I pray that I would stop immediately and ensure that it is no longer present in my life so that I can continue to enjoy my walk with the Lord.
Written by Ahreum Kim