ETB Numbers 33:50-56; 34:13-15

Session 7: Instructions Given p.64

Ask: Why is it important to follow the plan when doing construction (or any task we are given)? What happens when we don’t? (p. 61)

Most Christians probably would say they want to include God in their plans. As they think about life, they want His blessing and guidance, and they want His enabling grace to sustain them through whatever comes their way. Believers want to draw on His strength as they live out their plans.

However, the Bible has a different perspective. God doesn’t want us to include Him in our plans; rather, He wants to include us in His plans! As we yield our lives to His perfect purposes, He will accomplish far more in and through us than we could imagine. [LifeWay Adults (2025). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Fall 2025]

Transition: As we study this last session in the book of Numbers, we will see God’s instructions to the Israelites for occupying the land of Canaan. We will read the promises God made to Israel if they were faithful in obedience. As you look at these verses, reflect on how important obedience to God is for the health of our church and for your own spiritual growth.

Understand the Context

After our passage last week in Chapter 22, Aaron has died, and his son Eleazar is now the leader of the priests. In Chapter 26 Gods instructs him and Moses to take another census of the people - which is where the name of the book comes from since there are two such countings recorded. At the end of the that chapter there are instructions about the land divisions but also how the priests would not have a specific region but towns and land within different areas throughout the land.

Numbers 28-29 provide instructions about the special offerings and annual festivals.

God also stressed the importance of honoring vows (30:1-16). He wanted His people to honor Him by keeping their commitments.

The Lord commanded His people to execute vengeance against the Midianites, which Israel did (31:1-54). The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh then asked to settle the territory east of the Jordan River (32:1-5). Moses granted their request when the tribes assured him that they would help their fellow Israelites conquer the territory west of the Jordan (32:6-42).

The first part of Numbers 33 reviews the many places God’s people had journeyed from the time they left Egypt until they reached the Jordan (33:1-49).

As I read through the first few verses of God’s command to the people through Moses, make note of the actions that they were to do.

Explore the Text

Numbers 33:50–53 ESV

50 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 51 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 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 metal images and demolish all their high places. 53 And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.

All of these actions by the people are in the future.

What action in the past had God done that made this possible?

The first action listed for the people to accomplish when they enter the land is to drive out all the current inhabitants.

The words translated “drive out” in the Greek Septuagint are more often translated for death or perishing. This is closer to the correlating text in Deuteronomy 7:16 “16 And you shall consume all the peoples that the Lord your God will give over to you. Your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.”

Scripture uses this concept of “driving out” in the New Testament also. In the Old Testament it typically refers to people, like in our passage text. In the New Testament is typically refers to demons.

Mark 1:39 “39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”

Jesus gave the disciples this power and charge also.

Matthew 10:1 “1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”

But they were not always successful.

Mark 9:18 “18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.””

Can you think of any correlations between the Canaanites in the O.T and demons in the N.T.?

Just as demons are a symbol of sin in the N.T., the Canaanites are in the O.T. We must be vigilant and intentional about driving out or purging the sin in our life so that it does not draw us away from God’s plans for our lives and those around us.

Life Application Bible Notes Chapter 33

God told Moses that before the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, they should drive out the wicked inhabitants and destroy their idols. In

The next action instructed by God was for the people to destroy all their figured stones and . . . metal images. The Canaanites’ figured stones were carved or sculpted rock, while the other images were statues crafted from metal. They had made idols to represent gods created in their own image, but God had forbidden His people from worshiping Him in that manner (see Ex. 20:4-6).

Next, God’s people were commanded to demolish all their high places. The Canaanites often established their pagan worship sites atop hills or mountains, and God told the Israelites to rid the land of any trace of these shrines. However, the Bible records how God’s people continued to worship on high places throughout their history, in violation of His command (1 Kings 3:3; 15:14; 2 Kings 14:4; 15:4; 21:3).  [ETB:ALG Fall '25]

Ask: Why was it important to destroy the idols and high places devoted to false gods?

