We often hear stories of siblings squabbling viciously after the death of their parents, due to a lack of proper instructions about the division of family property. Churches can fall prey to the schemes of greedy people who try to exploit imprecise legal property ownership situations. Greed can be so consuming that even Christians can forget their principles and seek to grab possessions. The need for precise instructions is often underrated in the war against our baser instincts.

Deuteronomy 3:12-17 describes the division of land among the 2 1/2 tribes that were to settle east of the Jordan River. This seemingly dull paragraph describes Moses' precise instructions about land allocation and demonstrates how leaders can be clear about the distribution of assets and responsibilities.

Moses commands the tribes that will be settled east of the Jordan to join in the battles to conquer the lands west of the Jordan (vv. 18-20). This command was triggered by the request of the Reubenites and Gadites to be allowed to settle in the eastern lands because they offered good grazing for their livestock (Numbers 32:1-20). Moses feared that they would not join in the subsequent battles for the lands west of the Jordan.

Twice Moses reminds them that their land had been given to them by God (Deuteronomy 3:18, 20). The biblical perspective about possessions is that we ultimately own nothing because all we have had been given to us by God. Moses also makes it clear, in no uncertain terms, that failing to help the 10 other tribes conquer the rest of the land would be seen as evil in God's eyes. He warns: ″If you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out″ (Numbers 32:23). It is a sin not to help our brothers and sisters in their time of need.

Next, Moses himself is given clear instructions about how to hand over his leadership to young Joshua. Moses was prevented from entering the promised land because he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God instructed him to do (see Numbers 20:2-11; Deuteronomy 32:51-52). Although Moses ″pleaded with the Lord″ to let him ″go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan″ (Deuteronomy 3:23, 25), basing his request on a correct theology of God's greatness and power (v. 24), God rejected his plea. Despite what ″name it and claim it″ teachers say, our prayers will receive a positive answer only if they are in accordance with God's will (James 4:3).

Moses is asked to encourage Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:28), who was going to do what he himself had wanted to do-take the people across the Jordan to the promised land. And Moses did it well. It was clear from his speech that he was boosting Joshua's stature (vv. 21-22, 28). He wanted the people to accept Joshua as the new leader. Our personal agendas are less important than the agenda of God's kingdom. We may be hurt by how something we wanted to do was given to someone else, as Moses seems to have been. But our commitment to God causes us to overcome the hurt and help the other person.