The children of Israel have, so far, traveled out of Egypt, through the wilderness and now at the edge of Canaan, to only be separated by the Jordan river. Canaan is the final destination of a promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It represents God’s goal of bringing His children out of bondage and emptiness, into a land of abundance, peace and security. It is where He desired to establish a kingdom for His chosen people and shine a light to all the nations of the earth.

As they stand at the edge of Jordan, the children of Reuben and children of Gad come up to Moses to propose an idea. Being tenders of livestock, it seemed best to them to make their home east of Jordan, in the land of Ammonites. Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death”. Though they experienced the presence of God and His mighty works first-hand, they counted their opinions higher than the counsel of God. They were concerned about taking care of their material possessions rather than walk the narrow way and enter into God’s promise. They were content with what the world gave them and rejected God’s will.

As believers, each one of us is running a race. Our goal is not this world but a world to come. This world is temporary and represents a wilderness in which there is only death. The nature of sin is to blind us from the truth of God. It’s desire is to ensnare us so we are robbed of the everlasting joy we can experience in Christ. We may or may not have had a good start in our Christian life but what matters is how it ends. Will you give in to the pleasures of this world? Or will you stand and finish this race?. Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus …”

May God bless you with these words ..