When the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh asked Moses for land outside the Promised Land (Numbers 32), they weren’t rebelling, but they also weren’t fully obeying.
They saw the land east of Jordan and said, “This is a good place for cattle. Let us stay here.” It wasn’t the land God promised, but it was close. It looked right. It felt convenient. So they settled for it.
That one decision caused problems for generations.
In Joshua 22, we find these same tribes returning home after helping conquer Canaan. Before they crossed the Jordan River, they built a giant altar. Not for sacrifice, but for a witness. They feared that one day their children would be cut off from the rest of Israel. So they made a symbol to say, “We still belong too.”
But the rest of Israel thought they were turning their backs on God. They gathered for war. It took a long explanation just to calm everyone down. That’s the cost of living near God’s will, but not in it. People will always wonder where you stand.
Living on the Edge
The altar built in Joshua 22 never saw a single sacrifice. It stood silent, trying to say what their obedience should’ve said. Had they just settled in the land God gave, there wouldn’t have been confusion, suspicion, or distance.
It’s a reminder that when you live outside of God’s perfect will—even if it’s just a few steps away—you have to work harder just to keep things from falling apart.
Later in the Bible, we see the sad result.
In 1 Chronicles 5:25-26, the very same tribes that settled early were the first to fall. They went into idolatry. They forgot God. They were taken captive before the rest. It started with a small decision that seemed smart—but ended in destruction.
New Testament Picture
This principle shows up again in the New Testament. In Luke 9:61-62, Jesus meets a man who says, “Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell…” Jesus answers, “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” That sounds harsh—until you realize what Jesus is saying. You can’t walk with Him while looking for comfort elsewhere. Partial obedience isn’t obedience.
In Revelation 3:16, Jesus warns the church in Laodicea, “Because thou art lukewarm… I will spue thee out of my mouth.” They were close. But close isn’t enough. God doesn’t bless “half-in” Christianity.
What’s the Lesson?
If you know where God wants you—but you settle somewhere easier, closer, or more comfortable—you’ll always feel like you need to build an altar to explain yourself.
Your kids may not feel as connected to the Lord.
Your decisions may confuse others.
And one day, you may be the first to fall—just like Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
Don’t just get near the will of God—get all the way in.
No altar can take the place of full obedience.
