Scripture Reading: Number 32:1-2; 4-5; Joshua 1:12-14
“Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, Even the country which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
“And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land. Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
The petition by the Gadites and Reubenites were made after the second census of the Israelites and the war against Midian, in the fortieth year of the Israelite sojourn in the wilderness, so that the request of these two tribes to remain on the other side of the Jordan came shortly before the people were supposed to enter the Promised land. Bible commentator supposed that since Reuben had lost the rights of the firstborn and the kingship, it was humiliating for him to dwell in the Land of Canaan along with Judah who held the crown and the sons of Joseph who inherited a double portion in the land, the right of the first-born. This is the case with many Christian. Many with humiliating sins committed, chose not to dwell and serve together with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Many chose not to go to church because they feel ostracised or chose to ostracise themselves from fellow believers. I will say that all churches are imperfect and you go to the house of God not because of the Christians around you but for God because God commanded you not to forget the Sabbath. God has done you no wrong. God has never look at you as second class. The tribe of Gad joined Reuben in the request because they were fellow tribes in the Israelite encampment in the wilderness. We can say that Gad made that choice because of relationship. Manasseh had land on both eastern and western sides of Jordan and so he is called the half tribe. Manasseh’s portion was West of Jordan, part of the Promised Land, but Machir and Jair, sons of Manasseh, wished to separate from the rest of the people and the tribes and to remain in Transjordan. The land that they settled outside of the Promised Land is known as the Land of Jazer and the Land of Gilead or more commonly called, Transjordan. Manasseh is already living so close to the border of the Promised Land, thus why not just live outside the Promised Land. They are what we call “Border Line Christianity”. Some of us have one leg in church and another in the world. We live so close to the world that in the end we might as well join the world. There is a story about a king, and his coach, and his coachman. He had to get a new coachman to drive his coach. He had three applicants. He said to one, “I want to ask you, how close could you come to the edge of this precipice (danger)? How close could you come on the road to this precipice, and still not endanger your king?” The first man said, “I could come so close that the wheel would be right along the edge of the precipice.” The king said to that man, “You just go on. You are not going to be hired.” He said to the second one, “How close could you come?” The second applicant said, “Oh, with the king, I would get at least three feet away. I would get a yard away, so I wouldn’t endanger my king.” The king said, “You just go on. You are not going to be hired.” He said to the third man, “How close could you get?” The third man said, “King, I don’t know, because I would stay as far away from it as I possibly could, because I would be driving the coach of the king.” The King hired that wise, cautious man. Listen, you are living to honour the King. Don’t live so close to the edge of the Promised Land that it endangers your life and the name of Christianity. Don’t be a “Border Line Christian.”
The Promise Land was given to Abraham 430 years ago. The children of Israel were in the wilderness for 40 years. Finally after waiting for 470 years, they are about to possess this Promised Land. The Patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, for that whole 470 talks nothing but the Promised Land. Abraham and Isaac were buried in the Promised Land. Jacob before he died, had asked Joseph to bury him in the Promised Land. Joseph, reminded the children of Israel to carry his ashes along when they leave Egypt to bury him in the Promised Land. The Promised Land is the will of God. The Promised Land is the ultimate destination for us. The phrase “to go in to possess. . .to possess it” is used of the Promised Land several times:
Leviticus, 3 times
Numbers, 14 times
Deuteronomy, 71 times
Joshua, 27 times
Judges, 25 times
People refer to the crossing of the Jordan and entering the promise land as a type of entering into heaven, but this is not a good analogy. Though God gave Israel the land, they had to possess it by force. We cannot say we don’t want to possess our Promised Land. We have to possess it step by step as we proceeds in this Christian life. He instructed them to basically annihilate the people of the land and take no prisoners. A better analogy for entering the promise land would be comparing it to the Christian life. Although we have passed over from death to life, we still must battle with sin, Satan, and ourselves and for our inheritance. In every day of life, in every decision, we can be either victorious or defeated. Everyone wants victories, but we are often defeated. I believe we are often defeated because of the ‘Cattle’. What can we learn about Reuben, Gad and the half tribes of Manasseh?
1. They did not make their home in the Promised Land.
The word ‘cattle’ was mentioned 5 times in such short passages of scripture and another word that should be highlighted is rest. The third word or rather phrase is ‘bring us not over to Jordan’.
The cattle represents their earthly needs. They wanted the material side more than the Jordan side. The material needs are more important than the Promised Land. They wanted to be known for what they could do, and what they had instead of what they are. ‘Rest’ represents a resting place and ‘freedom from enemies’. So the choice was made because of needs, and a desire for rest and freedom from enemies. God does not condemned them because of their needs, a desire for rest and freedom from enemies but the whole problem is ‘bring us not over to Jordan’.
