Numbers 35 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Do not defile the land where you are, for bloodshed defiles the land, and there can be no atonement for the land because of the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the person who shed it. Do not make the land unclean where you live and where I reside, for I, the L_rd, reside among the Israelites.” Numbers 35:33-34

Following the institution/instruction concerning cities of refuge, the L_rd completed the thought by stating that murder is more than a sin against humanity and Himself. Murder is also a sin against the land, itself.

In the book of Genesis, the L_rd told Cain He knew about Abel’s murder, because his blood cried out from the ground.

“Then He said, ‘What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! So now you are cursed with alienation from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. If you work the land, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” Genesis 4:10-12

Leviticus tells us of a Sabbath rest for the land, itself, every 7th year.

“But there will be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land in the seventh year, a Sabbath to the L_rd: you are not to sow in your field or prune your vineyard.” Leviticus 25:4

At the end of the 2 Chronicles, the L_rd tells Israel that He has expelled them from the land, in order to give the LAND the “Sabbath rests” Israel had denied it.

“This fulfilled the Word of the L_rd through Jeremiah and the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until 70 years were fulfilled.” 2 Chronicles 26:31

Why is there such an intimate link between mankind and the land? Perhaps, it is because Adam came from the ground (G_d-breathed dust). Either way, ever since the fall of man, creation has groaned!

Our sin has ripple effects that we may never understand. In many ways, our environment is groaning from the way our fathers have mismanaged it…and how we are mismanaging it, ourselves. Inversely, our faithful commitment to Messiah has positive ripple effects. When we follow Yeshua as He commands, we may never fully realize our long-term positive Kingdom impact…but we continue to follow Him faithfully.

While the World does not revolve around us, individually, our personal righteousness (or lack thereof) leaves its mark wherever we go. Your impact on the World can be very profound. Isn’t it interesting how Yeshua’s righteous blood, which fell to the ground both inside & outside the city of Jerusalem, atoned for our sin, even our sins against the land.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Wednesday, June 11, 2014