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Don’t Settle Before the Promise

Updated: Mar 19

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭32‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“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.””

Bible Reading:

‭‭‭‭Numbers‬ ‭32‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“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, 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, the country which the Lord defeated before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 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.””


Numbers‬ ‭32‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“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.”

I have been following a Bible in a year plan (which I highly recommend 😊), and currently we’re walking through the journey of the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land.


Something stood out to me in this passage: Not all the tribes of Israel entered the Promised Land; and guess what; it was by choice.


We know from the beginning that God’s perfect will and promise was for all the tribes of Israel to enter the Promised Land. God was very very clear about what that land was, the land of Canaan, west of the Jordan.


‭‭Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.””

So what happened?


On their way to the Promised Land, they had to pass through certain territories. But these kings; Sihon and Og refused to let them pass.


‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭2‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

““But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day. “And the Lord said to me, ‘See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to possess it, that you may inherit his land.’”


‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

““Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan; and Og king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’”


So instead of just passing through, God gave them victory; God instructed them to Fight, Win and take possession of their land. So Before crossing into Canaan, they defeated and took:

  • Sihon (king of the Amorites)

  • Og (king of Bashan)


And the land was east of the Jordan. This wasn’t a mistake; it was God-given victory and territory. God gave them real victories before the promise


What they received on the way:

  • Was given by God

  • Was real victory

  • Was something they could possess


But it was still not the destination.


  • God’s promise was Canaan (west of the Jordan)

  • The land of Sihon and Og (east of the Jordan)→ was not part of the original core promise


Why did they choose to settle early?


Numbers 32:5 “Do not make us cross the Jordan.”


The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan River, outside the core Promised Land of Canaan. They requested this land because it was ideal for their large herds of livestock. Moses granted this land on the condition that they help their brothers conquer Canaan.


The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh:

  • Saw good land before reaching Canaan

  • Became comfortable, asked to settle there instead

  • Chose not to go further initially


God allowed it conditionally, but it wasn’t the primary promise


God’s original promise was still: Genesis 17:8“All the land of Canaan… I will give…”

So:

  • East of Jordan = legitimate victory

  • Canaan = ultimate promise

So lets bring it home? Stopping at a blessing instead of continuing to the promise


To be honest, the enemy often uses things that look good to distract us from reaching God’s perfect promise.

Sometimes it’s not something obviously wrong; it’s something convenient, comfortable, or even beneficial.

And that can be us.


We can settle outside of God’s perfect will, thinking we’re still in a good place…when in reality, we’ve stopped short of His promise.


As seen throughout Scripture:

“People rarely miss God’s promise because of something bad… but because of something that looked good enough to stop.”


Lot — chose what looked good: Genesis 13:10–11 Lot saw that the land was well-watered and chose it. But what looked like abundance led him closer to Sodom.

What looked good… led to compromise.


Esau — chose the immediate over the eternal: Genesis 25:29–34 He traded his birthright for a single meal.

He satisfied a moment… and lost his inheritance.


The Israelites (first generation) — chose fear over promise: Numbers 13–14 They saw the land God promised but refused to enter.

They were close… but never stepped in.


The rich young ruler — chose possessions over purpose: Matthew 19:21–22 He was invited into more… but walked away.

He had much… but missed everything.


And just like them…

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh saw something good… and stopped there.

How This Shows Up in Our Lives


And if we’re honest… this isn’t just their story. It’s ours too.

We may not be choosing land like Lot or turning back like the Israelites; but we face the same kind of decisions every day.


Sometimes:

  • We settle for a job because it’s safe… even when God is calling us higher

  • We stay in comfortable spaces… instead of stepping into what requires faith

  • We hold onto things that “work” for us… instead of trusting God for what He promised


It’s not always rebellion.

  • Sometimes it’s just… comfort.

  • Sometimes it’s fear of the unknown.

  • Sometimes it’s choosing what we can see… over what God has said.


Just like the tribes of Reuben and Gad:


  • “This land works for us.”

  • “This is good enough.”


But “good enough” can quietly become the reason we never step into God’s best.


 You can be tempted to settle too early

  • Good ≠ God’s best

  • Provision ≠ Promise fulfilled

Final Reminder


God didn’t just call you to something that works.


He called you to something greater.


So don’t settle:

  • Not in your faith

  • Not in your purpose

  • Not in your calling


✨ Keep going.✨ Keep trusting.✨ Keep moving forward.

Because what’s ahead… is worth it.


This Is Not Your Rest


Micah 2:10 (NKJV) “Arise and depart, for this is not your rest…”


That land may have worked for them. It met their needs. It looked right. But it was not their rest.


And in the same way, some places in our lives may feel:

  • Comfortable

  • Stable

  • Even blessed

But deep down… God is saying:

“This is not where I’ve called you to stop.”

What happened to those tribes in the end?

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh did receive the land east of the Jordan, but over time… their position came with consequences.


They Built a Representation

We know God gave clear instruction about worship; the tabernacle, and where His presence would dwell. Yet after settling east of the Jordan, they built something else.


‭‭Joshua‬ ‭22‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And when they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan—a great, impressive altar.”


  • They feared being cut off

  • So they built something to represent connection

They were:

  • Physically outside the core land

  • And now trying to create a representation of belonging


When you settle outside of where God called you, you may start building substitutes to stay connected.

  • They were not fully in rebellion

  • But they were also not fully aligned

  • So they created: A symbol instead of substance


1. They were the first to fall into trouble

Because they were outside the core Promised Land, they were more exposed. They were among the first tribes to be taken into captivity.


‭‭I Chronicles‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And they were unfaithful to the 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 king of Assyria, that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.”


2. Distance led to spiritual drift

Being separated from the rest of Israel (across the Jordan):

  • Made them more vulnerable

  • Led to compromise and idolatry

They were physically further and eventually became spiritually weaker


3. They lost what they settled for

The land they chose:

  • Didn’t last

  • Was taken from them

The very thing they settled for… they eventually lost


They chose:

  • What looked good

  • What worked for them

  • What felt practical

But in the long run:❗ It didn’t sustain them❗ It didn’t protect them❗ It wasn’t God’s best


So never settle, continue to press on and forward and I pray GOD helps us all in JESUS name, Amen Amen.

Prayer


Heavenly Father,


Thank You for every victory You have given me; for every door You have opened,for every place You have brought me through.


Lord, I am grateful.


But Father, help me not to mistake a victory for the promise.

Help me not to settle in places You only meant for me to pass through.

Give me the discernment to know the difference between what is good… and what is Your will.


Lord, lead me.

When I am tempted to stop because it is comfortable, when I feel like “this is enough,”remind me of what You have spoken.


Give me the strength to keep going.

Help me not to grow weary. Help me not to grow tired. Help me not to celebrate too early when there is still more You have called me to step into.


Father, keep my heart aligned with You.

Let me not build substitutes for places You have not called me to stay.

Give me the courage to cross every “Jordan” in my life until I fully step into all that You have promised.


Lord, I don’t want part of Your will…I want all of it.

Help me to fulfill everything You have written concerning me, not some… not halfway… but completely.


Teach me to be grateful for the wins, but to keep pressing forward.

“Upward… higher… deeper in You.”

When You say “arise and depart,” give me the obedience to move.

This is not my rest until You say it is.


So Father, take me all the way.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.


 
 
 

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