The people of Israel started to show all the signs of acquired maturity. Not only was their a transition of leadership but also of discretion and self-determination, with relevant reforms.
A fresh census (Chapter 26)
You may not have realized it yet, but the records were silent on the 40
years that Israel spent in the Wilderness. It was all a mundane trudge.
The story is taken up again toward the end of the end of that period as
they started moving towards the Promised Land. Thus a changing of the guard was
seen, with Eleazar replacing Aaron, Miriam departing and Joshua made heir-apparent
to Moses.
Thus the second census, of all males over 20, occurred after the 40
years.
Yet, the numbers were similar, namely 601,730, slightly down from
603,550. It confirms that despite a good birth rate, they had remained
constant.
That is attributable to a number of dying offs due to plagues, judgments
and wars. However, natural death rates may well have climbed in the harsh
desert conditions.
God clearly said that the 40 years would see off an entire generation,
which means that the average mortality age declined to 60 (compare that to the
120 span of Moses).
Eleazar ran the census. Not one of those originally numbered by Moses
and Aaron, had survived, barring Joshua and Caleb.
A legal ruling (Chapter 27)
The daughters of Zelophehad had been disinherited by his death as there
was no male issue to continue his line. The result was a bit like the sea-change
in universal suffrage that happened when women gained the right to vote.
Women were allowed to inherit where there was no male issue. This is one
of many examples where constitutional issues were decided by Moses and later by
the Sanhedrin. It marked the beginning of the oral tradition of the Pharisees.
By that I mean that the nuances of law started to be relevantly interpreted,
beyond the limitation of literal law as was demanded by the Sadducees.
This is in stark contrast to the narrow, intolerant culture of Muslims.
Puritans and other legalistic cultures, which reveal their theological
immaturity and limited discernment, by reflecting their insecurities through
harsh religious codes.
It is, however, interesting that Jesus rejected both poles, the former
because they applied oral discretion too expediently and the latter because
they were bereft of discernment and wisdom. God is always in the balance. He
was forging a culture not a religion.
The appointment of Joshua, son of
Nun
Throughout the unfolding of the Exodus years, Joshua kept popping up. He
had always distinguished himself. Thus the mantle of leadership inevitably
transferred to him.
In so doing, some of Moses’ honor passed to the younger man. He was
singled out because the spirit of leadership was already on him.
It recalls how Jesus said, “The spirit of the Lord is on me, because He
anointed me”. There are always two stages: a calling followed years later by a
commissioning.
The latter is fulfilled through the laying on of hands, which is more
than just an act: it is one of the fundamental principles of divine doctrine
(Hebrews 6).
A revision of the sacrifices and
liturgical calendar (chapter 28-29)
I am not going to cover this ground again. It may have some new
information, but not enough to warrant a new discussion on the matter.
The making of vows by women
(chapter 30)
The rights to enter into contractual agreements was naturally extended
to women, which confirms a maturing in the
national mindset.
They had shifted from a harsh, puritan culture, to a wiser, more balanced
worldview. They were growing up, so God conceded a degree of discretion and
freedom.
Women were still under covering and so if a father or husband did not
support her vow or contractual arrangement, it was null and void, not unlike
the laws applying to marriage today.
However, women were gaining rights. They were never marginalized the way
that say, Muslim or Hindu women are. They were treated with dignity, a fact
that inspired Ruth to leave her misogynistic and otherwise base culture for the
dignified culture of the Jews.
Conclusion
Israel was clearly coming of age. The next phase would see them take a
long overdue stand against the bullies that had troubled them along the way.
They were ready to assert their maturity and stand tall in the purpose of God.
(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com
