NUMBERS 36
The closing chapters of this book have the inheritance distinctly in view, and the fact that abnormal conditions are contemplated gives the instruction a special bearing [p. 405] on the present time. The lack of male issue in the family of Zelophehad, and his daughters being five in number, suggest conditions of weakness. It is helpful to see that the inheritance can be taken up even in such conditions, but that it has to be taken up in the divinely appointed way.
God had given the birthright in Israel to Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:2), so that it was appropriate that questions about the inheritance should be raised in connection with five of his daughters. It had been decided by Jehovah, as we have seen in chapter 27, that if an Israelite had no son his daughter should inherit. The family relationship secured this right, and it was not to be invalidated. It is a comfort to know that those born of God are His children, and they are entitled to inherit, notwithstanding all that has come to pass in the way of abnormal conditions. Admitting all the weakness on our side, we can still say, “See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God” (1 John 3:1). “Those who love God” (Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 2:9) are not only heirs in title, but they have a nature suited to inherit what divine love has prepared for them. “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God. And if children, heirs also: heirs of God, and Christ’s joint heirs” (Romans 8:16,17). The Apostle reasons, “And if children, heirs also” — as much as to say, If you are children, the inheritance must have a great place in your thoughts. I suppose the children of God come to light in three ways: (1) by practising righteousness; (2) by loving the brethren; and (3) by having interest in the inheritance. Zelophehad’s daughters had proved themselves to be true children of Joseph by their interest in the inheritance.
It is to be noted, in this connection, that John, whose writings have specially in view the last days, speaks [p. 406] much of eternal life, which for us is the inheritance, and he also dwells much on the thought of children and of being born of God. The inheritance is the portion of children — of those who are in nature capable of appreciating it.
But the chapter now before us shows that the inheritance was to be taken up tribally, and that it was not to pass from tribe to tribe. The tribes were each allotted their portion in sovereignty, so that the whole land was possessed by each tribe holding its own full portion. Every Israelite inherited as being one of a tribe; he was preserved by the divine ordering from individualizing himself, and he was also preserved from being too general in his thoughts and overlooking his immediate relations with his own tribe. We inherit with the brethren as having a common portion with them in Christ, and a sense of this would preserve us from being narrowed up to ourselves. If we have blessing in Christ we have it in company with all God’s elect; in regard of the inheritance we cannot detach ourselves from the whole Israel of God. But we may admit this in a general way without having much of the gain of it in a practical sense. For the enjoyment of the inheritance in a practical way we must walk in companionship with our brethren locally, and we must take up with them the exercise and responsibility of not letting go any part of what is assigned to us tribally. There was great concern in the chief fathers of Manasseh (verses 1 - 4) that no part of the inheritance of the tribe of their fathers should be taken away. Such an exercise would rightly be found in every tribe, for it was by each tribe holding its portion undiminished that the whole inheritance was possessed. If one tribe failed to retain its full portion there would be a breach of the divine allotment, and all Israel would be adversely affected.
[p. 407] The divine arrangement for the enjoyment of the inheritance is that God’s people shall take it up together in the various localities in which they are found. If me have light as to the common portion of the saints universally it becomes our privilege and responsibility to recognise this by walking together locally in accord with it. In the original ordering of things assemblies were found in every locality where the grace of God wrought There was one body and one Spirit universally, but the practical working out of the truth in spiritual intelligence and affection was in local companies who “in every place” called on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2). God intended His people to be together in their various localities, as walking practically in the fellowship to which He had called them, so that they might enjoy together the inheritance which His love has bestowed upon them.
The body is one universally, but the functioning of the members, and the action of the various gifts by the Spirit, is in the local companies where they are found. Each local company of saints has “body” character, and the saints in it are “members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Anything that hinders the functioning of the members takes away something from the inheritance as it may be enjoyed locally. The scripture, “And if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it” is often applied to physical or circumstantial suffering with which the saints sympathize. But I have no doubt that in the connection in which it stands (1 Corinthians 12) it can be applied to a member who, for some reason, is unable to function happily and normally. This is not only a loss to the particular member, but it makes all suffer. It is a sad and regrettable thing if a member of Christ’s body suffers so that it does not function normally as in co-ordination with the other local members. All suffer by being deprived of what [p. 408] the suffering member ought to contribute. Who can tell what is lost to the saints today by spiritual vitality being so low that there is not power in many members to function normally? How much of the inheritance is taken away, in a practical sense, from the local “tribes” by this kind of suffering! This is surely a serious matter for consideration. Even if I were content to suffer myself from some spiritual weakness or disease, it ought to be a great concern to me to be in a state that deprives all my local brethren of something which I alone can contribute. Every member should feel that his spiritual health and vigour must be fully maintained so that the way in which he functions may be a cause of rejoicing to all the other members.
