I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Numbers 32-33.

The first time the tribes which settled east of the Jordan River were misunderstood was when they requested that land as their inheritance in the Promised Land.  Moses thought the request was because they did not want to have to face the people’s living on the other side of the Jordan.  They quickly made it clear that they were perfectly happy to cross the Jordan to fight with their fellow Israelites, they just did not want to live there.  However, the tribes desiring to settle east of the Jordan did not get defensive and angry.  They understood why Moses would question their motives and quickly acted to reassure him that they were not trying to weasel out of crossing the Jordan.  We should be prepared to follow their example.  When others have acted in bad faith, and others have acted in bad faith, we should not be surprised, or offended, if people question our motives.