Territorial

I was driving on the interstate yesterday and kept finding myself talking out loud to a driver who couldn’t hear me. There were some drivers who were occasionally drifting out of their lane and getting too close for comfort to mine. I don’t consider myself a “territorial” person. “Stay in your lane” is a new and common way to say, stay out of my business or my territory.

The people of Israel were camped across the Jordan river near Moab. They were getting lots of final instructions regarding the land division among the tribes. There was some concern about territory of the women who inherited land from their fathers. Moses gave instructions regarding land and territory assignments. Check this out…

⁷ None of the territorial land may pass from tribe to tribe, for all the land given to each tribe must remain within the tribe to which it was first allotted. ⁸ The daughters throughout the tribes of Israel who are in line to inherit property must marry within their tribe, so that all the Israelites will keep their ancestral property. ⁹ No grant of land may pass from one tribe to another; each tribe of Israel must keep its allotted portion of land.” (Numbers 36:7-9 NLT)

The Land that the people conquered was promised by the Lord and He helped them acquire it. He was giving them instructions about future disbursement. I look at it similar to these United States. The land that is now divided into states or even counties are not going to be given away to others. Land disputes can be challenging enough without the authorities giving it away or arbitrarily moving boundaries.

The Lord was preparing His people of responsible management of the land and how it was to be divided. I believe the Lord gives me direction in how to manage the blessings that He has showered upon me. He is not territorial with His blessings. He loves it when I share His blessings with others. I also believe the Lord likes decency and order. I don’t think He thrives in chaos and confusion.

Pressing On!

Dwayne

PS – There are times when reading the Old Testament scriptures that I have a hard time finding the application for me that day. I was out of pocket a few days when I first read this passage. This was a difficult passage for me find the application, but I trust the Lord to speak to me throughout my day from what I’ve read and wrestled with in the morning. I believe that the Word of God can speak to me each day if I will carefully listen as His Spirit speaks into my heart. -DH