The
children of Israel were at the eastern shore of Jordan River overlooking the
Promised Land. The tribes of Reuben and Gad saw the land of this side of Jordan
River that it was a good land for their cattle. They wanted to settle in this
land east of the Jordan River. They made their request known to Moses. Moses
was angry. He asked them: “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit
here?” (Numbers 32:6). Shall they be at ease, while their brethren must
fight?
Why
was Moses angry? How did Moses view their request?
1)
They would discourage their brethren - Numbers 32:7
2)
They would be no different from the ten spies who discouraged Israel by
their report - Numbers 32:8-9
3)
It would arouse God's anger against Israel and destroy them - Numbers
32:14-15
Fortunately,
the men of Gad and Reuben replied Moses that their men would follow their
brethren to cross the Jordan River and helped them fight the inhabitants of the
land. They would not rest and return until their brethren had inherited their
inheritance (Numbers 32:17-18).
The
question is for us today: SHALL YOUR BRETHREN GO TO WAR, AND SHALL YE SIT HERE?
Shall we just sit still while our brethren are hard at work? If we are sitting,
what is the effect?
1.
We discourage our brethren! Why should they work while some are sitting
around and enjoying the fruits of their labour?
2.
The brothers who often must carry the burden alone suffer "burned
out." They suffer fatigue and some quit. The rest who remain often suffer
emotionally and physically; they often have health issues.
3.
God will be angry.
We
see that the lack of involvement is just as detrimental as active opposition!
It is telling the brethren who are working that you don’t care. Healthy growth
is possible only if ALL the members are doing their part. A body is healthy
when all the parts of the body are healthy and functioning well. Likewise, a
healthy church is one in which all the members are working as one (1
Corinthians 12:12-27).
The
tribes of Reuben and Gad chose not to live in Canaan. They were only on the
border land. The land they chose was at the outskirt of that very beautiful
land of Canaan. They found the land they had chosen was good enough; they
should have ventured inwards and see the Promised Land. But they chose to
settle down at “Borderland.”
Likewise, we can have Christians who choose to dwell in
Borderland. These are the Christians who want to do the minimum and go to
heaven. But God wants us to dwell in Canaan. He wants us to cross over the
Jordan River and join our brethren who are dwelling in Canaan. There, waiting
for us, is a huge crowd of faithful believers consisting of Abraham, Isaac,
Paul, Peter, John, Ruth, Mary and those whom we knew who had gone over before
us. To enter Canaan we have to cross Jordan.
Borderland
Christians could suffer the same fate as Lot. Lot at first dwelled on the
beautiful plain OUTSIDE Sodom. When we read of him again, he was INSIDE Sodom.
Borderland may look like Promised Land but it is not Promised Land. Borderland
Christians need to cross over Jordan and dwell in the Promised Land.
God
wants you to dwell in heaven, the true Promised Land. To enter the Promised
Land, you cannot sit here while your brethren are busy making their way
inwards; you have to follow them. You have to cross the Jordan River.
God
wants you to be in Beulah Land, not Border Land. Beulah means married. It is
used in Isaiah 62:4 metaphorically as the name of Judea: "Thy land
shall be married," i.e., favoured and blessed of the Lord. Are you
dwelling in Beulah Land?
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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