The Value of Numbers 32 to Contemporary Christians
Heavenly Father,
As we gather to study Your Word, we ask for Your presence to be with us. Open our minds and hearts to receive the lessons You have for us in this chapter. Help us to see the relevance of this passage in our lives today and to draw closer to You through it. We thank You for Your faithfulness and for the wisdom found in Your Word. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Prayer for the Cup: Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your blood that was shed for us. As we drink this cup, we remember the new covenant and the promise of eternal life. Help us to live in the light of this promise and to share Your love with others. Amen.
Question: You hire someone to clean your house and return to find the bathrooms undone. They explain that they don’t do bathrooms because they are yucky. How do you react?
Question: You have a friend who smokes almost three packs a day. You get him to go to the doctor and begin a program. When you see him later, you ask how he is doing. He says he is down to one pack a day. How do you react?
Question: Why the difference, if any?
Tonight, we look at the issue of partial obedience. Since no one is perfect, why does it matter and what are the consequences?
This chapter recounts the story of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh who, upon reaching the edge of the Promised Land, request to settle east of the Jordan River rather than crossing over with the rest of Israel.
Moses initially responds with concern, recalling the earlier disobedience that led to forty years of wandering in the desert. However, after assurances from the tribes that they will help their brothers in battle before returning to their land, Moses grants their request.
To be honest, the tribes of Reuben and Gad could have focused solely on their own needs, satisfied to stay in a land they deemed prosperous, but they were reminded by Moses of their duty to the rest of Israel.
They would have been labeled traitors and outcasts and perhaps even attacked or punished by the Lord. Note that we have no mention of Moses consulting with the Lord. Moses even states that God might desert them once and for all.
This speaks to the Christian concept of bearing one another’s burdens, as expressed in Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
The text warns Christians not to isolate themselves in comfort while others are engaged in spiritual battles, but to step up in support of believers, ensuring that all have access to the promises of God.
As I said, this chapter also addresses the issue of partial obedience, which is a temptation for many Christians today.
Reuben and Gad’s request to stay on the east side of the Jordan River could be seen as a compromise, as God had intended for the Israelites to settle across the river.
In contemporary terms, this speaks to the tendency to follow God’s commands selectively.
Christians might fulfill certain responsibilities while avoiding others that are inconvenient or uncomfortable.
Numbers 32 encourages believers to trust in God’s full plan, even when the path seems difficult, reminding them that partial obedience often leads to spiritual stagnation, missed blessings or even rejection.
Finally, Numbers 32 deals with the theme of trust in God’s promises.
The land east of the Jordan may have appeared more attractive or safer to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, but this was not the land God had promised them.
For Christians, this is a reminder that sometimes the path God leads them on may seem uncertain or less desirable compared to immediate, tangible options. However, as Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds believers, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Trusting in God’s greater promises, even when the immediate circumstances seem less secure, is crucial for spiritual growth and God’s will.
Question:Did the Gadites and Reubenites staying in Gilead pose any problems in the future for the nation of Israel or did it prove positive?
The decision of the Gadites and Reubenites to settle east of the Jordan River in Gilead, as recorded in Numbers 32, had both immediate and long-term consequences for the nation of Israel.
The story reflects a complex blend of positive and negative outcomes when it comes to unity, faithfulness, and the risks of partial obedience to God.
Initially, the decision appeared positive. The Gadites and Reubenites honored their promise to Moses by assisting the rest of Israel in conquering the Promised Land west of the Jordan.
Joshua 22:1-4 recounts how, after faithfully fighting alongside their fellow Israelites, Joshua released the Gadites, Reubenites, and half-tribe of Manasseh to return to their lands in Gilead. This faithfulness reflected a high degree of unity and cooperation among the tribes, even though the two and a half tribes were geographically separated.
This cooperation reinforces the Christian principle of being part of a greater body. Though Christians may have differing roles or be called to different tasks within the church, they are called to unity.
As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body.” The Gadites and Reubenites showed that, despite their different settlement, they were committed to Israel’s mission.
However, the long-term consequences of the tribes settling in Gilead were not entirely positive.
In settling east of the Jordan, the Gadites, Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh distanced themselves physically from the rest of Israel.
This geographical separation created vulnerabilities, both spiritually and politically.
Spiritually, there was a danger that their isolation from the religious life centered in Jerusalem, including the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), would weaken their connection to God’s covenant.
Over time, this separation became a significant issue. The Gadites and Reubenites, by living far from the heart of Israel, were more susceptible to external threats.
In particular, they were vulnerable to attacks from surrounding nations, particularly the Arameans and Ammonites.
According to 1 Chronicles 5:26, these tribes were eventually conquered and exiled by the Assyrians centuries before the fall of the rest of Israel. This early downfall underscores the dangers of isolation from the rest of God’s people.
