THE RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE

Ephesians 1:7-14 / Keywords 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

 

1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

 

1. Through Jesus, we receive the riches of God’s grace. Primarily, we are redeemed by Jesus’ holy blood shed on the cross. We are forgiven of all our sins. It is not easy even for those who love us to forgive us for our wretched sins. But Jesus in his matchless grace redeems us from the curse of sin and forgives everything we have done wrong!

 

2. This marvelous grace of Christ which is greater than all my sins is the dearest testimony of how he lavishes me with the riches of God’s grace. Today, if someone asks you how you are, say, “I am lavished with the riches of God’s grace!”

 

3. In wisdom and understanding, God made known the mystery of his will to unite all things under Christ. Now there is no more clean and unclean, Jew or Gentile, but we are united in Christ through his blood and adopted as his children in one family. We are marked by the seal of the Holy Spirit, who declares that we belong to Jesus and God’s family and we will inherit the kingdom of God. We praise God for his glory and the riches of his grace!

 

Prayer Father, thank you for Jesus who redeems us by his blood and forgives all our sins. Thank you for making us one family in Christ. Help me to see how lavished I am by the riches of Jesus’ infinite grace.

One Word Lavished with the riches of God’s matchless grace

EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN CHRIST

Ephesians 1:1-6 / Keywords 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

 

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- - 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

 

1. Paul calls himself an apostle (or a missionary) by the will of God. Though he was a prisoner, he did not see himself as a victim. Rather, he saw that God chose him according to his will, and God also chose the faithful Ephesian saints. Paul blessed them with grace and peace from the Father and from our Lord Jesus. We need to affirm our identity that Jesus chose us (Jn 15:16) and have real grace and peace from the Father and our Lord Jesus that enables us to live our lives day by day.

 

2. Paul praises God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Sometimes we think, “What blessing?” We feel we are not blessed when we compare ourselves. But, in truth, we have received every spiritual blessing in Christ. We should praise God for this!

 

3. In predestination, God chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight, like Noah. We don’t follow the trends of this world. Moreover, we are adopted as his children and inherit his kingdom in the next life. Praise Jesus who blessed us spiritually!

 

Prayer Father, thank and praise you for giving us every spiritual blessing in Christ and adopting us as your heavenly children. Please help me to see my identity in Christ today and praise you!

One Word Praise Jesus that I have received every spiritual blessing in Christ!

EACH TRIBE IS TO KEEP THE TRIBAL LAND

Numbers 36:1-13 / Keywords 36:9

No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits."

 

36:1 The family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and the leaders, the heads of the Israelite families. 2 They said, "When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, he ordered you to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 3 Now suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into. And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away. 4 When the Year of Jubilee for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their property will be taken from the tribal inheritance of our forefathers." 5 Then at the LORD's command Moses gave this order to the Israelites: "What the tribe of the descendants of Joseph is saying is right. 6 This is what the LORD commands for Zelophehad's daughters: They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within the tribal clan of their father. 7 No inheritance in Israel is to pass from tribe to tribe, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal land inherited from his forefathers. 8 Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father's tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. 9 No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits." 10 So Zelophehad's daughters did as the LORD commanded Moses. 11 Zelophehad's daughters--Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah--married their cousins on their father's side. 12 They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in their father's clan and tribe. 13 These are the commands and regulations the LORD gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

 

1. The daughters of Zelophehad had been permitted to inherit their father’s land (Nu 27). But then a new problem arose: if they married men outside their tribe, their inherited land would not belong to their father’s tribe. Instead, it would belong to their husband’s tribes. When Moses asked God what to do, God answered that no inheritance should pass from one tribe to another. Each tribe was to keep the land. God commanded the five daughters to marry men within their own tribe. Zelophehad’s daughters treasured their inheritance and surrendered their marriage to God’s will. They married men from their father’s clan and kept God’s blessing.

 

2. As heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, we have received the priceless inheritance, which is kept in heaven (Eph 1:11; 1Pe 1:4). Although we enjoy many blessings as God’s children here on earth, our true inheritance is reserved for us in heaven. And one day, we will take possession of our full inheritance. Foreseeing the glorious heavenly inheritance which awaits us, we are to endure whatever comes our way in this life. Those who truly value this glorious inheritance and retain it will be willing to sacrifice their own wants and needs for it.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for giving us our glorious inheritance in heaven through Jesus Christ. Help us hold on to it at any cost.

One Word Keep the heavenly inheritance

THE LEVITES’ TOWNS

Numbers 35:1-34 / Keywords 35:2

"Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns.

