Números 33

Números 33

Henry writes (on vv 50-56) that "Now that they were to pass over Jordan, they were entering again into temptation to follow idols; and they are threatened that, if they spared either the idols or the idolaters, their sin would certainly be their punishment. They would foster vipers in their own bosoms. The remnant of the Canaanites, if they made any peace with them, though but for a time, would be pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their sides. We must expect trouble and affliction from whatever sin we indulge; that which we are willing should tempt us, will vex us. It was intended that the Canaanites should be put out of the land; but if the Israelites learned their wicked ways, they also would be put out. Let us hear this and fear. If we do not drive out sin, sin will drive us out. If we are not the death of our lusts, our lusts will be the death of our souls. Land of Canaan - 65x in 63v - Note prevalence in Numbers 32-35 - Gen. 11:31; Gen. 12:5; Gen. 13:12; Gen. 16:3; Gen. 17:8; Gen. 23:2; Gen. 23:19; Gen. 31:18; Gen. 33:18; Gen. 35:6; Gen. 36:5; Gen. 36:6; Gen. 37:1; Gen. 42:5; Gen. 42:7; Gen. 42:13; Gen. 42:29; Gen. 42:32; Gen. 44:8; Gen. 45:17; Gen. 45:25; Gen. 46:6; Gen. 46:12; Gen. 46:31; Gen. 47:1; Gen. 47:4; Gen. 47:13; Gen. 47:14; Gen. 47:15; Gen. 48:3; Gen. 48:7; Gen. 49:30; Gen. 50:5; Gen. 50:13; Exod. 6:4; Exod. 16:35; Lev. 14:34; Lev. 18:3; Lev. 25:38; Num. 13:2; Num. 13:17; Num. 26:19; Num. 32:30; Num. 32:32; Num. 33:40; Num. 33:51; Num. 34:2; Num. 34:29; Num. 35:10; Num. 35:14; Deut. 32:49; Jos. 5:12; Jos. 14:1; Jos. 21:2; Jos. 22:9; Jos. 22:10; Jos. 22:11; Jos. 22:32; Jos. 24:3; Jdg. 21:12; 1 Chr. 16:18; Ps. 105:11; Acts 13:19 Numbers 33:52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places; Dt 7:1-2; Dt 9:1; Josh 3:17 2Co 6:17 Ex 23:24,31-33 34:12-17 De 7:2-5,25,26 12:2,3,30,31 20:16-18 Jos 11:11,12 23:7 Jdg 2:2 Numbers 33 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Deuteronomy 7:1-2 “When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you (GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY), the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, 2 and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them (MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY). You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. Deuteronomy 12:2-3 “You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 “You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place. GOD IS CALLING FOR TOTAL CONQUEST OF CANAAN Then - expression of time - then. First cross over, THEN drive out and dispossess. Don't miss the "key word" in this passage. Did you see it? It is the word ALL! God knew that partial eradication would never suffice and called repeatedly for ALL of the Canaanite idolatry to be obliterated. He calls for the same radical obedience in our lives today as Christians so that we can possess all of our possessions in Christ! Compromise will always curtail God's blessings!