As you continue to study the rest of the scriptures in Numbers chapter 32, you’ll discover what belongs to you, but you’ll actually be able to possess those things and enjoy them.
The people said we will march into battle. We will utilize our gifts and talents. We will reject religion and legalism. We will walk in the Truth, which is the fullness of our callings. We will help others in their battles and see their victories come to past.
Now pay attention to what happens when we step into the reality of the victory by grace, and let God’s ability work through us and in us in the victory. Verses 31 through the end of the story tell us that the people were able to fully comprehend what they had.
At the beginning they said give us this land, because we have cattle and the lands good for cattle. Besides, the battle has already been fought for this land so we won’t have to put forth any effort. Moses says you can have this land, but what about your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Are you going to leave them to fight on their own? The people decide to obey and Moses says, let them select the land they desire, as long as they cross over into the battle ground area. If they don’t keep their promise then they will be GIVEN land, not of their choosing, but of mine, in the land that may not be good for cattle. Plus, they won’t be able to rename that land.
However, if they enter into the battle that is already won, they will own, possess, build on, and perfect the very land that is good for cattle. Here’s the neat part. They get to rename that land. They get to rename the failure into victory. They get to call it by the name they give it. They get to build on what they have to make it even stronger.
33 So Moses gave that land to the people of Gad, to the people of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh. (Manasseh was Joseph’s son.) That land included the kingdom of Sihon the Amorite and the kingdom of King Og of Bashan and all the cities around that area. 34 The people of Gad built the cities of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran. They built cities with strong walls, and they built barns for their animals. 37 The people of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, Baal Meon, and Sibmah. They used the names of the cities that they rebuilt. But they changed the names of Nebo and Baal Meon. 39 People from Makir’s family group went to Gilead. (Makir was Manasseh’s son.) They defeated the city. They defeated the Amorites who lived there. 40 So Moses gave Gilead to Makir from the tribe of Manasseh, and his family settled there. 41 Jair, from the family of Manasseh, defeated the small towns there. Then he called them Towns of Jair. 42 Nobah defeated Kenath and the small towns near it. Then he called that place by his own name.
When we enter into our gifts and callings to possess them, utilize them, and provide them to others, we get to rename our failures into victories. We get to call them by our own names.
God will always provide for our needs, but we have to go get our wants. The people wanted the land on the east side of the Jordan, but they had to go get them by entering the west side of the Jordan. Now that sounds like this grace teacher is saying you have to work for it. That would be true if the victory wasn’t already complete. So you don’t fight for the victory, you fight in the victory.
Let me try to make this a bit clearer. It isn’t what we want that gets us in trouble, it’s that we rely on our own strength to get us there. We fail to realize that everything we want has already been accomplished and provided for by Christ at the cross. We simply have to go get that provision that’s available to us.
Just like the people of Reuben and Gad, they were standing on the very land they wanted, but they didn’t own it. They had to fight to own it. Moses told them the land on the east side of the Jordan was theirs, IF they would enter into the battle with the others to secure the west side of Canaan. A land that was already given to the children of Israel.
Remember, the people of Reuben and Gad could be able to occupy the land on the east side, but what they needed to understand is that they had to further the victory on the west side. How does that work today with us. It’s simple. We occupy something only for the purpose of advancement. It’s not proper to receive something from Christ and not use it to further the kingdom.
The people of Reuben and Gad had a trial. It was to go and fight for the land of others. That trial was to give them the land that was good for cattle on the east side of the Jordan. Not only give it to them, but allow them to choose their land, possess it, build on it and rename it to call it their own.
So we see that the battle was not to win the land, but to possess that which was already in the win column. Just like Christians today. They are standing in a place of mighty gifts and callings, but they are not exercising those gifts by battling the enemy with them. They have the gifts, but they do not possess them. They would rather just rest in a comfortable place and not be disturbed or interrupted. Trials are not what they want, but like Graham said, they are there to give you something, not take something away from you.
Here’s the rub. The Lord has a perfect plan for each one of us, and He is faithful to reveal that plan to all who seek Him. More often than not, we play it too safe. We are afraid to make more than token steps because of what it may cost us. It’s risky to do what God lays on your heart. One of the reasons so few people experience supernatural provision is because they aren’t doing what God has told them to do. However, being obedient to God puts us in a position to receive His supernatural supply.
Isaiah 1:19 reads “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land”. How fitting for our story in this study. The people of Reuben and Gad chose to be willing and obedient and they ate of the fruit of the land on the east side of the Jordan. How about you? You too can have the land the Lord has given you, and it’s good for all that you have or will possess.
Always remember that the will of God will never take you, where the grace of God can’t keep you. We can trust God and all His promises to us. He is a promise keeper not just a promise maker. Just like Moses in this story promised the land to the people of Reuben and Gad, God has promised the fullness of life to us.
Why is God so good at keeping promises? The answer is easy. It’s because He’s already completed, settled and finished everyone of those promises. It is finished means the provision in each of His promises are already available. It’s now up to us to go and possess each and everyone of those promises. It’s really your choice. What will it be? The land that is picked out and given to you, or the land you pick out, build on, and get to rename? Grace and Peace.
