Numbers 32:28-42 / A Unified People
📖 Scripture
28 Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes.
29 He 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.
30 But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.”
31 The Gadites and Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the Lord has said.
32 We will cross over before the Lord into Canaan armed, but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.”
33 Then Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and the territory around them.
34 The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36 Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks.
37 And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim,
38 as well as Nebo and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt.
39 The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it and drove out the Amorites who were there.
40 So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there.
41 Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured their settlements and called them Havvoth Jair.
42 And Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding settlements and called it Nobah after himself.
✅ Scripture Summary
✅ Memory verse
– Numbers 32:23
✅ Reflection
Despite Disagreements (32:28–33)
Moses communicates the details of the agreement with Joshua, who will be the new leader of Israel, Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the Israelite tribes. Moses tells the leaders that they must give the land of Gilead to the Gadites and Reubenites if they fight alongside the rest of Israel. If the Gadites and Reubenites do not keep their word, then they must accept their portion of the land in Canaan. Regardless of their actions, Reuben and Gad will remain a part of the community. The leaders will not allow disagreements or failures to divide God’s people. In our own church communities, may we also seek to remain unified and use our words and actions to encourage, exhort, and correct one another.
What disagreements are prevalent in your church, home, school, or workplace? Think about the ways you can foster unity and understanding and prevent division.
Active Participation (32:34–42)
The tribes of Reuben and Gad conquer the land and build fortified cities and sturdy pens so that the women, children, and animals will be safe until the men return from war after crossing the Jordan. Part of the tribe of Manasseh also captures the land and settles in the area. The tribes of Israel do not sit lazily, expecting blessings to be handed to them. They do the work of fighting for the cities and building the pens in the land they are receiving as their inheritance. Sometimes, we assume that God will simply hand our desired blessings to us. However, we often need to take active steps to receive all that He has for us.
What have you requested from the Lord? Consider what steps you can take to actively participate in these blessings.
“Hearts on earth say in the course of a joyful experience, ‘I don’t want this ever to end.’ But invariably it does. The hearts of those in heaven say, ‘I want this to go on forever.’ And it will. There can be no better news than this.”
– J. I. Packer
✅ Prayer
✅ Essay
Two Legacies
At an elderly residential facility, trained staff care for men and women in their final, fragile years of life. Some residents are surrounded by family and friends, and they have bright smiles as they speak with their children and grandchildren. They are reaping the rewards of a life spent loving and serving others. They are surrounded by expressions of gratitude from those who received their time and attention. These elderly residents are at peace knowing that they have worked hard and shared their resources generously.
However, some rarely receive visitors. No family member brings a cake to celebrate their birthday. No grandchildren bring crayon-scribbled pictures they drew for them. Sadly, some may not have invested in building good relationships during their lifetime to sustain them in their senior years. These frail residents may have been wealthy and powerful people wielding influence, leading companies, and owning properties. However, vast resources and leadership skills are of no help now, and they face a future of fear and uncertainty by themselves.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad had to be reminded that comfort and convenience should not supersede relationships and obedience to God. When our motives are tainted and our ambitions are self-centered, we end up pursuing the wrong things for the wrong reasons. As we go forward in life, let us keep in mind the legacy we want to leave behind: one of selfish ambition or one of loving relationships and dedication to God and His people.
Written by Kris Anderson
