Purpose Study Bible 160: Boundaries

As we close this series on Numbers, let's look at God's directions for how the land was to be divided when the?people got there:

The Lord said to Moses, “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries" (Numbers 34:1-2).

God then laid out a plan that situated the tribes within specific borders. God is still doing the same thing today but instead of land, He is apportioning gifts and responsibilities according to each person's capacity and faith:

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

You don't know your boundaries—how much you can do and where you can do it—until you step out and try. Also your boundaries may not be local, but may extend or be exclusively among people or in a nation not close to your background or heritage.

What are your gifts and talents? Do you know what your borders are? Where are you most effective in your work or ministry? What are you doing when you are "in the groove" and flowing with the Lord? Are you open to God expanding your borders? What changes will have to take place in you for that to happen?