But to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory extending from Gilead down to the Arnon Gorge (the middle of the gorge being the border) and out to the Jabbock River, which is the border of the Ammonites.

Upon reading this, it seems like a lackluster passage, especially from a book as rich as Deuteronomy, which is full of so many inspiring verses, like:

Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. (1:17)

And:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of [your enemies], for the Lord our God goes with you; we will never leave you nor forsake you. (31:6 )

And Moses’ last words:

Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by their Lord? He is your shield and helper and glorious sword. Your enemies will cover before you, and you will trample down their high places. (33:29)

Upon further digging, we find this verse offers – not surprisingly, given that it’s a Bible verse! – interesting stuff. It’s the conclusion of a story, the fulfillment of a promise and a commitment, and a window onto God. So, like so much of the Bible, there’s more here than one would suspect at first glance.

Going back to the beginning of this story, in Numbers 30, the  Reubenites and Gadites saw beautiful grazing land just east of the Jordan and asked to be given that land, “The land the Lord subdued before the people of Israel.” Moses did not like the idea, which reminded him of earlier treacheries:

Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites from going over into the land the Lord has given them? This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. (Numbers 6:8-10)

Back then, most of the spies Moses sent to report on the land before them came back with reports of giants and discouraged the Israelites from going forward. Only Caleb and Joshua reported positively. The lies and projected fears of the others angered God, because the Israelites did not trust Him to keep His promise, so He made them wander until all the skeptics (except Caleb, Joshua and, barely, Moses) had died.

After Moses rejected their request for land east of the Jordan, the Reubenites and Gadites came back with an alternative plan: They would build fortified cities east of the Jordan, leave the women, children and livestock there, and the men would join the rest of the Israelites to fight.

Deuteronomy 3:16 is the completion of this tale, the division of the lands east of the Jordan, in fulfillment of their keeping their promise to fight beside the rest of Israel to fulfill God’s promise.

That Israel was able to take the land of the Ammonites was no small feat. This tribe was a particularly fierce and cruel people, but because “He is your shield, your helper and glorious sword,” Israel triumphed over them – not only the Ammonites, but also the giants!

The rest of Gilead and also all of Bashan, the Kingdom of Og, I gave to the half tribe of Manasseh. (3:13)

Og was the last of the giants the earlier spies had feared, but with God beside them, the Israelites soundly defeated him and his formidable forces.

The Reubenites and Gadites thought their initial plan would find God’s favor. They intended to live as his children in the new land, and to raise future generations in His way, and they must have been disappointed when Moses rejected their plan. He didn’t tell them what to do next; he just reminded them of their greater responsibility to God and nation.

They did what we should do when we realize our plans aren’t fully aligned with God. They didn’t give up on their dream, but instead modified it to conform with God’s will. They realized that their dream was so strong that they were willing to fight beside the other tribes to achieve God’s larger promise for the nation. That was what God wanted of them, and seeing this, He was pleased, and they received their reward.

This verse, at first seeming to be mundane and uninspiring, actually tells us much about how to live as God’s children. We may think our plans are right and our path is true. But we do not know God’s specific will. To act in way closer to God, we should turn to prayer, meditation, the counsel of trusted friends and the wise leadership of elders. In that way, we can open ourselves to a clearer understanding of God’s will, and we will have the strength we need to amend our plans so that we walk more closely with God, pleasing him.

Thought: Despite what some may think of Christians, faith takes an open mind because we must always be open to a better understanding of God’s will.

Prayer: Dear heavenly father, it is your will, not mine. Again because I am too willful, it is your will, not mine. Help me, Lord, to not get ahead of you, but to pause and ask if it is your will I am following or mine. I want my plans to align with your will for me, and I know I am sometimes to quick to assume you are with me and my plans. Lord, I put my plans before you now and ask that you help me to see what I must do to make them the plans you will for me.