Numbers 36 is the final chapter of Numbers, and it deals with inheritance and marriage, but there is an important spiritual principle underneath it. This issue goes back to Numbers 27. Zelophehad had five daughters. Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their father died without having any sons, so God established that his daughters could inherit his property. The leaders of the Manasseh tribe were worried that if these women married men from another tribe, their inherited land would pass into that other tribe. God’s answer was that the daughters could marry whoever they wanted, but they had to marry within their father’s tribal clan. This would keep the inheritance within the tribe of Manasseh. The five daughters obeyed God’s command and married within their tribe.
The Promised Land wasn’t simply real estate. It was an inheritance that God had given to Israel. God divided the land among the tribes according to His promise. Therefore, the Israelites weren’t supposed to treat their inheritance like something they could casually buy, sell, or permanently transfer outside the family God had assigned to them. So what does this have to do with us? This chapter gives us a picture of an inheritance that must be protected. The New Testament takes this much further. Through Jesus, we receive an inheritance that cannot ultimately be lost or transferred away. 1 Peter 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
Israel’s inheritance was physical land in the Promised Land. Our inheritance in Christ is eternal life and fellowship with God. We also need to notice that God made promises to Israel, and even when Israel failed repeatedly, God continued working out His purposes. God’s will is going to be carried out with or without us. Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that when we are disobedient has something to do with God’s will taking place. Our disobedience has consequences but it isn’t going to change the fact that Jesus is coming back one day. We have the choice to pick up our cross daily and follow him or to walk this road with our own instincts and intentions.
Jesus secures the inheritance for us. Galatians 3:29 says, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” Numbers began with Israel preparing to leave Sinai and move toward the Promised Land. It ends with Israel standing on the edge of that inheritance, with God making sure the inheritance is properly preserved. To sum this all up, God is faithful to bring His people toward the promise He made, even when His people struggle to remain faithful to Him. The land was Israel’s inheritance from God, but through faith in Jesus, we receive an eternal inheritance from God that can never perish, spoil, or fade. Love y’all! Have a great day!
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