March 27, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Numbers? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 32 (NIV)
The Transjordan Tribes
1The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. 2So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, 3“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon—.......Continue Reading
Numbers 32
It seemed that the tribes of Reuben and Gad were starting their old ways of discouragement again but this time they just found favor in this land short of the promised land and agreed to see God’s people through the battle to the end.
I like the distinction that Moses made that if they just stayed behind and did nothing that this would be a sin against God. Sometimes our inactivity and doing nothing when we know God has called us to do something puts us in a disobedient and sinful place.
A pretty good lesson in conflict resolution is found in this chapter. We often find ourselves with different opinions and understanding of things. So at first Moses and these tribes appear at odds. They first approach Moses with humility and recognition of his authority which is good, but then say please don’t ask us to cross the Jordan. One wonders why they said this when they were willing in the end to join the Israelites in battle. But it teaches us that we should do our best to consider all we are willing to offer, up front and do our best to see it from the others perspective rather than withholding things at the beginning. We can understand why Moses goes where he does after his experience with the last generation that shrunk back from taking the land. But it ends up that he is presuming things from his own experience (although they also did say please don’t make us cross) and that is something we should avoid. What is best in the chapter is the tribes did not react to what Moses said, but maintain decorum and respect and address his concerns. They say they will stand in battle with their Jewish brothers and fight until they have won their inheritance. Moses then does well to accept their terms because it addresses the heart of his concern. At times we might need to avoid piling on at this point….oh well if you would do that, then why don’t you do this as well.
But in all, conflict resolved, parties at different extremes see eye to eye and Israel ends up with more land then they thought at first….all consistent though with God’s promise to give Israel all the land where Abraham walked…..And Manasseh gets thrown in the mix as well….
I was thinking the same thing, Pastor, a good example of conflict resolution. I can see why Moses is thrown off by their request to stay on this side of the Jordan, but their logic as to why they should stay there makes sense too. We saw with the daughters who requested their father’s land, that God is not beyond reasoning with when done in a heart of obedience. It could have been said that those daughters, and here, the Gadites and Reubenites were not trusting God to provide what is best, but we also know that God wants us to come to Him with our plans and see what He thinks. He may just agree with us. 😀
28Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes. 29He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the Lord, then when the land is subdued before you, you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession. 30But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.”