It needs all the members to take up the portion in Christ, and it only becomes available for the joy of all as they function spiritually. The distinctions of gifts, and of services, and of operations are designed of God to make known and to retain in the affections of the saints what He has given to them in love as a present inheritance, But these spiritual activities cannot possibly minister to what is sectarian because they come out in many members who form one body, and each local company of saints to be according to the truth, and to provide for the members functioning as God intended, must have “body” character. If the Spirit is quenched by the setting up of a human order of service the normal functioning of the members is checked, and in result the inheritance is, in a practical sense, taken away from the local “tribe”.
The will of man did not enter into the original allotment of what was possessed by each local “tribe”, and why should any movements be allowed which have the effect of changing that allotment? Even in the day of abnormal conditions God’s people are under responsibility to see that nothing subversive of His order [p. 409] shall be tolerated. It becomes the exercise of each “tribe” to see that not a bit of what has been assigned sovereignly shall be taken from us. Any company of saints walking together should have this exercise. For we can only inherit according to God as we maintain it. By each “tribe” holding its full portion the whole inheritance would be held in a divine way, and the universal unity maintained unbroken. Any action of our own will, or any acquiescence in what others have wrongly introduced, will have the effect of taking away some of the inheritance which rightly pertains to our local “tribe”. But all that is appointed of God will tend to retain it. So that we all have to learn the lesson of Zelophehad’s daughters, and be in subjection to divine appointments, that our “tribe” may not suffer loss. This is an exercise for every one in the Israel of God.
People say that things are not now as they were in the Apostles’ days! Alas! this is only too true. But it does not speak of progress, but of decline and departure. Things are very abnormal now. The people of God generally know little of what it is to stand together in the localities where they are found, apart from human order and arrangements, and giving place to every sovereign divine allotment of spiritual gift that God has set amongst them. But this is undoubtedly God’s thought for them. Each “tribe” is to hold its full God-given portion. Human learning or eloquence can never compensate for the setting aside of the spiritual endowments of the assembly. In so far as the normal functioning of the body and all its members is interfered with (whether it be by the members them-selves being in a paralysed or inefficient state, or by their being reduced to inactivity by some order of service which is not according to God’s mind) in so far will the enjoyment of the inheritance be lost to the local “tribe”.
[p. 410] The people of God, as walking together in any locality, cannot afford to surrender the smallest bit of the inheritance. Abnormal conditions are never to be allowed to become a reason, or an excuse, for letting go any part of what is God-given in Christ. We are not called upon to set up anything, or to make any human arrangements whatever. It is our part to recognise what God has given in sovereign love, and the spiritual endowments which He has conferred upon the assembly that it might stand in the good of the inheritance. Notwithstanding all the departure it has been found possible for even “two or three” to take up this exercise and privilege. When a few saints, about a hundred years ago, separated from national and sectarian bodies, as realising their privilege to come together locally simply as members of Christ’s body, light began to be given as to the assembly and the inheritance in Christ such as had not been known since the days of the apostles. In some practical, even if very limited, way the inheritance began to be enjoyed according to the original mind and ordering of God. It was recovery in remnant character, and in testimony, to what was in God’s mind. Zelophehad’s daughters represent, I believe, a remnant who take up the inheritance as being faithful to the original order notwithstanding conscious weakness. They maintained, typically, the local ordering and endowment of the assembly.
The abnormal time is, indeed, with us, the time of manifest weakness. But the exercise of the chief fathers of Manasseh, and the divine enactment relative thereto, teach us that no part of what is God-given is to be allowed to pass from any one of the “tribes”. Such is the lesson with which the book of Numbers closes.