We start with the allocation of the land and begin with the request of Reuben and Gad (v1-5) to settle on the east side of the River Jordan. These two tribes had a very great number of livestock and when they saw the land of Jazer and Gilead which was favourable, they came to Moses and asked if they could have that land and not go over the Jordan which was less than Israel had longed for 400 years.
Moses granted their request but on condition that it did not relieve them of their responsibility of fighting with their brothers as they went over the Jordan and fought to get their promised land.
There is a danger for us to settle down where we are thinking we have fought enough battles. Moses said that it would discourage those who would go over the Jordan into the land (v6,7). We too need to encourage those in the front of the battle in the Christian life. Sitting back can be a discouragement because whether we like it or not, we are all in the battle. We must also be aware that to stay with those who are sitting back is dangerous thinking that that we don’t need to go on with the Lord and discouraging to those who do want to go on.
Moses was concerned that history was repeating itself (v8-15). Thirty-eight years before the majority of the people were disparaging of the two spies Joshua and Caleb and discouraged the people so that they didn’t enter the Promised Land and spent the following thirty-eight years wandering in the wilderness. All who had left Egypt except Joshua and Caleb died in the wilderness. He encouraged the tribes of Reuben and Gad not to do the same so that God would not be angry with them and destroy them. Joshua and Caleb wholly followed the LORD, but the rest did not.
It is most important that we ‘wholly follow the Lord’.
However, the leaders of Reuben and Gad said that they would build their sheepfolds there but they were ready and armed to go and fight with their brothers until they were settled over the Jordan and they would not return to their homes on the eastern side until they had all received their inheritance (v16-19). Moses was satisfied but he warned them that they must fulfil their promise otherwise they would be sinning against the Lord (v20-24) and “Be sure your sin will find you out”. This is a well-known phrase, but I wonder how many of us realised that it was found here Numbers 32:23? A warning to us all that God sees everything we do or fail to do, and we cannot get away with sin. Similar thought from Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
The leaders of the two tribes agreed with Moses’ command (v25-27) and Moses ordered Joshua, Eleazar the priest and the chiefs of the tribes, to give Reuben and Gad the land of Gilead if they fulfil their promise. If they do not fulfil their promise, they were to be given a possession in the land of Canaan (v28-42). So, Moses gave the children of Gad, Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh who also wanted to settle on the eastern side of the river their land on the eastern side. Some of the sons of Manasseh actually fought and dispossessed the Amorites in Gilead so Moses gave them Gilead.
