Numbers 32

The Three Musketeers are famous for the saying “all for one and one for all”, yet that principle did not start with them. Here we see that from the beginning this principle was meant to govern the people of God. All of the children of Israel were to live for one, for God alone. Each man was to do those things that were best for the entire congregation, one for all.

The tribes of Ruben, Gad, and Manasseh had a little plan of their own, and it was a plan that was concerning to Moses and the leaders. They wanted to settle in the Land they had just conquered, land OUTSIDE of the Jordan. They say that this is because they have cattle and the land was good for cattle. Moses doesn’t like the sound if this because he thinks that they are going to bail on their brothers… this doesn’t happen, but it does cause a problem.

Later on in our studies we will see that this decision created a rift in the congregation of Israel, and the other tribes end up accusing Ruben and Gad of Idolatry. I believe this case is a perfect picture of people who are settling for less than what God wants for them. Sure the land was good for cattle, but the Promised Land was flowing with milk and honey! God had promised a part of the Promised Land to ALL 12 TRIBES… these 3 tribes were willing to settle for less.

What about you? Are you settling for less than what the Lord would want from you and for you? Godliness with contentment is great gain, but contentment with circumstances outside of God’s will is a great loss… These men had traveled all that distance to set up camp outside of the Promised Land! Don’t be guilty of the same thing! As Hebrews says, we should all labor to enter into the rest of God. Don’t be content just staying where you are in your relationship with the Lord… press on to know Jesus more each day!

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

(Phi 3:12-14)