~Darene Cole
And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.” Numbers 32:5
In Numbers 32:1–5, the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh saw that the land east of the Jordan was rich and well-suited for their livestock. It was spacious, fertile, and seemed like a perfect fit for their needs. So they approached Moses with a request: “Let us settle here. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”
At first glance, their request seemed practical, even reasonable. But it was not aligned with God’s original promise. The Lord had called His people to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land of Canaan, west of the Jordan. That was the inheritance He had prepared for them.
The Israelites had already come a long way. Delivered from Egypt, they had wandered in the wilderness for forty years due to unbelief. Now, after victories over the Kings Og and Sihon, they stood on the edge of fulfillment. The promise was near, yet not fully realized. Rather than pressing forward into all that God had promised, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh chose what looked “good enough.” The land before them met their immediate needs, but it was not the fullness of God’s plan.
How often do we find ourselves in a similar place? We grow weary of the journey, and when something comfortable or convenient appears, we are tempted to settle. But our hearts should always long for the fullness of God’s promises, yet perseverance is often required to reach them. Moses himself was not permitted to enter the Promised Land because of disobedience. Yet these tribes made a different kind of choice—they had the opportunity to go forward, but chose not to. They said, in essence, “This is far enough.”
The journey may be long, and the path may require endurance, but we are never alone. The same God who promised the land was the One going before them, fighting on their behalf. Their role was to trust, obey, and keep moving forward.
Lord, help me to persevere when the journey feels long and difficult. Strengthen my heart to trust in Your promises and not settle for less than what You have prepared for me. Give me the courage to keep moving forward, knowing that You go before me. Amen.