First Thought

בָ֤אָה נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ מֵעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן מִזְרָֽחָה׃

Our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east (Numbers 32:19)

Numbers 32 begins, “The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock.” They followed their eyes, which saw profit. They took the easy path, which caused tension between the tribes. Students of history know that these lands to the east were often easily invaded. The lesson for us is to make sure we seek what the Lord wants for us and not our own desires.

Figure 14.1: Cows of Bashan with Mount Hermon. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands