Reuben (v1-10) lost his rights as the first-born due to  a sinful relationship with Bilhah his father’s concubine (v1; Genesis 35 v22). Here we see how one person’s sin can impact even many generations that come from him. What we do, either sinful or righteous, we don’t know how far-reaching these actions maybe. So let’s be sure to walk carefully in fear of the Lord.

The men of Gad (v11-22), were along with the Reubenites and half-tribe of Manasseh, were known as valiant (v18-19). In battle they trusted in the Lord and God honoured their cries (v20-22).

There is a challenge here for each of us. Are we content with just a comfortable life or are we read for spiritual battle and to break new ground? Jesus calls us not to an easy life but to one of exciting service.

The Levites in chapter 6 are the priestly tribe with responsibility for the temple and worship. Some were responsible for the praise in the tabernacle and then temple (v31-32), others were responsible for other areas of service (v48). Aaron was the great-grandson of Levi, and his descendants were priests responsible for the sacrifices (v49-53).

Unlike the other tribes, the Levites did have a region of the Promised Land as their own, but instead had cities with some pasture lands around them, dispersed throughout the Promised Land (v54-81). The purpose of those was surely to spread the influence of this godly tribe throughout the people of God, so that worship wouldn’t ever be far from their minds.