Numbers 32:1-5 – Don’t settle for anything less than God’s best

Numbers 32 began by describing the large number of livestock the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had. Verse 1 said "Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had an exceedingly large number of livestock." In other words, they had much possession in terms of cattle, sheep, goats, lambs and, etc. They were agricultural people, having plenty of livestock meant that they were rich. What they had acquired over the years of hard work plus what was added to them from their share of the spoil from their successful campaign over the Midianites described in Numbers 31, had increased their possession. Of course, having plenty was not wrong. It only became wrong when the plenty stopped one’s desire from moving forward into the land that God had promised.

Instead of being driven by the plan that God had for them in the promised land, their decision was driven by the livestock they had. They saw the stretch of land east of Jordan outside the promised land as a more suitable place for them to raise their livestock. Clearly, they were motivated by what they saw and not by what God had installed for them. So these sons of Reuben and Gad came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and before the congregation of the people of Israel, and made the request to be granted this stretch of agricultural land just outside the promised land. In other words they were willing to settle on this side of Jordan to raise their livestock, instead of following them in to possess the promised land. While what they saw was good, what God wanted them to have would certainly be far better. It is said that the good is often the enemy of the best. So they chose to give up on what would have been far better to settle for something that seemed good to their eyes.

From the decision that the sons of Reuben and Gad made, we learn the lesson to never settle for the good at the expense of God’s best for us. Instead of going for the promise God had for them these sons of Reuben and Gad  relied on their eyes. Driven by their livestock, they chose to settle for what seemed good to their eyes. It is not wise to make decision just based on possession and one’s limited perspective. To have God’s best for us we must view things from His perspective and what He has promised for us through His Word. Do not settle for the second best when God has promised us His best. You will be sorely disappointed if you do!  Always go for God’s best!