Numbers 32:1-19

There is a deeper life that God wants His children to experience. There is a place of spiritual rest and victory over sin. But not every believer lives there. Many settle for a comfortable life in this world rather than pursuing the consecrated life in the Spirit. That is the lesson in today's story.

Under Moses' leadership, the children of Israel had experienced military victories on the east side of the Jordan River. They had defeated two formidable Canaanite kings. Now the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh saw that this area was great pastureland for their livestock. They wanted to claim this as their inheritance rather than crossing over the Jordan with the other tribes. In one way this made sense, since they had much livestock. But was it the best decision?

They made their request to Moses and Eleazar, and Moses immediately objected.

“Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here? Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them?” (Numbers 32:6–7, NKJV)

Moses flashed back to thirty-eight years earlier when the ten spies discouraged the heart of the people from entering the Promised Land. That had been disastrous. Now would they repeat this sin? They assured Moses that after building pens for their livestock and cities for their wives and children, they would cross over with their brethren to the west side of the Jordan and fight against the Canaanites until their brethren received their inheritance. Then they would return to their homes on the east side. This seemed like a good plan, and it answered Moses' concerns, but was it the best plan?

I do believe that there is God's perfect will and His permissive will. Moses would grant them their desire, but they would not have the natural protection of the Jordan River. And if would be more difficult to worship the LORD at the tabernacle because of their separation. History would prove that these two-and-a-half tribes were the first to be attacked and defeated by their enemies. Their distance from God and their brethren left them more vulnerable.

But even more than this, they missed out on the place that God had prepared for them. They settled for worldly comforts when they could have had spiritual blessings. They wanted their inheritance now rather than waiting for God's provision later.

The Scripture teaches us that these things are examples to us so that we do not lust for the same things that they lusted for (1 Corinthians 10:6). Let us not be among those who settle for the creature comforts of this world when God has prepared a better place for us of spiritual rest and victory.