Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

20 Then Moses said to them: “If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the LORD for the war, 21 and all your armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven out His enemies from before Him, 22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you may return and be blameless before the LORD and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. 23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:20-23

The tribes of Ruben, Gad and half of Manasseh asked Moses to allow them to settle on the far side of the Jordan. Although it was within the region of land that God promised to Abraham but not in the land they were headed for beyond the Jordan. It was a good land but not the best. It looked like the easy land, there weren’t giants to defeat. Moses said they can settle over there but they must promise to help their brethren fight for their promise land or their sin will catch up with them. It isn’t just about us fulfilling our dreams but we are all expected to help others reach God’s promise land for them. We also learn that the easy way is not always the best way, because although these tribes were able to settle in their land without having to fight, they would often be the first attacked when enemy nations came to war. These tribes ended up fighting more than the other tribes. If the Lord says go over Jordan than go over Jordan even if it looks more difficult at first. Sometime God takes us the way of most resistance at first so we can live in the land of least resistance.

Pastor Rick
Next Reading: Numbers 34-36; Mark 11