Números 27

Números 27

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - Numbers 27:21 At his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in. The emphasis is on the word his. Moses had asked God to indicate a successor to lead out and bring in the people. But Jehovah drew a distinction. Joshua was to receive the Divine direction from Eleazar, the priest, who should enquire of the Lord; and at his word, i.e., God’s word through Eleazar, the people were to go out and come in. Our goings-out should be determined by the Word of God. — We never waste time when we stand before the true Priest, who has the Urim of Divine direction, especially when we are considering some call to duty. Very often we have gone out at the instigation of pride, or emulation, or fussy activity; we have gone out because others have done so, and we were eager not to be left behind. Under these circumstances the out-goings of our mornings have not been made to rejoice; we have encountered disappointment and defeat. When we go forth at God’s bidding, He becomes absolutely responsible; otherwise we pierce ourselves through with many sorrows, and bring discredit on the cause we would fain serve. Our comings-in must be determined by the Word of God. — When we should come in to rest, to pray, to fill again our souls with his Spirit, to suffer in secret, or to die, must be left to the determination of his will. It is easier to go out than to come in. Activity is pleasanter than passivity; the stir and rush of the world preferable to lying still to suffer. But our times are in his hand, and as soon as we recognize the decisions of the Urim in the appointments of Divine Providence, the speedier shall we be at peace. It we are fully surrendered to God, both our going-out and our coming-in shall be ordered aright by his Spirit. Numbers 27:22 Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. MOSES OBEYS TAKING JOSHUA BEFORE ELEAZAR Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation - Obedience without hesitation again! Notice before all the congregation, so that there would be no more of this "Korah-like" quibbling and quarreling regarding who was Israel's leader. Wenham - Joshua’s appointment as Moses’ successor was, as it were, publicly announced by the laying on of his hands. It was later confirmed by God himself appearing in the pillar of cloud in the court of the tabernacle (Deut. 31:14–15, 23). Further revelations to Joshua followed the death of Moses (Josh. 1:1–9; 5:13–15), but we are told that it was the crossing of the Jordan that really convinced the people that Joshua was God’s chosen successor to Moses (Josh. 4:14). (TOTC-Nu) Related Passages: Deuteronomy 31:14-15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time for you to die is near; call Joshua, and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, that I may commission him (NOTE HERE GOD DOES THE COMMISSIONING!).” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the tent of meeting. 15 The LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood at the doorway of the tent. (THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DRAMATIC COMMISSIONING FOR THE CONGREGATION TO WITNESS) Deuteronomy 31:23 Then He (YAHWEH) commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.” Numbers 27:23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses. Nu 27:19 De 3:28 31:7,8 MOSES OBEYS LAYING HANDS ON AND COMMISSIONING JOSHUA Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses - This symbolic act was also in the presence of all to witness. The congregation would be familiar with the priest laying his hands on the sacrificial animal as a means of conveying the the truth that the animal was to serve as the person's substitute (the animal's life/lifeblood for the life of the offerer). (Lev 1:4+, et al). It is interesting that in Numbers 8 the sons of Israel were to lay their hands on the Levites (see notes on Numbers 8:10-12) Wenham - Despite the difference in authority between Moses and Joshua, there was a real continuity between them expressed symbolically by the laying on of Moses’ hands (18, 23). In this symbolic gesture Joshua was identified with Moses and made his representative for the future. Through the imposition of hands either blessings or sins were transferred, and the one on whom hands were laid became the substitute or representative of the other man. Thus Jacob placed his hands on his grandsons’ heads to bless them (Gen. 48:14); the people placed their hands on the blasphemer’s head to transfer their guilt incurred through hearing blasphemy to the blasphemer (Lev. 24:14); and all worshippers placed a hand on the head of the sacrificial animal to indicate it was taking their place in dying for their sin (Lev. 1:4, etc.). But the closest parallel to the imposition of hands on Joshua is the ordination of the Levites (8:10ff.), when the Israelites appointed them as their substitutes in place of their first-born children. Laying on of hands continued in New Testament times to ordain people to church offices (Acts 6:6; 13:3; 1 Tim. 4:14; Heb. 6:2). (TOTC-Nu)