They failed to have a share in all that God wanted them to have there. The land at the east of the Jordan was not part of the Promised Land. The problem with remaining on the east side of Jordan was that Reuben, Gad, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh were separated by the Jordan River from Jerusalem, from Zion, from the Tabernacle of the Congregation, from the Altar of Burnt Offering, from the priesthood, from the Ark of the Covenant, and from the manifestation of the Glory of God Himself. Their hearts were with their cattle. This is the case today. Multitudes of the Lord’s people are satisfied with their own spiritual development. They are ready to settle down and make a little nest in the world, enjoying what they think they have attained in Christ to this point.
Is this the problem with many of us? Many believers are willing to remain at mediocre fruit bearing. The prospect of pressing further into the death and resurrection of Christ and of helping other people enter the rest of God does not appeal to them. Deeper consecration leads naturally to increased service to others does not appeal to them. They are “saved” according to the current formula. They are willing to lead a relatively decent moral life and to attend some church meetings. Why not be content with what has been gained thus far? We thank God that He has given us this land. It is our place of rest. Remember I said ‘rest’ represents a resting place, freedom from enemies. Why not be contented with what we have gained thus far. Are we so happy with what we already have that we don’t want the pressure of warring for more of the promises that God has given us as a church. Are we so comfortable and we don’t want to bring people and help other people enter the rest of God? We don’t want deeper consecration which naturally leads to increased services for God and to others. Deeper consecration means more services, more works and we are tired. How should I put it to bring this truth across? Look at the churches around us. They are many who are still renting commercial buildings, institutions for a place of worship. You find the drive in them for increased evangelism and missions because they have to build a sizeable congregation which will help them purchase a place and build a church. I was in Antique just last Thursday. I saw a church in Antique, where the property was just rented. It was a dilapidated house where the flooring was not cemented and because of the rain, it was muddy and dirty. So more often than not for the people in these churches, they are in a warfare to strive to enter the Promised Land. For us, we already have this beautiful comfortable land. Why strive for more attendance? Is it for self-glory? Why must win soul? I believe that many Christians today want to see the will of God come to pass in the earth but they do not want to live in the centre of God’s will. They do not want to sacrifice comfort or pleasure to see the will of God accomplished. I believe this is a dangerous place to live.
Initially it will definitely look unfair that Reuben, Gad and the half tribes of Manasseh has got it better than the rest because they have a land to settle in. They got it easy, at least for the whole family except the head which is the man. But then I believe that when the Rebuenites, Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh started conquering the Promised Land, they will realise that it is truly a land of milk and honey. Things that are won through great warfare, and not the easy way are always more blessed. At least the 10 and a half tribes’ family are together through thick and thin. They stayed together, suffer together, face difficulties together and win together. They have one another together. The other 2 and a half tribes gets an easier life but they don’t get to see their head of the family for years. The ways of God is still better.
2. The life of the Christian is a continual warfare
Although Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh were permitted to settle with their families and cattle on the east side of the Jordan River, they were required, nevertheless, to endure the hardships and dangers of the invasion and occupation of Canaan. Actually if you study the scripture properly, the head of the families of these two and a half tribes, had to be in the forefront and lead the rest of the 10 and a half tribes in warfare.
The contented believers of our day must fight anyway. Whether you like it or not, the life of a Christian is a life of battle. Whether you are a border line Christian or one on fire for God, a battle is going on for you. And more often than not their battles in life (the Reubenites, Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh) are fiercest, more dangerous than others. Even though they are satisfied with coming short of the fullness of the Glory of God, remaining selfishly wrapped up in their own house and yard, they still are required to fight like their fellow members of the Body of Christ who are attempting to enter their own inheritance in the Lord and also are trying to bring the Good News to those who never have heard.
While we are in the world we must fight. It is impossible to find a comfortable niche and there worship God, leaving the rest of the believers (and the unsaved) to gain their own place of safety and contentment.
I have always chided Pastor Lily because of the statement she made when she steps into the Philippines. She said, ‘I am like a coin willing to spend and to be spent for the glory of God.’ This phrase has been nothing but prophetic this 30 years in the Philippines, especially for her. But I believe she was led by God to make that statement and it was actually prophetic. The true Christian of today is spending and being spent for the Gospel of the Kingdom. Every moment of his time, every dollar of his money, is on the altar of God. He is dedicated totally to using the talents the Lord has given to him in order that the work of the Kingdom may be accomplished; that the enemy may be driven out of Christ’s inheritance and utterly crushed.
