The prearrangement of the distribution of the good land shown in the last five chapters of this book typifies the sharing of the enjoyment of the rich Christ. At this point God’s chosen and redeemed people, after being formed into a priestly army to fight for God and to journey with God, were prepared by God to possess the good land, a type of the all-inclusive Christ as the portion allotted by God to the believers in Christ (see note Deut. 8:7¹).

The request of the two tribes, Reuben and Gad, to receive what God had promised (vv. 1-5) was not wrong; however, they were not right in wanting to receive this according to their choice as to what was the best. Eventually, their land was the first part of the land of Israel to be taken over by the Gentile invaders from the east (1 Chron. 5:25-26). In spiritual matters it is much better not to act according to our choice but to leave matters in the hand of the Lord and let Him do according to His choice (cf. Gen. 13:5-18).

The land requested by Reuben and Gad could be reached without crossing the river Jordan, which signifies the old man not being dealt with and buried (see notes on Josh. 3:16-17; 4:1-12). Only after our old man has been dealt with and buried (Rom. 6:3-6) are we in a position to possess the all-inclusive Christ as the good land for our enjoyment.

The obligation here was due to the fact that Reuben and Gad had their own choice regarding their portion of the land (vv. 1-5). In serving the Lord, we need to learn to give up our own choice in order to avoid obligating ourselves to God and to His people.

Meaning the village of Jair.