Numbers 34:1-5: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Command the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to its borders), 3then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be from the end of the Salt Sea eastward. 4Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of Kadesh Barnea; and it shall go from there to Hazar Addar, and pass along to Azmon. 5The border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the sea.

As God gives Israel the land, he defines its borders, marking out precisely the bounds of the inheritance he grants them: the south border here, turning at this point, passing to that place, ending at the sea. The inheritance God gave was not boundless or vague; it had defined bounds, borders set by God, marking out the particular portion he was giving them. Within those God-given bounds lay their inheritance, the portion God had measured out for them, with its own borders set by his hand.

Notice that God set the bounds of the inheritance he gave. The land was not without limit; God defined its borders, marking out the particular portion that would be Israel's. He gave them a defined inheritance, with bounds set by his own hand, a portion measured out for them. The bounds were not arbitrary restrictions, but the shape of the gift; within them lay all that God was giving. God gave a real, bounded inheritance, its borders set by him, the portion he had chosen for his people.

That God sets the bounds of our portion is worth taking to heart, for we can chafe against the bounds of our lot rather than resting content within them. Our lives have bounds, limits set upon our portion, our circumstances, our lot; and we can chafe against them, wishing our portion were larger or different. But as God set the bounds of Israel's inheritance, so the bounds of our lot are set by him, and within them lies the portion he has given us. Do not chafe against the bounds of the lot God has given you, always wishing for what lies beyond them; the bounds of your portion are set by God, and within them lies what he has given. Rest content within the bounds God has set for your portion, trusting that he has measured out your inheritance with its borders, as he set the bounds of Israel's land; for the bounds of our lot are set by God's hand, and within them lies the portion he has chosen to give us, in which we may rest content rather than chafing for what lies beyond.

Lord, as you give Israel the land, you define its borders, marking out precisely the bounds of the inheritance you grant them: the south border here, turning at this point, ending at the sea. The inheritance you gave was not boundless or vague; it had defined bounds, borders set by you, marking out the particular portion you were giving them. Within those God-given bounds lay their inheritance. Show me that you set the bounds of the inheritance you gave. The land was not without limit; you defined its borders, marking out the particular portion that would be Israel's. You gave them a defined inheritance, with bounds set by your own hand. The bounds were not arbitrary restrictions, but the shape of the gift; within them lay all you were giving. You gave a real, bounded inheritance, its borders set by you. Take that to my heart, for I can chafe against the bounds of my lot rather than resting content within them. My life has bounds, limits set upon my portion, my circumstances, my lot; and I can chafe against them, wishing my portion were larger or different. But as you set the bounds of Israel's inheritance, so the bounds of my lot are set by you, and within them lies the portion you have given me. Keep me from chafing against the bounds of the lot you have given me, always wishing for what lies beyond them; the bounds of my portion are set by you, Lord. Help me rest content within the bounds you have set for my portion, trusting that you have measured out my inheritance with its borders.