When you came to Christ, what were some actions or things that you had to “give up” or “get rid of?”

The last actions the people were to do were supposed to be done after completing the first three. We know, however, from reading the rest of the Scriptures this did not happen.

take possession of the land and settle in it

While God had promised them the land, He also expected them to act on His words. They had to move forward as if they believed it was theirs. As they began the conquest, they would show themselves obedient to God’s instruction and would receive His promise. They would need to avoid the fatal flaw that had doomed their parents’ generation. [ETB:ALG Fall '25]

Good instructions that are followed lead to an expected acceptable outcome, when they are not followed there are unintentional consequences. God’s instructions are always perfect, and He graciously lets the people know up front the consequences of ignoring them.

Numbers 33:54–56 ESV

54 You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for anyone, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. 55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. 56 And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.”

inherit the land by lot

We have the advantage of the book of Joshua to know that verse 54 was fulfilled through Joshua’s leadership and obedience.

Casting lots provided an objective means for determining which tribe received which area of the promised land. Although many would view this practice as a random act of chance, biblical writers consistently affirmed a confidence in God’s guidance over lots (see Prov. 16:33; Acts 1:26). 

Once the lots were cast, each tribe bore the responsibility of expelling the remaining inhabitants in its territory. The territories of Israel’s ancestral fathers would be determined by the lot, the allocations should consider the size of clans within each tribe. Larger groups naturally would require more territory, whereas smaller clans would not. [ETB:ALG Fall '25]

The people had been gathering manna for 40 or so years now and each morning everyone had just enough. Those who attempted to gather more than they needed could not, and those who did not gather as much as they should found that they had more, so that everyone had plenty but not excess. God’s generous and equitable provision of manna would shift to His provision of the land. Those with larger needs would have enough while those with less need would not be overlooked or do without. However, just as they were required to gather the manna, now they would need to “take possession” of the land.

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants

Here is why I think that words “driving out” are not strong enough in the English for the intent I believe God is trying to convey.

What is the difference between “driving out” the inhabitants of the land and “killing them?” What can happen if they are just pushed away?

That is what happens when we only “stop” that particular sin through will power or habit. Mortification of sin is the literal “killing” of the sin’s desire.

Romans 8:13 “13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 1 (Genesis–Job) Numbers 33:54–56

Just as the children of Israel were to drive out the Canaanites, my flesh and my spirit cannot coexist. There can be no peace treaty between them. The only peace there can be is the peace of God through the One who travels every step with us on our journey to heaven (

Notice how God describes the result of disobedience to His instructions.

barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides.

Barbs referred to something sharp that could be poked into their eyes. This would hinder their vision or even blind them. Likewise, thorns in their sides would a source of constant pain. [ETB:ALG Fall '25]

After traveling in the open wilderness for the past few decades, all those who heard this description would have personal experiential knowledge of these irritants.

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth 2 Corinthians 12

This figure of speech appears four times in the Old Testament (

When we encounter “barbs and thorns” in our lives what is our response? What should it be?

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth 2 Corinthians 12

Paul’s suffering drove him to prayer (

Did God remove Paul’s thorn, or did God use it to help Paul rely on Him more for His strength and endurance?

Just as the people had been relying on God to provide for them through the wilderness, they would continue to need to come to He for deliverance from new obstacles - this time Canaanites.

Life Application Bible Notes Map: The Borders of the Promised Land

If you don’t do the job right the first time, it often becomes much more difficult to accomplish. God warned that if the Israelites did not drive the wicked inhabitants out of the Promised Land, later these people would become a source of great irritation. That is exactly what happened. Just as the Israelites were hesitant to clear out all the wicked people, we are sometimes hesitant to clear out all the sin in our lives, either because we are afraid of it (as the Israelites feared the giants), or because it seems harmless and attractive (as sexual sin seemed). But

The final consequence of disobedience that God promises is probably the most condemning.