Let’s be very honest. All of us failed miserably when it comes to service for God. In our humanity, the task ahead for us is humongous. The Promised Land looks distant and impregnable. But we have one who has set us the example. When Jesus came into the world, he proclaimed ‘My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me’. To His parents he said ‘Know ye not that I must be about my father’s business? You always find him in the synagogue, the temple. He is always surrounded by his 12 disciples and the 70 disciples who went two by two into villages bringing peace to the home and deliverance from demons for them. This has been his motto through life ‘Father if thou be willing, let this cup (of sufferings, trials, pains) passed from me; nevertheless not my will but thine be done.’ And when he died on the Cross of Calvary, He forgave us sins, weakness, failure and he sends the Holy Spirit alongside with us in our battle for the Promised Land. He said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ He is here to help you see the fulfilment of the Promised Land. When you feel weak, He empowers you. When you are discouraged, He strengthens you and says ‘have I not commanded you, Be strong and courageous and go in and possess the Promised Land.’ Jesus has done all and he continues to do in regards to our Promised inheritance.
3. The consequences of not entering the Promised Land
So what happens to the two and a half tribes? 1st Chronicles chapter 5, from verse 18 down says that they have got lots of men and they are really strong. Please understand that the qualities of the men in these two and a half tribes, are great warriors, talented people, more often than not above all else. According to the Bible there are actually a great group of people. The bible called them strong. In verse 21 they have got lots of goods. They increase their lands yet when you get down to verse 25 it says
1 Chronicles 5:25-26 ‘But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.’
Out of all the nation of Israel the first ones to go astray were these two and a half tribes. They were the first ones to go after other gods and commit harlotry and they were the first ones that were actually taken captive away into Assyria. So, yes, they wanted to be separate. Yes, they wanted their earthly lot. It was really good for their cattle and everything else but like everything and like Lot, everything comes at a cost. If an earthly lot is what you are after, sure you can go and do that, but there will be a cost. That is what I believe these two and a half tribes in scripture are there for. I believe they are actually there as a warning to us. Why? Because they were so far from Zion, from the Tabernacle of the Congregation, from the Altar of Burnt Offering, from the priesthood, from the Ark of the Covenant, and from the manifestation of the Glory of God Himself. They is always a price to pay when you continually stay away from church, from the presence of God, from the tabernacle of the congregation, from not making a habit to continually repent and get right with God at the altar of burnt offering, even from the counsel of the Priests. You do not know what is right and wrong. What was the problem with their choice to stay on the east side of Jordan? They pointed it out themselves in the 25th verse. They say God made the Jordan a border between them and the rest of Israel. In actuality, they are the ones who made the border, not God. The result was the same. There was a division between them, the rest of the people of God and the perfect will of God. This border created some weaknesses that the enemy eventually exploited.
Reuben, Gad and Manasseh gradually lost their identity with the rest of Israel. They were still covenant people, but the separation caused them to develop a somewhat different lifestyle than those in Canaan. I cannot give chapter and verse to support this conclusion, but I can point to human nature. It is always the case that when part of a group are separated from the whole, they will develop differently than the whole. I believe this must have been the case with Reuben, Gad and Manasseh or they would not have faded from the record.
What role did the 2 ½ tribes play in the subsequent history of Israel? I have tried to find them in the scriptural account and I cannot. They are mentioned in Judges and there are some individuals with those names mentioned in the Old Testament, but I see no mighty deeds by Reuben, Gad or Manasseh. I have found no mighty warriors or prophets from these tribes. There is no mention of great events happening in their territory. It is possible that I may have missed something, but I think it is safe to say that they were not major players in what happens in Israel.
Reuben, Gad and Manasseh simply fade out of the record. They became a non-factor in the destiny of Israel. I do not want that to be what my legacy becomes. I want the devil to know I was here and breathe a sigh of relief when I leave. When I stand before the Lord, I want to hear “Well done.” not, “What did you do again?” When we choose to live on the fringes of the will of God, we become a non-factor in the Kingdom. We may live comfortable lives or we may not, but we will not fulfil the destiny God has for us in the earth.
As a pastor, I have seen this pattern over and over again. People who are involved in church and committed to the whole purpose of God are different in their Christian walk than those who simply come on Sunday and try to “live a good life.” Often they just do not see the necessity to walk in the holiness and commitment that the rest of church does. The result is usually compromise and further separation. That is the legacy of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh.
The 2 ½ tribes were cut off from the presence of God. In the Old Testament, the presence of God dwelt in the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was first in the Tabernacle and eventually in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was not on the east side of Jordan. The altar that Reuben, Gad and Manasseh built on the east side of Jordan was called a “replica” of the altar of the Lord, but it did not have the presence of God.
