KEY TEXT
Numbers 32:1-33 (NKJV)
32 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock, 2 the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the country which the Lord defeated before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 5 Therefore they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.”
6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here? 7 Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them? 8 Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the Lord had given them. 10 So the Lord’s anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying, 11 ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, 12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.’ 13 So the Lord’s anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone. 14 And look! You have risen in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel. 15 For if you turn away from following Him, He will once again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.”
16 Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has [a]received his inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this eastern side of the Jordan.”
20 Then Moses said to them: “If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the Lord for the war, 21 and all your armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies from before Him, 22 and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you may return and be blameless before the Lord and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. 23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do [b]what has proceeded out of your mouth.”
25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying: “Your servants will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead; 27 but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, just as my lord says.”
28 So Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel. 29 And Moses said to them: “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben cross over the Jordan with you, every man armed for battle before the Lord, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead as a possession. 30 But if they do not cross over armed with you, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.”
31 Then the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying: “As the Lord has said to your servants, so we will do. 32 We will cross over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, but the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us on this side of the Jordan.”
33 So Moses gave to the children of Gad, to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land with its cities within the borders, the cities of the surrounding country.
INTRODUCTION
- No Meeting Halfway
To meet halfway is to:
- Compromise
- Half surrender
- Partial obedience
- Background of our Key Text
- Title
“LIVING ON THE FRINGES OF GOD’S WILL”
Outline:
- What was the perfect will of God for Israel?
- Why did the 2.5 tribes reject the perfect will of God?
- What were the dangers living on the fringes of God’s will?
- What are the spiritual implications of not crossing over Jordan?
- Going all the way in
MAIN POINTS
I. THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD FOR ISRAEL
What was the perfect will of God for Israel?
God commanded Israel: “You will cross over the Jordan and go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you will possess it and dwell in it” (Deuteronomy 11:31).
The INHERITANCE of Israel was ON THE OTHER SIDE OF JORDAN where God would choose to set up His Tabernacle.
The Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of the LORD’S presence among them, also would be there.
The perfect will of God was the LAND OF CANAAN, located on the west side of Jordan, that required CROSSING OVER from the east side of Jordan.
II. REJECTION OF THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD BY THE 2.5 TRIBES
Two crossings were necessary for Israel.
- Crossing the Red Seawas a type of LEAVING THE WORLD AND ALL ITS IDOLS AND LUST BEHIND – a clear type of CONVERSION (SALVATION).
- Crossing the River Jordan represents DYING TO SELF AND GOING ON INTO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST.
It represents DEATH TO ALL THAT IS UNLIKE CHRIST – all ambition, idolatry and self (SANCTIFICATION).
Between the two crossings was the territory of Gilead and Jazer, which bothered Jordan and the Land of the Promise.
This MIDDLE GROUND, a place of HALF-SURRENDER, was totally indefensible.
It speaks of FALLING SHORT OF GOD’S ULTIMATE PLACE AND PURPOSE.
The 2.5 tribes – Reuben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh- felt most comfortable with this MIDDLE GROUND AND STOPPED THERE.
“For we will NOT inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this eastern side of the Jordan.” (Numbers 32:19).
Why?
Numbers 32:1 -Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when THEY SAW THE LAND of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock, …..
- They walked by sight and not by faith
The saw the land and it looked good to them.
They chose the PHYSICAL instead of the SPIRITUAL.
The PHYSICAL they could have outside the Promised was more attractive than the spiritual they could have inside the Promised Land.
They looked at things from a SELFISH, WORLDLY PERSPECTIVE, for the conquered kingdoms of Sihon and Og were NOT part of the land promised by God.
E.g. Lot
Application:
- Many times, when faced with the temptation to grab the good instead of God’s best, we choose the former.
- Be wary of accepting WORLDLY SUBSTITUTES in place of the HEAVENLY PROMISES OF GOD.
- Worldly substitutes may seem “good” to your eyes, but it is not the “best” in God’s eyes.
- They had lust of the flesh
Numbers 32: 33- Moses gave to the children of Gad, to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land with its cities within the borders, the cities of the surrounding country.
The Reubenites and Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh LOOKED AND LUSTED, reflective of their FLESHLY DESIRES.
E.g. Reuben and his problem with LUST
“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it” (Genesis 49:4).
“What you focus on, you come to appropriate for yourself.”
Lust…….
- in any forms always calls for IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION.
- It can’t wait;
- It has no self-control;
- It has no patience.
- It wants to gratify its fleshly desires
Application: How about you? What is your lust?
- They loved riches
In Number 32, they mentioned their desire for the land for their LIVESTOCK first before they mentioned their children.
They put their love for riches ahead of their wives and children.
They wanted to protect their riches first and foremost.
