6Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, "Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here?
7Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them?
8This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land.
9After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them.
- P22
10The Lord’s anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath:
11‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—
12not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’
13The Lord’s anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.
14"And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel.
15If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction."
- P23
The tribes of Reuben and Gad, seeing the fertile lands of Jazer and Gilead,
request to settle there instead of crossing the Jordan. Moses rebukes them,
warning that their reluctance to cross the Jordan may discourage Israel. Hereminds them of God‘s past judgment over the nation and warns of conse-quences if they abandon their brethren. - P23
The tribes of Reuben and Gad notice that the land east of the Jordan isfertile, ideal for their large herds. Instead of waiting for Moses to providetheir allotment of land along with the rest of the tribes, they ask to stayeast of the river because they want the best possible land for their livestock.
- P24
This decision may seem practical and economical, but Moses points outthat their request could potentially discourage the Israelites from enteringthe promised land and going to war. - P24
The tribes of Reuben and Gad are nothelping to carry out God‘s commands, and their actions could actually leadto Israel‘s destruction. - P24
We can be blinded by our own ambition when weseek our own interests above the interests of others. We should be aware ofour motives and recognize when our ambition and selfish desires are leadingus and others astray - P24
Dear Jesus, thank you for calling us as a family and bringing us together toshare Your love with one another. Teach us to be slow to speak and quick tolisten to each other‘s concerns. In Your name, amen. - P25
The tribes of Reuben and Gad assure Moses that they will fight alongside Israeluntil the land is conquered and ask to be allowed to leave their families andlivestock in fortified cities. Moses agrees but warns them to keep their promiselest they face God‘s judgment. They pledge obedience, vowing to fulfill theirduty to the Lord and to Israel. - P27
Sometimes priorities can become mixed upOne pastor told me about achurch where serious arguments broke out due to disagreements over whatcolor the new carpet was to be. An ideal worship space is welcoming andaccommodates the needs of the people, but a hut with a dirt floor and tinroof that is full of worshipers accomplishes God‘s mission better than onethat is beautiful and ornate but empty. Whether we worship in a space withstained glass windows or no windows at all, the most important thing isthat we worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. - P29
|