When the Israelites were about to cross the River Jordan, they arrived in a beautiful area. Verdant fields with plants and trees made it attractive to the Tribes of Reuben and Gad (Numbers 32). The leaders of these tribes approached Moses and the other elders and asked if they and their families could stay there.
Moses reminded them of how a few people had refused to enter the promised land 40 years earlier and the consequences. They'd angered God, and He wiped out an entire section of the population, keeping the Israelites in the wilderness. Moses asked these men if they were willing to put the entire community in trouble just so they could stay where they wanted instead of going where God was sending the group.
The leaders of Reuben and Gad regrouped and then returned to Moses with an alternative request. They committed to going with the rest of the community to conquer the land west of the Jordan River. However, once done, they wanted to return to their preferred land. Moses agreed to this, and eventually the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and some from Manasseh settled on the eastern side of the Jordan.
This series of events is an important example of how easy it is to settle for less than what God has for you. The people of Reuben, Gad, and some of the Manassites were likely tired from 40 years of waiting for God's promise. They'd become disillusioned and just wanted to settle down and start their lives after waiting for so long. And with that perspective, they were willing to forsake what lay ahead in Canaan.
Most of us are no different. We're sure of what we can see right now and may be content with what we currently have. So much so that we become unwilling to do the additional waiting and warring that may be required to take possession of what God has assigned us. Doing this is to ignore that God has more waiting just ahead.
Desiring God's more requires the application of our faith. We have to put it to work, believing that what lies ahead will be better than what we've seen in the past. The Bible says in Haggai 2:9 - The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” This verse speaks to the second temple to be erected in Jerusalem, but do you realize it also speaks to you? You are God's earthly temple, and the days to come will be greater than those gone by.
If you trust that God's word is true and that He plans to bring you to an expected end per Jeremiah 29:11, then you must desire God's more for you. You can't be satisfied with where you are spiritually. You should want more of Him and His Spirit at work in you and around you. For this to happen, you must give Him what He wants to get what you desire. Spend more time with His word. Seek out Spirit-led counsel. Be more intentional in surrounding yourself with Spirit-filled ideas and individuals. Pray to hear the Lord clearly and be led only by His Spirit and His Son, Jesus.
Those three tribes were satisfied to stop before entering God's promised land. Complacency caused them to reject their inheritance. They didn't realize that although the land they liked was good, God had even better waiting deeper into the territory ahead. We should learn from this mistake. In time, their being on the other side of the Jordan opened them up to attacks from the surrounding peoples. They were the first to be picked off over the years as the kingdoms of Israel were conquered.
May we never forget that God has a plan and a reason for what He's doing in us and where He's taking us, IJMN Amen. He knows what's coming. And when we desire His 'more', we have increased protection from our enemies. And in desiring the fullness of His promise, we don't inadvertently forsake our inheritance and lose out on His goodness. May the Lord help us all to increasingly invest in our relationship with Him so we hear and are led to receive His more, IJN Amen.
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