- They loved pleasure and comfort
The 2.5 tribes went across the River Jordan with their army and helped the rest of Israel obtain their possession in Canaan, the understood Promised Land, but they did not want to LIVE there.
Application: There are many Christians today who want to see the will of God come to pass in this earth but theyDO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL. They do not want to sacrifice COMFORT AND PLEASURE to see the will of God accomplished. This is a dangerous place to live.
E.g. The tribe of Reuben during the time of Judges under Deborah
Judges 5: 15-17- Among the clans of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart. Why did you tarry among the sheepfolds, to hear the piping for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searching of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan.
They didn’t like battle.
They just stayed beyond Jordan, minding their own “business” -livestock; sheep and cattle.
Application: To be Christian entails us to engage in daily and constant warfare against the 7 giants of our lives, which is a picture of the different sins of our fallen flesh. Our Christian victory is our victory over our old flesh.
But for the 2.5 tribe they didn’t care about spiritual warfare. All they cared was a life of comfort and pleasure.
They are basically SELF-CONSUMED AND SELF-CENTERED, thinking only of themselves and not others, much less about the LORD.
Summary:
- It was a mistake, a failure, a stopping short of the divine mark, on the part of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, to choose any boundary-line short of the river Jordan.
- They were governed in their conduct by WORLDLY AND SELFISH CONSIDERATIONS – by the sight of their eyes, the lust of their flesh, the pride of life (riches) and the pleasures and comfort of life.
- They surveyed “the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead,” and they ESTIMATED IT ENTIRELY ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND WITHOUT ANY REFERENCE TO THE JUDGMENT AND WILL OF GOD.
God’s Response
What was God’s response to the request of the 2.5 tribes to settle beyond Jordan?
Moses gave in to their request.
This is a painful example of a group of people wanting something and getting it to their OWN DETRIMENT.
It is also an example of God giving people what they want, to their own detriment.
Mistaken notion about God – Some people think that if God doesn’t want them doing something, He will prevent them.
God hasn’t created a bunch of robots. We are free moral agents who can push for our will, which God can allow us to have, even to our own detriment.
When we read the Old Testament, God doesn’t tell us whether people’s actions are wise or foolish, leaving us to figure it out for ourselves.
In order to determine if it is right or wrong decision, always look at the FRUIT of the decision:
“Wisdom is justified by all her children” [The wisdom of one’s choices is not always manifest until the FRUIT is beheld in the lives of one’s children] (Luke 7:35).
E.g. Polygamy in the Old Testament
Summary
The 2.5 tribes lusted after the land of Jordan and God gave it to them, to their detriment. And God gave them what they wanted and it looked “good” for 700 years.
Application: It doesn’t mean that just because God gave in to your cravings and your lust, He is for you. God may give in to you and let you enjoy it for a while until the fullness of time and then you will see the negative fruit emerging from that lust and cravings.
III. DANGERS OF LIVING ON THE FRINGES OF GOD’S WILL
What are the dangers of living on the fringes of God’s will?
- LOSS OF DESTINY
What role did the 2.5 tribes play in the subsequent history of Israel?
- NO MIGHTY DEEDS
- NO MIGHTY WARRIORS OR PROPHETS
- NO GREAT EVENTS HAPPENING IN THEIR TERRITORY.
- NOT MAJOR PLAYERS IN WHAT HAPPENED TO ISRAEL.
Reuben, Gad and Manasseh simply FADE OUT of the record.
They become a ……..
NON-FACTOR IN THE DESTINY OF ISRAEL
Application: Do you want to end up with this kind of legacy – a non-factor in the destiny of God?
- LOSS OF IDENTITY
They were still covenant people but the SEPARATION caused them to develop a somewhat different lifestyle than those in Canaan.
That was their fear – built a replica altar in Canaan
When part of a group is separated from the whole, they will develop differently than the whole.
Application: People who are involved in the 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.”
- LOSS OF THE MANIFESTED 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 of Solomon.
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 (Joshua 22:32-33), but it did not have the presence of God.
Application: Today, the presence of God no longer dwells in an earthly temple but in the hearts of the born-again.
However, the MANIFESTATION of God’s presence is strongest in the CENTER OF HIS WILL. When we choose to live on the fringes of God’s will, we will never experience the manifestation of God’s presence in its FULLNESS. When we are separated from this manifestation, we gradually lose the sense of His presence and the effect it has in our lives. Without the manifested presence of God, Christianity devolves into nothing more than a religious system (2 Timothy 3:5 – a form of religion but denying the power thereof).
- LOSS OF BORDER
The region occupied by the 2.5 tribes was designed by God to be a BORDERsurrounding the Land of Canaan.
Joshau 22:25- For the LORD has made the Jordan a BORDER between you and us, you children of Reuben and children of Gad.”
But when the 2.5 tribe chose this region, they became the BORDER.
This border created some weaknesses that the enemy eventually exploited.
There was too much contact with the CULTURES that were opposed to the destiny of the people of God.
Eventually this led to so much COMPROMISE that they were no longer a viable factor in fulfilling that destiny.
Application: This is what happens to us when we are not fully committed to the will of God. We find ourselves with NO BORDER between the enemy and us. We are too close to the CULTURES OF THE WORLD and we allow compromise of the world to rob us of what the Lord has for us. Sin is all around us and it is getting more and more accepted in our culture.
We are foolish to think we can straddle the line between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world.
We need to have DEFINITE BORDER between the world and us.
The best way to keep that border intact is to be SOLD OUT FOR GOD, HIS WILL AND HIS DESTINY.
- LOSS OF PROTECTION
Having remained on the east of Jordan, they were vulnerable to attack by marauding bands, as they soon found out, and finally found themselves in the path of cruel King of Assyria.
1 Chronicles 5:23,25,26- Now the sons of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land……But they acted treacherously against God of their fathers and played the harlot after 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, the king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away into exile, namely THE REUBENITES, THE GADITES, AND THE HALF-TRIBE OF MANASSEH, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara and to the river of Gozan, to this day.
Sadly, the Reubenites, Gadites and half-tribe of Manasseh reaped TROUBLE AND CAPTIVITY.
They were hauled off to captivity and conquered ten years before the rest of the nation.
“Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right or good in the hope of retaining another – too often ending in the loss of both.”
Application:Like the 2.5 tribes, God gave them what they wanted and it looked “good” for 700 years. And after that, they were captured and exiled into the land of the enemy.
700 has the number 7 which means fullness or perfect.
Sin [like your lust] when it is finished, when it is full, bringeth forth death(James 1:15).
Summary
Do not be like Reuben, Gad and Manasseh. Do not settle for life on the other side of Jordan. Do not settle for living as close to the world as possible without sin.
Instead, give all that you have for the Lord. Sell out to the fullness of His will and presence.
IV. SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS OF NOT CROSSING OVER
What does The Promised Land prefigures?
The Promised Land was a place of REST beyond the Jordan.
Deuteronomy 3:20 – [Moses speaking to the Israelites about to enter], “Until the LORD GIVES REST to your brothers, as to you, and they also occupy the land that the LORD your God gives them BEYOND THE JORDAN.
Deuteronomy 12:9-10- You have not yet come to THE REST …..the Lord your God is giving you. When you go OVER THE JORDAN and live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you….and when HE GIVES YOU REST.
Joshua 22:4- The LORD your God HAS GIVEN REST to your brothers, as he promised them ….which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN.
In the Old Testament, the Land of Canaan prefigures the SPIRITUAL REST WE HAVE IN CHRIST (Hebrews 3-4).
The Land of Canaan is not a picture of Heaven because there is no sin to fight or enemies to fight in Heaven.
Instead, the Promised Land is a picture of our BLESSINGS IN CHRIST.
Therefore, when we choose to settle outside the Promised Land; when we live on the fringes of God’s will and refuse to go all the way in with Christ into the center of His will, we DO NOT REST IN CHRIST.
How so?
- WE DO NOT REST IN CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK
The Old Testament Tabernacle and temple had many furnishings but none for resting or sitting.
The Old Testament priests were the hardest workers in the Old Testament.
Hebrews 10:11-12 – Every priest STANDS ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man [Jesus], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, SAT down at the right hand of God.
Priests had to continually offer sacrifices because none of them could take away sins.
In contrast, John 1:29 says Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
As our High Priest, Jesus SAT DOWN because His work was done. Jesus rested and He offers that rest to us.
Application: By choosing to live on the fringes of God’s will, you are rejecting Christ’s finished work of salvation and then using your own effort to justify your self- significance, self- worth and meaning in life.
- WE DO NOT REST IN CHRIST’S FORGIVENESS
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
When we choose not to cross over the river Jordan, we are still doubting whether we are forgiven for sins we have committed and are still living in GUILT AND CONDEMNATION.
Application: We will use our own effort to cover our guilt, shame, condemnation, failures and mistakes by working hard to succeed, coveting wealth to be our strong fortress and looking good and powerful to others.
- WE DO NOT REST IN CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER DEATH
Hebrews 2:15 says Jesus releases those who are subject to a lifetime of bondage through fear of death.
Not in bondage to death but BONDAGE TO THE FEAR OF DEATH.
There is no rest for us when we fear death.
But Jesus frees us from that bondage.
1 John 5:13 – These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
As much anxiety as there is for us when fearing death, there is EQUAL PEACE AND REST FOR US WHEN WE KNOW WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST.
Summary
- Just as the 2.5 tribes choose less than God’s best by living on the fringes of God’s will, outside the Promised Land, we can spiritually-speaking, choose less than God’s best when we settle outside of all that Christ offers us.
