Justin Houtz

Numbers 31, 1 Corinthians 15

DateVersionReading Plan
May 28, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Numbers 31

Observation & Interpretation

The LORD told Moses to avenge the people against the Midianites, to send one thousand armed men from each tribe to battle (Num. 31:1-5). Moses did so, sending the men along with Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm (Num. 31:6). The people defeated the Midianites and included among those killed was Balaam of Peor (Num. 31:8). They brought the captives and plunder to Moses, Eleazar and the congregation at the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho (Num. 31:12).

Moses, Eleazar and all the chiefs of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp where Moses expressed his anger toward the officers of the army (Num. 31:13-14). Moses asked them about letting the women live and recounted how these women, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD (Num. 31:16). Moses ordered to be killed every male among the little ones and all of the women who had known a man by lying with him (Num. 31:17) but the young girls who had not known a man were to be kept alive for them (Num. 31:18). They were to encamp outside the camp seven days and purify themselves and their captives on the third and seventh days (Num. 31:19). Every garment and all spoil of war was to be purified (Num. 31:20-24).

The LORD told Moses how the spoil of war was to be divided. The ESVSB provides detail on the division:

The initial division of the spoil of war was that half went to the soldiers and half to those who stayed behind (v. 27; cf. 1 Sam. 30:24). From their share of the spoils the soldiers had to give one-five-hundredth to the priests, and from their share the people had to give one-fiftieth to the Levites. Thus one-tenth of one percent of the total spoil went to the priests and one percent went to the Levites.

The officers over the army then came to Moses and reported that they had counted the men of war and there was not one missing (Num. 31:48-49). They told Moses that they had brought the LORD’s offering—a ransom for the census taken of the men—which was all the gold captured by the Midianites (Num. 31:50). Moses and Eleazer received the contribution, totaling 16,750 shekels (Num. 31:52), and brought it to the tent of meeting as a memorial for the people of Israel before the LORD (Num. 31:54).

Application

It can be difficult to comprehend the LORD’s ordering of the people to avenge the Midianites, but according to the ESVSB it was “for persuading the Israelites to worship other gods [which] is a capital offense, according to Deuteronomy 13.” The LORD takes sin and idolatry very seriously and thus shall we, acting swiftly to put it to a complete death. This we are to do out of devotion to our holy and righteous LORD for the grieving it causes Him. It is the elevation of the LORD’s honor above the embrace of sin that should be the hallmark among the saints.

1 Corinthians 15

Observation & Interpretation

In this incredibly rich chapter, Paul speaks a reminder of the gospel to the brothers, his testimony of being transformed from a persecutor to an apostle and details surrounding the resurrection of Christ and the saints. On Paul’s conversion, the ESVSB says that, “Paul considered his conversion…to be a free and wholly undeserved gift from God (Rom. 15:15-16; Gal. 1:15; 2:9; Eph. 3:7-8; Phil. 1:9; 1 Tim. 1:14).”

Application

Reading this chapter and of Paul speaking of how it was only by God’s grace that he became who he became brings to mind my own conversion and the radical change from who I once was. There is no other reason than God’s sheer grace that I should be where I am today, desiring to know and share the Lord as I do. It makes no sense from an earthly perspective and is difficult to process even from my own. I think about the words from the Casting Crowns song, “Nobody”, which read, “Why You ever chose me has always been a mystery.” Things could have been so vastly different, continuing along the same trajectory, living for the pleasures of this world and for myself. But, for a reason I will not know until glorified in His presence, God chose to give this sinner a desire that could never be quenched by anything but Himself. Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are holy and righteous and worthy of all honor and glory. By Your Spirit, help me to put to death the deeds of the flesh and earnestly seek the practical holiness to which I have been called. Father, thank You for everything that You have done to restore and redeem my wickedness that I may have new life in Your Son.

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