* The Reubenites and Gadites chose for themselves land outside the Promised Land.

* This was much like their father Reuben who couldn’t wait on the inheritance and allowed his lust to control his actions (he slept with David’s concubines).

* So they built an altar to show the other tribes in the future that they were still Israelites.

* Essentially they wanted to be a part of the group without having to adhere to all of the group’s rules.

* It’s like saying, “We’re still with you, we just don’t want to obey this one command.”

* So they built an altar to prove their allegiance to the same God - that way future Israelites wouldn’t see them as enemies.

* PROBLEM - they were wanted unity but refused to operate in purity.

* They wanted unity with those who’s truth they abandoned.

* But little did they know not following God’s plan left them vulnerable to attack.

* Today, we seek unity over purity.

* But when this happens those who forsook purity leave themselves open to attacks from the enemy.

* Yes, they came to peacefully coexist, but they were living out of bounds.

* KEY - we are to seek for purity (living according to God’s plan). Unity with others who are also seeking purity will be the result.