I will do to you as I thought to do to them

This is promise of God to respond to their sin if they did not drive the people out and fell prey to the temptations they created.

What is the difference between a promise and a threat?

Generally, promises benefit at least one if not both parties. Threats always oppress one side under the other. God always promises for our benefit, even those the consequences of His following through on the promise may not be pleasant.

God’s people would face challenges as they drove Canaan’s inhabitants from the land. Yet, they needed to trust God for the victory that He had assured them He would bring. They belonged to Him, and He had affirmed His covenant with them at Mount Sinai (Ex. 24:1-8). He already had told them of the blessing that would fill every aspect of their lives if they lived according to His commands (Lev. 26:3-13). 

However, God did not promise the people blessing no matter what. Rather, He expected them to demonstrate their faithfulness through lives dedicated to Him. He was about to judge the Canaanites for their wickedness. If His people adopted the same sinful practices, they would receive the same judgment as their enemies. Tragically, God did bring judgment on the Israelites as they consistently rebelled against Him in later years (2 Kings 17:1-23; 25:1-21). [ETB:ALG Fall '25]

We will face challenges in the coming days and weeks. May we face them more like Paul than his ancestors.

The book now skips down a few verses into chapter 14 for our last bit of text in Numbers. There are a lot of maps out there depicting the areas of the first 10 verses but most commentaries agree that these are guesstimates as some of the places listed are not definitively identifiable today. It is interesting though to compare those boundaries with the ones on our modern maps.

Numbers 34:13–15 ESV

13 Moses commanded the people of Israel, saying, “This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the Lord has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe. 14 For the tribe of the people of Reuben by fathers’ houses and the tribe of the people of Gad by their fathers’ houses have received their inheritance, and also the half-tribe of Manasseh. 15 The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, toward the sunrise.”

Whose idea was it for the two and half-tribes to settle on the east side of the Jordan?

English Standard Version Chapter 32

And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock

English Standard Version Chapter 32

And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.”

Do you remember any other Old Testament people that “looked at the land” and “saw” it was a good place?

Genesis 13:10 “10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)”

Either during last week’s lesson or the week before we talked about how sometimes God allows us to go through with our plans even though they are not His. This is happening again for these 2-1/2 tribes. God’s plan was everyone to be west of the Jordan, but He allows them to settle on the east, but with a condition.

These tribes assured Moses they would help their Israelite relatives conquer Canaan, after which they would return to their territory east of the Jordan (32:16-19). The book of Joshua states that these tribes repeated their assurance to Joshua (Josh. 1:12-18). After the conquest, Joshua sent them home to their territory with his blessing because they had done exactly what they had promised to do (22:1-6). [ETB:ALG Fall '25]

All of the tribes did eventually get the land they were promised even though it was not fully “purged” of foreign influences. As I was studying this week it struck me that this earthly inheritance is a foreshadowing of our final one in heaven. Then as I was reading one of the study guides it pointed out the same thing.

Numbers: Homeward Bound The Final Stage of the Journey (33:50–56)

This may remind us that, at the end of the journey to our promised inheritance, God will remove all evil. The devil and his angels, and all false idols, will be removed forever (

God has promised a New Heaven and New Earth without any sin or need for us to conquer it; He will do it all. What the Israelites did not accomplish in the ancient Promised Land, He will do in the Final Land. The sin and distractions we struggle to purge from our lives every day, He will remove for all the rest of “time.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 “20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

Apply the Text

“Standing on the Promises of God” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLlJR61wKW0

Pray: Thank You, God, for Your faithfulness in fulfilling promises and for Your provisions for our lives. Lord, we know we need to remove distractions from our lives that prevent us from fully following You, help us to see them as the hindrances to Your plans that they are. Jesus, You faced many challenges while You walked the earth, help us not be surprised when we face them too. God, Your Word shows repeatedly how faithful You are in keeping Your promises. Strengthen our faith and commitment to trust You to continue to keep them, and to be people like You who keep our promises too.