The transition from one generation to the next
April 22, 2021
Commentary
God-Ordained Authorities are:
- Government: Rom 13, I Pet 2:17
- Employer: Eph 6, I Pet 2:18
- Husband: I Pet 3:1, Col 3:18, Eph 5:22
- Parent: Eph 6
The events described in this chapter probably occurred shortly after Israel’s tragic failure at Kadesh-Barnea, and they reveal clearly that the people still hadn’t learned how to trust and obey. The history of Numbers records very few events of these transitional years, for in a real sense they were years where one generation of Israel’s sacred history was quickly dying off, and its rising youth as yet had no history at all. But even though the period lacked in events, it did not lack in its significance as a transitional period. The Lord wanted the new generation to enter the Promised Land and enjoy it for many years, but that enjoyment depended on their obedience.
Geographically, the people wandered aimlessly about the wilderness and desert areas, between Kadesh and the Red Sea (13:25). As to population, these transition years produced the greatest change. The 600,000 warriors met their appointed death over the space of these years, some by violent causes (16:49), and were buried in the wilderness as daily reminders of the great judgment of God. Children and youth under twenty years of age grew up, were married, reared children, and by the end of the wandering years a new generation of the seed of Abraham had appeared.
Application
The older generation of Israelites repeatedly refused to submit to the authority of God’s Word as well as the authority of God’s appointed leaders. Lord, help me to obey your Word and those you place over me.
Numbers 15:1– 15 (NET)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you, 3 and you make an offering by fire to the Lord from the herd or from the flock (whether a burnt offering or a sacrifice for discharging a vow or as a freewill offering or in your solemn feasts) to create a pleasing aroma to the Lord, 4 then the one who presents his offering to the Lord must bring a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of olive oil. 5 You must also prepare one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with the burnt offering or the sacrifice for each lamb. 6 Or for a ram, you must prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with one-third of a hin of olive oil, 7 and for a drink offering you must offer one-third of a hin of wine as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 8 And when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice for discharging a vow or as a peace offering to the Lord, 9 then a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil must be presented with the young bull, 10 and you must present as the drink offering half a hin of wine with the fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 11 This is what is to be done for each ox, or each ram, or each of the male lambs or the goats. 12 You must do so for each one according to the number that you prepare.
13 “‘Every native-born person must do these things in this way to present an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 14 If a resident foreigner is living with you—or whoever is among you in future generations —and prepares an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the Lord, he must do it the same way you are to do it. 15 One statute must apply to you who belong to the congregation and to the resident foreigner who is living among you, as a permanent statute for your future generations. You and the resident foreigner will be alike before the Lord.