For Christians, this serves as a warning about the risks of spiritual isolation. Just as the Gadites and Reubenites were vulnerable due to their physical distance, Christians who distance themselves from others of faith can find themselves spiritually weakened.
Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds believers not to forsake getting together, encouraging them to stay connected for mutual strength and encouragement.
The decision to settle in Gilead may have seemed practical at the time, but in the long run, it led to a weakening of their defenses, both physically and spiritually.
Question: Where in the nominal Christian life is partial obedience most likely to occur?
Biblical Examples of Partial Obedience
Partial obedience is a recurring theme in Scripture, often leading to negative consequences for those who fall into it. Partial obedience, though it may appear like faithfulness on the surface, is ultimately disobedience because it fails to meet God’s full requirements.
Below are a few key examples of partial obedience in the Bible and how these examples resonate with the spiritual struggles believers face today.
One of the most well-known examples of partial obedience is the story of King Saul. In 1 Samuel 15, God commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites and everything they owned, but Saul spared King Agag and kept the best of the livestock.
While Saul believed he was doing well by preserving the animals for sacrifice, Samuel famously declared, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). Saul’s partial obedience cost him the kingdom, as God rejected him as king.
This account illustrates that God demands complete obedience, not our own version of compliance, no matter how noble our motives seem.
Another example of partial obedience can be seen with the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land. In Judges 1, the Israelites failed to drive out all the inhabitants of the land as God had commanded, leaving remnants of the Canaanites in various regions.
This incomplete obedience resulted in Israel being influenced by the pagan practices of those they allowed to remain, leading to cycles of idolatry and judgment.
Similarly, Jonah initially obeyed God by going to Nineveh after his dramatic experience with the great fish, but his attitude showed a form of partial obedience.
Jonah’s mission was a success in terms of preaching, but his unwilling heart and displeasure with God’s mercy toward Nineveh (Jonah 4:1-3) demonstrated that outward obedience is not enough without an obedient heart.
While Jonah fulfilled his task, his heart remained far from God’s compassionate will.
Areas of Partial Obedience Today
Partial obedience is still a challenge for many Christians today. Some key areas of partial obedience include:
1. Selective Scripture Obedience
It’s easy for believers to obey certain scriptures while ignoring others that are more difficult or uncomfortable.
For example, a Christian might diligently attend church, tithe, and read their Bible, but avoid scriptures that command forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15) or generosity toward those in need (1 John 3:17).
This is akin to Saul’s selective obedience in keeping the best spoils from the Amalekites, believing he was still honoring God. Partial obedience in this way can lead to a hollow faith, where one appears devout but fails to fully embody the love, grace, and mercy Christ calls us to.
2. Compromise in Moral Integrity
In today’s world, many believers struggle with obeying God fully in areas of moral purity and integrity. A Christian might be committed to avoiding obvious sins like theft or murder, but compromise in areas like honesty, lust, or materialism. For example, someone might justify a “small” lie or tolerate certain forms of entertainment that conflict with Christian values.
In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus made it clear that obedience is not just about outward actions but about the condition of the heart: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” In this way, partial obedience in matters of personal morality is a widespread issue today.
3. Reluctance to Serve in Sacrificial Ways
Sometimes Christians obey God in basic, everyday ways but stop short of fully serving Him sacrificially. This may happen when believers resist giving up their time, resources, or comfort for the sake of ministry or helping others.
A common form of partial obedience today is the tendency to stay within one’s comfort zone—volunteering but not stepping into leadership roles or missions, giving financially but withholding emotional or spiritual support to those in need.
This reluctance reflects the kind of incomplete obedience we see in the Israelites when they failed to fully drive out the inhabitants of Canaan, leaving behind elements that would ultimately harm their relationship with God.
4. Halfhearted Repentance
Repentance is an area where partial obedience frequently occurs in a believer’s life. Some Christians acknowledge their sin but may not fully turn away from it. They may apologize to God for a sinful behavior but continue to return to it, or they might avoid addressing deeper issues of the heart that lead to sin.
The kind of incomplete repentance seen in Jonah’s reluctance to embrace God’s compassion for Nineveh is a mirror to Christians who struggle with truly surrendering all areas of their lives to God. Proverbs 28:13 reminds us, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Encouragement Toward Full Obedience
Scripture continually encourages believers to strive for complete obedience, aligning their actions and hearts with God’s will. As James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Partial obedience leaves room for spiritual compromise and may lead to long-term consequences that affect both one’s relationship with God and the larger community of faith.
Full obedience is not just about outward compliance but about aligning our hearts with God’s will, so that we live out His purposes in every area of life.