 

35:1 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. 3 Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for their cattle, flocks and all their other livestock. 4 "The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend out fifteen hundred feet from the town wall. 5 Outside the town, measure three thousand feet on the east side, three thousand on the south side, three thousand on the west and three thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns. 6 "Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 7 In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. 8 The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few." 9 Then the LORD said to Moses: 10 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 11 select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. 12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that a person accused of murder may not die before he stands trial before the assembly. 13 These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. 14 Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. 15 These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites, aliens and any other people living among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there. 16 " 'If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. 17 Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. 20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies 21 or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him. 22 " 'But if without hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally 23 or, without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, 24 the assembly must judge between him and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. 25 The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 " 'But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which he has fled 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. 28 The accused must stay in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may he return to his own property. 29 " 'These are to be legal requirements for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live. 30 " 'Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 31 " 'Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. He must surely be put to death. 32 " 'Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow him to go back and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. 33 " 'Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.' "

 

1. God provided 48 towns for the Levites throughout the land of Canaan. God intended to scatter the Levites evenly in the whole nation to live among the people and influence them for God. Jesus wants His people to be sprinkled throughout the whole world and live as the salt and light (Mt 5:13-14) and Christ’s ambassadors in the world (2Co 5:20).

 

2. God designated six of the Levite towns as cities of refuge. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could run to one of these cities and wait safely for the trial. The cities of refuge were located within the land that a person could reach quickly and be safe. God desired to protect the innocent from the avengers, but to punish murderers. God values human life for he made us in his image. Distribution of the Levites throughout the land, cities of refuge, and punishment of the murderer reveal God’s intention. He did not want the land of God’s people to be defiled by bloodshed. Rather he wanted it to be a blessed land that would reflect God’s love, goodness, and purity. God wants to see his people love one another and live for God’s glory, instead of hating and hurting one another. God ultimately designated Jesus as our refuge and strength.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for sending Jesus who provides shelter for the sinner from judgment. Grow us as the salt and light of the world.

One Word A kingdom of priests and a holy nation

BOUNDARIES OF THE PROMISED LAND

Numbers 33:50-34:29 / Keywords 34:1,2

The LORD said to Moses, "Command the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance will have these boundaries:

 

33:50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.

55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’”

34:1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:

3 “‘Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. Your southern boundary will start in the east from the southern end of the Dead Sea, 4 cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, 5 where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Mediterranean Sea.

6 “‘Your western boundary will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.

7 “‘For your northern boundary, run a line from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor 8 and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad, 9 continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

10 “‘For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. 11 The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Galilee.[a] 12 Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea.

“‘This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’”

13 Moses commanded the Israelites: “Assign this land by lot as an inheritance. The Lord has ordered that it be given to the nine and a half tribes, 14 because the families of the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. 15 These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance east of the Jordan across from Jericho, toward the sunrise.”

16 The Lord said to Moses, 17 “These are the names of the men who are to assign the land for you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. 18 And appoint one leader from each tribe to help assign the land. 19 These are their names:

Caleb son of Jephunneh,

from the tribe of Judah;

20 Shemuel son of Ammihud,

from the tribe of Simeon;

21 Elidad son of Kislon,

from the tribe of Benjamin;

22 Bukki son of Jogli,

the leader from the tribe of Dan;

23 Hanniel son of Ephod,

the leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph;

24 Kemuel son of Shiphtan,

the leader from the tribe of Ephraim son of Joseph;

25 Elizaphan son of Parnak,

the leader from the tribe of Zebulun;

26 Paltiel son of Azzan,

the leader from the tribe of Issachar;

27 Ahihud son of Shelomi,

the leader from the tribe of Asher;

28 Pedahel son of Ammihud,

the leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”

29 These are the men the Lord commanded to assign the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Footnotes

a. Numbers 34:11 Hebrew Kinnereth

 

1. God commanded Israel to drive out the Canaanites and to destroy their idols. God wanted them to love and worship Him only as God’s people by rooting idolatry out of Canaan. We are by nature worshipping beings. If we don’t worship God, we worship something else. As the Creator, God does not want to share His glory and attention with idols or other things. To keep the right relationship with Him, we must first root out false gods and idols from our hearts.

 

2. Before Israel crossed into Canaan, God set the boundaries of the land for Israel. He also appointed leaders to assign the land. In so doing, God planted faith in them that the battle for the land, which God prepared, was already won. These set boundaries helped them know who to fight against and who not to fight. Moreover, they would know when to stop the war and to rest. Yet, the land was given to them by God as an inheritance. Inheritance is given freely, not earned. Still, the recipient should claim it. Through Christ Jesus, we have an eternal inheritance which is kept in heaven for us (1Pe 1:4). Although this inheritance in heaven is given freely, we are to claim it by faith in Jesus and by fighting against sin and Satan.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for giving me an inheritance in your kingdom. Help me to fight the spiritual battle.

