Pursuing the Good, Not the Blessing

Scripture: "For your eastern border, draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham. The border will go down from Shepham to Riblah east of Ain. It will continue down and reach the eastern slope of the Sea of Chinnereth. Then the border will go down to the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea. This will be your land defined by its borders on all sides." So Moses commanded the Israelites, "This is the land you are to receive by lot as an inheritance, which the Lord commanded to be given to the nine and a half tribes. For the tribe of Reuben’s descendants and the tribe of Gad’s descendants have received their inheritance according to their ancestral families, and half the tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance. The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan east of Jericho, toward the sunrise." Numbers 34:10-15

Observation: In a prior chapter, the tribes of Reuben and Gad begged Moses to let them stay in land east of the Jordan, and after negotiating about their level of support for the future insurgence into Canaan, Moses relented.

Now, we see Moses define the "promised land" for the very first time. The Lord never even defined it for Abraham, just stating it was "Canaan" and "all he could see" at different times. Now we have borders, and the eastern border is the Jordan River. Reuben, Gad, and one clan of Manasseh ... are NOT part of the promised land. By choice - in fact, by their urgent pleading and negotiation - they have opted out of the promise made to Abraham, chosen to forgo inclusion in Yahweh's blessing, all because they thought this other land was good for their sheep.

Yes, they found good grazing grounds, and decided it was preferrable to be excluded from God's blessing in favor of these grounds, instead of trusting that there would be even better land to be found in the promises of the Lord.

Application: At first, I thought this interpretation - that Reuben and Gad are now excluded from the promised land - may be overreaching. However, Moses was a man obedient to Lord, accurate in conveying the Lord's words, and specific when the Lord gave him specifics. Chronologically, just days or weeks earlier, the decision was made about Reuben and Gad, and now comes the promised land borders discussion, and there is no doubt Reuben and Gad are excluded. Moses then calls this out, stating they have "received their inheritance" as an act completely separate from the process of assigning the promised land of Canaan by lots.

I behave like Reuben and Gad often. I find something I like in life, and I 'make it happen' or pursue it, without discussing with God his plan and intention for my life. I pursue the 'good' and not the 'blessing'. I am content with something I currently have that is 'good enough' or brings me comfort or happiness, and I fail to consider the greater joy and blessing that could exist, and that the Lord might have planned for me. Maybe this current think is a blessing from God, or maybe it is just 'good pasture land' that I settle for, and which therefore prevents me from receiving the Lord's true blessing in my life.

Are there elements like this in my life right now? In some aspect of my life, have I landed on some fixed position or activity that I wasn't supposed to? Have I claimed the "good" instead of pursuing the "blessing"?

Prayer: Lord, you are my good shepherd, and light unto my path, that I wish to follow. If I have stopped in a place I should not have, please take my by the hand and lead me on to whatever you have for me instead. I may even think something is good, but if it is not from you, then I know that there is something better ahead. Please lead me on. Amen.