- God wants us to press all the way into the Promised Land to experience the SPIRITUAL REST available to us.
- Yet like the 2.5 tribes, many of us choose to FORFEIT THIS REST.
- Instead of living on the right side of the cross – west of Jordan, we choose to live ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE CROSS.
Living on the fringes of the will of God = Living on the wrong side of Jordan = Living on the wrong side of the cross. Not resting in Christ’s finished work.
Application: Are you in or are you out?
And if you are out today, do you feel restless inside – no peace, no security, no faith, no confidence?
Do you also feel restless outside – uncertainty, and anxiety about your future, death, career and life’s purpose?
There is no rest from Christ for those living on the fringes of God’s will.
V. GOING ALL THE WAY IN
What were the heart motivations behind the 2.5 tribes’ rejection of God’s perfect will?
- Living for the immediate gratification –living by sight than by faith = lust of the eyes
- Greedy for the vast land of Jordan = lust of the flesh
- Giving top concern for their livestock (business/livelihood) = lust for riches – pride of life
- Hate constant warfare = love for pleasure and comfort
Their heart motivations were no different from Eve who also exhibited the same lusts as the 2.5 tribes.
But what was the ULTIMATE MOTIVATION behind the fall of Eve?
– TO BE LIKE GOD (Genesis 3:5)
The ROOT CAUSE behind all the lusts of the 2.5 tribes in choosing the substitute over the authentic; the good over the best is THEIR DESIRE TO TAKE THE PLACE OF GOD BY “BEING LIKEGOD” → SELF-REDEEMER→ PSEUDO SELF-MESSIAH.
When you don’t want to enter into the center of God’s will, you will NOT be able to rest in Christ’s finished work, forgiveness and victory over death.
You then have to take the place of God to work out your own destiny, identity, peace (since you don’t have the presence of God) and security(protect yourself against uncertain future) by your own effort.
You will slog and slog to build bigger “sheep pen” to house your uncertain future.
You will use your education, your wealth, your career to heal the shame and guilt you have been feeling.
You will push your children to excel in their education, thinking one day if they manage to be a nurse in the USA they will take care of you in your old age (pseudo security).
Instead of being committed for God’s kingdom, you are spending all your time, treasure and talent for the earthly kingdom, hoping to heap up good retirement (though it is foolish because the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 2:26 that he “gives sinners the work of gathering and heaping only to give to the one who pleases God.”)
You become a SELF-REDEEMER– trying to buy back your life and good future with your own effort and like the 2.5 tribes you will end up in the land of Halah which means PAIN.
Why can’t you rest in Christ?
Because you fail to see how Christ came all the way from Heaven to earth, with His face set like a flint to enter Jerusalem only to be cast out of Jerusalem to be crucified outside Jerusalem.
Christ became our JORDAN [OUR JAZER, GILEAD, BASHAN], the BORDER facing the enemies by willingly allowing Himself to be marauded by the “Assyrian forces” namely the Devil, our sin and this fallen world SO AS TO BRING US ALL THE WAY INTO THE NEW JERUSALEM, THE NEW KINGDOM OF GOD – THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL.
To the degree you see Christ becoming that BORDER TO THE POINT OF DEATH, you will then cease to create your own border to protect your wealth, future, identity and destiny.
You will link and identify with Christ and REST on His finished work so you don’t have to be A SELF-REDEEMER but to be the REDEEMED – ONE WHO IS WILLING TO RIDE ON CHRIST’S FULL PAYMENT ON THE CROSS TO GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL AND DESTINY.
When you can visualize Christ suffering at the BORDER, OUTSIDE OF THE PROMISED LAND, you will not want to leave Him hanging outside but you will respond to His death by giving your all to Him and not just meet half way.
You can go all the way in – no more wanting to live on the fringes of God’s will.
CONCLUSION
In the Old Testament, the 2.5 tribes represent the 20% covenant people who refuse to fully surrender their lives to God.
Today, the statistics is reversed. Church statistics show that in the church, about 5% are full-time staff and 10-15% are committed Christians serving Christ.
The rest of the 80% are Christians who choose to live on the fringes of the will of God.
They are the ones who called themselves Christians, but they have yet to catch the full vision of cross.
And so, they have yet to rest fully in Christ.
The 2.5 tribes used their effort to secure Jordan which comprised of:
- Jazer [helper/assistance]
- Gilead [perpetual fountain]
- Bashan [fruitful]
But all SELF-EFFORT AND SELF-REDEMPTION proved FUTILE, ending in pain, captivity and exile.
Jesus became the BORDER raided by the enemies of this life just to give you the ULTIMATE HELP, ULTIMATE FOUNTAIN AND ULTIMATE FRUITFULNESS when you are willing to by faith go in with Him all the way to the center of God’s will.
Stop living on the fringes of God’s will. BE BROUGHT IN BY CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK.
