Numbers

Numbers 31: God judges and guards His people

Begin in prayer

Before reading this solemn judgment on Midian, let us ask the holy God for reverent hearts. Please pray that we will hear His Word carefully and see our need of cleansing through Jesus.

Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.

Psalm 106:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to take Your judgment seriously, and lead us to Jesus, whose sacrifice cleanses His guilty people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God commands Israel to execute His vengeance on Midian before Moses dies. The army kills the men, the five kings and Balaam, burns the cities and brings captives and plunder back. Moses says the women led Israel astray through Balaam’s counsel, and orders the boys and women who had known a man killed. The girls who had not known a man are kept alive. Those who killed or touched the dead, and their captives and goods, must be cleansed before coming into camp. God divides the plunder between the soldiers and congregation, with portions for the priests and Levites. The officers report no soldier missing and offer gold for atonement, which is kept before God as a memorial.

As you read Numbers 31, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God judges sin, guards His people and requires them to be clean.

God orders this judgment on Midian because its deceit led Israel into the sin at Peor. The army is carrying out His command, and the death of Balaam exposes the end of his wicked counsel. Yet victory gives the soldiers no right to ignore God’s holiness. Those who have killed or touched the dead must be cleansed before entering the camp. The captives and goods are also purified, then shared under God’s direction with a portion for His service. When the officers count the soldiers, they find that none is missing, and bring gold as an offering of atonement. Please teach this judgment soberly, as the LORD's vengeance on Midian that He commanded (verses 2 and 3).

How does Numbers 31 show us that God judges sin, guards His people and requires them to be clean?

God brings judgment on the deceit that led Israel into sin.

The Lord commands vengeance for Midian’s part in the wrong at Peor. Moses names Balaam’s counsel as the means used to lead Israel astray. The deaths of the men, kings, Balaam, boys and women must be taught with the seriousness the judgment requires.

God requires cleansing even after the battle He has commanded.

Soldiers who have killed or touched the dead remain outside the camp for seven days. The captives and goods must also be purified, with fire and cleansing water used as the law requires. God’s holy presence calls for care even after victory.

God’s preserving care calls for thankful and holy giving.

God divides the plunder between the soldiers and congregation, with portions given for His holy service. The officers count their soldiers and find none missing. They bring gold for atonement, and it becomes a memorial before the Lord.

Memorise

They said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us.

Numbers 31:49

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin do I excuse that I need Jesus to cleanse?

The officers tell Moses, “there lacks not one man of us.” God has preserved them through the battle, yet they still bring an offering for atonement. Victory does not remove their need to approach the holy God as He commands.

Our sin deserves His judgment, and we cannot make ourselves clean. Jesus died for His people, carrying their guilt and suffering their punishment on the cross. He rose from the grave, having completed the sacrifice that fully cleanses their sin. His blood gives the cleansing a guilty conscience needs, as Hebrews 9 verse 14 teaches.

So turn from sin and trust Jesus. Forgiveness is given to those who seek Him through His saving death. Please come with reverence and hope. The holy God who judges sin has provided a Savior whose finished offering is enough for every person who comes to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God’s judgment is serious, and please explain verses 13 to 18 soberly without graphic detail. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for preserving His people and providing cleansing before His holy presence, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

Luke 12:4

Holy God, Your judgment is right, and we need the mercy You give through Jesus. Please turn each of us from sin and teach us to trust His cleansing blood. Keep us from treating life lightly or excusing wrong. Give us grateful hearts that honour You with what You provide. Amen.