Mar 19 Borderline Living.

Mar 19

Border Line Living

Nu 32:1 …and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle…

The verse for today is from a time just before the Israelites crossed Jordan to fight for their promised land. When they came near the land of Gilead and Bashan a couple tribes of Israel saw the land was good for cattle and they had lots of cattle. I can just imagine a bunch of guys having the equivalent of donuts and coffee, sitting around and discussing the politics of the day. Somehow the idea of staying where they were took hold. So, the men of the tribes of Gad and Reuben approached Moses with the idea that they would be happy to dwell on the border of the Promised Land, east of the Jordan River.

I am sure these men had seen Moses hot under the collar before. He was not known for having an even disposition. That day was no exception. Moses, was angry with them for a bunch of reasons. 

Nu 32:7 And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?

Moses told them they would discourage the other tribes from fighting to gain the Promised Land. Why should they go through the hardship of having to fight to conquer the land across Jordan when two tribes were building houses and developing their farms.

Then he reminded them of the problem their fathers had created years ago. Moses had sent 12 spies into the land and ten had come back and discouraged the people. How could they have forgotten that lesson?

Nu 32:8 Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from

Kadeshbarnea to see the land.

He shamed them further when he suggested they just wanted their portion so they could avoid the coming battles.

Nu 32:6 And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?

The men who came to Moses must have discussed how Moses would react.

“Levi, Moses will never agree to that.”

“I know that Ben. So we will tell him we will help everyone fight for their land before we come back home.”
“Sure, sure Levi. So I have to drag all my family and herds all over the place during a war that will last who knows how long?”
“No Ben, we can build cities and places for our families and herds and then go fight with the other tribes. What do you think?”
“OK, let’s give it a shot. But you do the talking. I don’t want Moses screaming in my face”

So they did and Moses agreed with that plan.

Nu 32:16 ¶ And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

The following verses give more details. They would go and fight. They would not return to their homes until the land was conquered. They would not expect any inheritance from the lands over Jordan.

In verses 20-22 Moses carefully details all that they have agreed to do. He reviewed the terms of their verbal contract. Then Moses reminds them that if they do not abide by the contract they have agreed to, things will not go well for them.

Nu 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.   

So where is the lesson for us today. They saw a great place to raise cattle, asked Moses if they could have it and after some negotiations, he agreed. Well there was a little problem. Herein is our lesson.

Nu 34:12 And the border shall go down to Jordan…

In Numbers 34 we find a lengthy description of the borders of the land that God would give to the nation of Israel. The section that describes the eastern border included the description above. The eastern border would be the Jordan river. But two and a half tribes chose to stay outside that border, across the eastern boundary.

I have searched to find anywhere in the Bible it says that the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh were told to settle outside the eastern border of the Promised Land. I think they chose to settle because the land was pleasant to the eyes. I do not read anywhere it was under the direction of the LORD. I read several places that Moses let them settle there.

It was a great place for cattle, but maybe not so good for God’s chosen. You can read in chapter 32 that they built lots of cities but you do not read they built any alters to the Lord or destroyed the sites for idol worship. But, there were riches, and easy living there. And only 40% of the people were able bodied soldiers and would have to leave to fight for the promised land. The two and a half tribes that settled here preferred living on the border. They had come out (of Egypt) but did not go in. They wanted what they saw instead of what God had promised them.

Our churches suffer from the same mentality today. There are far too many who have accepted Christ and come out of the world, but do not want to settle in the place of promise. They are borderline Christians. They hate the idea of Hell, and will do what it takes to avoid it. But they do not love God enough to trust him and his promises. They count the cost of being what God wants them to be and have decided they do not want to give up what they see, for what they cannot see. They prefer to walk by sight, not by faith. They are not bad people. They are not backsliders. They are Sunday Christians. These are people whose hearts are warm toward Christ. Yes they could be hotter but at least they are not cold hearted. Isn’t that enough? 

Re 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.