UM 32-36{Mamma. In this chapter we read that the children of Reuben and Gad had a great many cattle, and when they saw, that the land of Gilead was a good place for cattle, they came to Moses and Eleazar and asked if they might have the land of Gilead as their possession.
Sophy. Was that part of Canaan?
M. No; it was on this side of Jordan. And Moses was grieved because they asked to be allowed to have their possession on the side of Jordan that was nearest to the wilderness, and nearest to Egypt. And he spoke very gravely to them, and said: Why do you wish to settle here, and to let your brethren go over Jordan and have all the fighting? Take care that your example does not discourage the people of the Lord. You know what happened to your fathers at Kadesh-Barnea, and take care that your hearts are not turning back from following the Lord; for if you do, He will surely leave you in this wilderness, and you will be the cause of destroying all these people. But they came near to Moses and said: We will build sheepfolds for our cattle, and cities for our wives and children, and then we will go over armed before the children of Israel, and we will fight like the rest, until all the tribes have got their possessions, and then we will come back here to our wives and children. So Moses gave them their possession on that side of Jordan.
S. I wish they had not left their little ones behind.
M. It was want of faith, and they suffered for it afterward. But God allowed it to show how ready we are to be content with only, half a blessing, and that what we choose for ourselves in our selfishness is nothing compared to what God has prepared for us. So Reuben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh, took possession of the countries that belonged to Sihon and Og, the two kings whom the Lord had given into their hands, and they built towns and sheepfolds there,
S. Were there nice fruits in Gilead, and milk and honey?
M. Yes. Gilead was a rich and beautiful country, but it was not protected by the river Jordan: there were enemies' countries not far off. Now the Lord went over the whole journey to Moses, and showed how He had kept account of it all, and of every step His people took, and He desired Moses to write it in a book, which he did, for our instruction and blessing. And the Lord said to him: Tell the children of Israel that when they go over Jordan into the land, they must destroy all the pictures of those wicked people, and all their images, and the places where they worshipped their idols, and then they shall divide the land among their families-a large family shall have a large possession, and a small family shall have a small possession. But be sure to drive out all the wicked people, for if you leave any of them in your land they will be like thorns and briars, to vex you. Then the Lord pointed out to Moses the boundaries of the promised land, north, south, east, and west, and He said that Joshua and Eleazar, with ten princes of the tribes, were to divide the land Between the children of Israel. Reuben and Gad had no share in the dividing.
S. It was very good of the Lord to tell Moses all about the land, though he was not to see it.
M. Yes. God's mind about it was fully revealed to him. He made known His ways, that is Himself, to Moses, the people only saw His acts. One more command the Lord gave about the Levites. The children of Israel were to give them cities to dwell in, so that the Levites were not to live all together in one spot, but to be spread over the different parts of the land. They were to have forty-eight cities—that was four from each tribe, and each city was to have two thousand cubits of land all round it, for a place to keep their cattle and their goods. But six of the cities that were given to the Levites were to be called cities of refuge; there were to be three on one side of Jordan and three on the other side.
S. What were the cities of refuge for?
M. For a person to fly to, who had killed another. The law was, that if one man killed another he should be put to death. But God, in mercy, provided the cities of refuge, kept by His servants the Levites, as places where any one who killed another by accident) might escape and find safety. If a man threw a stone at another and killed him, he might fly to the nearest city of refuge, and the people were to judge whether he did it spitefully, or whether he meant to kill him. Two people were to bear witness that they saw it done; one was not enough. If he did it on purpose he was to be put to death; but if he did not mean to kill him he was to be sent back to the city of refuge, to hide there until the death of the high priest. After that he might go back to his possession.
S. Was he never to leave the city of refuge till the high priest was dead?
M. No. If he was ever found outside of the city the person whose business it was to kill a murderer might take him and put him to death. God said they were not to defile the land by shedding Blood upon it; for He said: I, Jehovah, dwell among the children of Israel.
The cities of refuge are a figure to us of the Lord Jesus Christ. All men are guilty of the death of God's Son; but whoever flies to Him for refuge, God will not judge.
And Jesus says Whoever comes to me, I will in no wise cast out.
I WILL tell you about Jesus:
He is God's beloved Son—
He is living up in Heaven,
Sitting on His Father's throne
Once He lived on earth amongst us,
Was a child, yet not like you—
He was never rude or selfish,
He was always good and true.
Children Please themselves most often,
Jesus pleased His God done—
God, His Esther, who had bid Him
Make His love and glory known.
Jesus always cared for others,
Was a man like none beside —
God, who made the earth and heavens,
Was a man who lived and died.
Here He lived to ten poor sinners
Of His Father's love and grace,
How they might, with sins forgiven,
Look upon God's blessed face.
This is why He lived amongst us;—
Can you tell me why he died?
Why die Son of God Most Holy
Was condemned and crucified.
He was holy, He was harmless,
Like a lamb to die He carne;
Bears the punishment of sinners,
That the Lord might pardon them.
Jesus did not die forever,
He rose living from His grave,
Now in Heaven He lives to help us
Lives to pardon and to save.