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📖 Bible Study & Teaching Guide 

Passages: Numbers 33:50–56 & Numbers 34:13–15 (KJV) 

Numbers 33:50 

KJV: “And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,” 

• Commentary: God speaks at a critical transition point. Israel is camped on the edge of Canaan, about to enter the land promised centuries earlier to Abraham. This moment underscores that God’s word always precedes His work—He gives direction before His people move forward. 

• NT Cross-Ref: Hebrews 1:1–2 – “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” 

• Deeper Insight: Just as God spoke to Israel before entering Canaan, He has spoken to us through Christ before we enter eternity. His word is always preparatory. 

• Discussion Question: How does God’s word prepare us for new seasons? 

Numbers 33:51 

KJV: “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;” 

• Commentary: The command is forward-looking. God assumes their obedience and frames His instructions in terms of “when,” not “if.” His promises are sure, but they require faith to step into them. 

• NT Cross-Ref: James 1:22 – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” 

• Deeper Insight: God’s promises are not passive; they demand active obedience. Israel’s crossing of Jordan is a picture of believers stepping into the life of faith. 

• Discussion Question: What promises require obedience before fulfillment? 

Numbers 33:52 

KJV: “Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:” 

• Commentary: God commands total removal of idolatry. The “pictures” and “molten images” represent visible temptations, while “high places” symbolize entrenched systems of false worship. Partial obedience would leave snares. 

• NT Cross-Ref: 1 John 5:21 – “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” 

• Deeper Insight: Idolatry is not just ancient statues—it is anything that competes with God’s rightful place in our hearts. The command is radical: destroy, not manage, idols. 

• Discussion Question: What modern idols must we tear down? 

Numbers 33:53 

KJV: “And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.” 

• Commentary: The land is both a gift and a responsibility. God gives it, but Israel must act in faith to claim it. Grace does not cancel effort; it empowers it. 

• NT Cross-Ref: Philippians 3:12 – “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” 

• Deeper Insight: Just as Israel had to dispossess enemies, believers must actively pursue holiness and lay hold of what Christ has secured. 

• Discussion Question: How do we balance God’s gift with our responsibility? 

Numbers 33:54 

KJV: “And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man’s inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.” 

• Commentary: God’s distribution of the land is orderly and impartial. The lot ensured fairness and divine sovereignty in assigning inheritance. 

• NT Cross-Ref: 1 Peter 1:4 – “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” 

• Deeper Insight: Earthly inheritances are temporary and unequal, but our eternal inheritance in Christ is incorruptible and perfectly secure. 

• Discussion Question: How does our eternal inheritance shape daily life? 

Numbers 33:55 

KJV: “But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.” 

• Commentary: Failure to obey fully will result in ongoing pain and distraction. Sin tolerated becomes sin that torments. 

• NT Cross-Ref: Galatians 5:9 – “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” 

• Deeper Insight: Small compromises grow into great corruption. What Israel tolerated would eventually enslave them. 

• Discussion Question: What happens when we tolerate “small sins”? 

Numbers 33:56 

KJV: “Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.” 

• Commentary: God warns that disobedience will bring the same judgment intended for the Canaanites. His holiness is impartial. 

• NT Cross-Ref: Romans 11:21 – “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” 

• Deeper Insight: God’s people are not exempt from discipline. Privilege does not excuse disobedience. 

• Discussion Question: How does God’s holiness call us to seriousness? 

Numbers 34:13–15 

Numbers 34:13 

KJV: “And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:” 

• Commentary: The inheritance is God’s command, not human achievement. The lot reflects His sovereign will. 

• NT Cross-Ref: Acts 17:26 – “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;” 

• Deeper Insight: Just as God determined Israel’s boundaries, He determines ours. Contentment comes from trusting His placement. 

• Discussion Question: How does trusting God’s placement bring contentment? 

Numbers 34:14 

KJV: “For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance:” 

• Commentary: God honors His promises to the tribes east of Jordan. His faithfulness is consistent across generations. 

• NT Cross-Ref: 2 Corinthians 1:20 – “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 

• Deeper Insight: God’s promises are not selective or partial—they are fulfilled in Christ for all His people. 

• Discussion Question: How does God’s past faithfulness give us confidence? 

Numbers 34:15 

KJV: “The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.” 

• Commentary: Each tribe’s inheritance is secure and specific. God provides for His people in detail. 

• NT Cross-Ref: John 14:2 – “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” 

• Deeper Insight: Just as Israel’s inheritance was prepared, Christ has prepared a place for us. Our eternal home is secure. 

• Discussion Question: How does Christ’s prepared place give us hope? 

✨ Summary Application 

1. God’s Word Prepares Us Before the Battle – His word always comes before His work (Hebrews 1:1–2). 

2. Obedience Requires Full Surrender, Not Half-Measures – Compromise with sin becomes a thorn (Galatians 5:9). 

3. **God’s Promises Are Gifts, but 

Great call, Michael—closing challenges are what make a study stick. They move the class from hearing to doing. Here’s a strong set of Closing Challenges you can add to the end of your merged study document. I’ve written them to flow naturally from the passages and to give your group practical, heart-level application. 

🪧 Closing Challenges 

1. Listen Before You Leap 

Israel heard God’s word before they crossed into Canaan. We too must pause and let God’s Word shape our steps. 

• Challenge: This week, commit to reading Scripture before making a major decision. Ask: “What does God say about this?” 

2. Tear Down the Idols 

God commanded Israel to destroy every idol and high place. Compromise would become a thorn. 

• Challenge: Identify one “idol” in your life—something that competes with God’s place in your heart—and take a concrete step to remove it. 

3. Step Into the Promise 

The land was given, but Israel had to possess it. Grace is free, but faith must act. 

• Challenge: Where is God calling you to step out in faith? Write it down, pray over it, and take one action this week toward obedience. 

4. Live Like Your Inheritance Is Secure 

Each tribe’s inheritance was guaranteed by God. Our eternal inheritance in Christ is even more secure. 

• Challenge: When you face stress or uncertainty, remind yourself: “My eternal inheritance is incorruptible.” Let that truth shape your response. 

✨ Take-Home Truth 

“God’s promises are secure, but they require our full obedience and faith to enjoy their fullness.” 

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