V.1-5 Some of the people from three of the tribes didn’t want to go across the Jordan River. They looked at the good pasture land on the wilderness side of the river. It seemed a good place to stay. So they told Moses that they didn’t want to go across the Jordan river. What is this like in our Christian life? Something like this — the River Jordan is a picture of our death with Christ on the cross. Romans 6:3-11 and Galatians 2:20 tell us this. We are citizens of heaven, not of earth. (Read Col. 3:1-3). To enjoy our heavenly blessings (Eph. 1:3) now, we need to realize we have died with Christ to sin and the world, and are alive with Him now in our heavenly life. If we look around and say “well this isn’t too bad a place, I’ll just enjoy it,” we would be like these people in our chapter. Now, take a minute to read Joshua 14:1-2 to see what they lost.
V.6-15 Moses was very displeased about this. His eyes were set on the land God had promised to give the people.
V.16-19 Those who had said they didn’t want to go across the river, promise that they will go and help the rest of their brethren take the land, and afterward return.
V.20-42 Moses accepts this. When we are determined to have our own way, God sometimes allows it. Later we find out the troubles that come with it. If we were to follow the history of these two and a half tribes, we would find that they were the first ones to be carried away into captivity when the enemy came against them (1 Chron. 5:25-26). May we not be worldly-minded believers.