Bible Study, Old Testament 
1 Comment Numbers 32-33: Life on the Border
Some people choose to live on the border of God’s blessing. They make their decisions on the basis of material gain and not spiritual blessing. The two and a half tribes did not claim their inheritance in Canaan, though they were very close to it.
They assured Moses that they would help conquer the land, but the tribes still brought division to Israel. In fact, when the land was fully conquered, the two and a half tribes had to put up an altar to let people know, “We belong to Israel!” (See Joshua 22) Had they gone over the Jordan and claimed their inheritance, everybody would have known their citizenship.
“Bring us not over the Jordan!” (Numbers 32:5) is as much an expression of failure as “Take us back to the land of Egypt!” or “Let us die in the wilderness!” When material gain, not the glory of God, governs our decisions, we will make the wrong decisions. (See Psalm 47:4)
Chapter 33 reviews the past and anticipates the future. It is good to review the past and discern the hand of the Lord at work. God delivered them from Egypt and brought them to Sinai, where they entered into a covenant with Him (Numbers 33:1–15). Then He brought them to the border of the Promised Land, where they refused to go in (Numbers 33:16–36). They wandered for forty years and then ended up on the plains of Moab (Numbers 33:37–49). Unbelief means wasted time, wasted lives, and wasted opportunities, but God is gracious and long-suffering with His people.
Anticipating the future (Numbers 33:50–56). “When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan” was a word of promise and assurance that would encourage the nation in their new venture of faith. What a privilege to claim their God-given inheritance! But God also gave some responsibilities: drive out the enemy, destroy their idols, dispossess the people, and then divide the land. First you conquer, then you claim. First the obedience, then the blessing.