One Word Heaven is our inheritance

ISRAEL’S JOURNEY BY STAGES

Numbers 33:1-49 / Keywords 33:2

At the LORD's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:

 

33:1 Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:

3 The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, 4 who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods.

5 The Israelites left Rameses and camped at Sukkoth.

6 They left Sukkoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.

7 They left Etham, turned back to Pi Hahiroth, to the east of Baal Zephon, and camped near Migdol.

8 They left Pi Hahiroth[a] and passed through the sea into the desert, and when they had traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they camped at Marah.

9 They left Marah and went to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

10 They left Elim and camped by the Red Sea.[b]

11 They left the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.

12 They left the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.

13 They left Dophkah and camped at Alush.

14 They left Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

15 They left Rephidim and camped in the Desert of Sinai.

16 They left the Desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.

17 They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

18 They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.

19 They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.

20 They left Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.

21 They left Libnah and camped at Rissah.

22 They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.

23 They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.

24 They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.

25 They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth.

26 They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath.

27 They left Tahath and camped at Terah.

28 They left Terah and camped at Mithkah.

29 They left Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.

30 They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.

31 They left Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.

32 They left Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.

33 They left Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.

34 They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.

35 They left Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.

36 They left Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.

37 They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom. 38 At the Lord’s command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. 39 Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.

40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.

41 They left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

42 They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.

43 They left Punon and camped at Oboth.

44 They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab.

45 They left Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad.

46 They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.

47 They left Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, near Nebo.

48 They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. 49 There on the plains of Moab they camped along the Jordan from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.

Footnotes

a. Numbers 33:8 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Vulgate; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text left from before Hahiroth

b. Numbers 33:10 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 11

 

1. Moses recorded Israel’s journey by stages. They left Ramses of Egypt right after the Passover, while the Egyptians were burying their firstborn. They traveled through the four deserts—Deserts of Etham, Sin, Sinai and Zin and camped at forty-two different places. Most of their way lay through the desert, which was uninhabited, untracked, and unfurnished even with the basic necessities of human life. It displays the power and wisdom of God. By God’s mighty and merciful guidance, they not only survived for forty years, but came out as numerous and as vigorous as they went in. The listing of the journey served as a permanent memorial of the sin and rebellion of Israel, and of the faithfulness and long-suffering of God in leading them throughout the journey.

 

2. God leads us through his way to make us His chosen people and a holy nation. When we look back on God’s guidance in each stage of our life, we can recognize that God’s way in bringing us to Himself is the best way, although it does not always seem to us the nearest way. Our memories are often elusive. But we need to remember how much the Lord our God has led us in this desert-like world so that we can continue our life of faith, following God’s way thankfully.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for leading my life journey through your words. Your way is always right.

One Word Journey through the desert

IF YOU TURN AWAY FROM FOLLOWING HIM

Numbers 32:1-42 / Keywords 32:15

If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the desert, and you will be the cause of their destruction."

32:1 The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. 2 So 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— 4 the land the Lord subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. 5 If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”

6 Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? 7 Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them? 8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. 9 After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them. 10 The Lord’s anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath: 11 ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob— 12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’ 13 The Lord’s anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.

14 “And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel. 15 If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.”

16 Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. 17 But we will arm ourselves for battle[a] and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance. 19 We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”

20 Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle 21 and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him— 22 then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the Lord.

23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”

25 The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands. 26 Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead. 27 But your servants, every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the Lord, just as our lord says.”

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.[b] 42 And Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding settlements and called it Nobah after himself.

Footnotes

a. Numbers 32:17 Septuagint; Hebrew will be quick to arm ourselves

b. Numbers 32:41 Or them the settlements of Jair

 

1. Israel was about to cross the Jordan and conquer the Promised Land. But the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle down on the east side of the Jordan, the ideal grazing lands. Moses rebuked them because their attitude would keep the other tribes from crossing the Jordan. He reminded them that the previous generation had perished in the wilderness because of God’s anger against their unbelief. In the same way, the two self-seeking tribes could plant the seed of discouragement and cause God’s anger. The two tribes assured that after building their settlement for their women and children they would fight the war to the end. Moses received their offer and gave them permission. The half tribe of Manasseh conquered Gilead and also settled there.

 

2. As Israel was at war, so are we Christians. But there are always some who do not want to go any further. They are content where they are, and don’t keep pressing on in their spiritual struggle. We are to guard against complacency and self-seeking that can be contagious and deadly. Should others go to war while we sit here? Should we be content to let others make all the sacrifices and do God’s work? Let us serve our Lord Jesus and fight the good fight of faith together with other fellow soldiers of Christ.

 

Prayer Lord, your battle is going on. Help me join the spiritual battle with other believers.

One Word We are soldiers of Christ