Jump Start # 3951
Numbers 32:6-7 “But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, ‘Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here? Now why are you discouraging the sons of Israel from crossing over into the land which the Lord has given them?’”
What a powerful lesson that is set before us in these verses. Israel is getting close to the promise land. How the property is going to be divided up is the topic of concern. Representatives from Gad and Reuben approach Moses. They have a lot of livestock. And the area before the Jordan River is perfect to raise their animals. Rather than crossing the Jordan and going into the promise land, they want to stay on the other side of the river. Seems fair and logical. Our verse is Moses’ response. He wasn’t pleased with the idea.
To Moses, this would discourage the rest of the nation. Moses went on to compare this to the negative report from the ten spies. That report melted the hearts of Israel. But do you notice a difference? The ten spies talked about fortified cities, giants and people stronger than Israel. The sons of Gad and Reuben said nothing negative. They just wanted to remain in the area which was good for the livestock. To Moses, “while you sit here” is discouraging to the nation. The nation is going to fight and conquer the land. While this is going on, you are “sitting here.”
May we learn from this?
First, discouragement comes in many flavors and details. One doesn’t have to say anything negative to be discouraging. The people of Gad might respond, “What did we do? We didn’t say anything?” To which, the proper reply would have been, “we fought and you sat.” We journeyed and you stayed. We worked and you did nothing.
So, this is what it looks like today. The elders plan a special series of lessons. Maybe it’s during the week. Maybe it’s a one day on a Saturday. But, you don’t come. You have plans. You don’t feel like it. You have “more important” things to do. You don’t trash talk it. You know it was helpful for those who come. But, you sat at home when others came. The crowd is small. The visiting preacher believes he is the reason. He’s discouraged. The elders are discouraged. They have tried to build up your faith and feed you, but you won’t come. After it’s all over, some talk about what a disappointing weekend it was. What happened? Gad sat while the nation moved on.
Second, it’s hard to recover from discouragement. When you are on a losing team, week after week is another loss, it’s hard to get prepared to play yet another game. It’s hard to come home at the end of the day when the marriage isn’t strong and healthy. It’s hard to get back up in the pulpit when people in the audience do not want to be there.
Discouragement tends to spread, like mold on a wall. It doesn’t just go away magically. Steps have to be taken to pump life back into that faith. Some do not want to do any more than what is required. Nothing extra. Nothing special. Do what is required then I can go about my life. Such shallow faith won’t do well in the storms of life. Such shallow faith won’t convince anyone to come to Christ. Such shallow faith will eventually wither up and die.
How does one turn the tide of discouragement? It must start within each of us personally. Passionate worship. Deep prayers. Longing to be with one another. Then talking that up. Being excited about the Lord. Telling others. Inviting others.
Even with that some won’t change. Some have allowed the concrete to dry around their faith and they aren’t changing, even if the Lord was coming to speak on a Friday night. Nope. Not happening.
Moses allowed Gad and Reuben to have the land they wanted but they were to come and be part of Israel. They were to help Israel fight and get the land. With that condition, discouragement went away. With that condition hope was restored.
Third, it is hard to understand how some can sit around while others do the work. It’s a common thing in most organizations. You see this at work. You see this in little league. You see this in school events. Scouts are this way. Sadly, it’s this way in many congregations. Twenty percent do all the work and eighty percent enjoy the benefits.
May the Lord help us rise to our feet and get busy in the work of the kingdom. Don’t be one who sits around. Don’t be a discourager. We need resurrections, not from the grave, but from the pews. Busy in the kingdom. Busy encouraging. Busy working hand in hand with our brethren.
Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here? What a question. What a statement.
Roger