Numbers 32 is an interesting chapter in the way people think. The tribes of Gad and Reuben approach Moses and basically tell him they don’t want to enter the Promised Land. For forty years they have all been wandering in the desert and now, as they are a stones throw away, they decide they want to stay where they are and not take their people across the river to claim what God has promised them. Oh my, why are people like that? Why am I like that? They have endured a rough journey. God has been faithful in every way. He has given them all He has promised and now, on the cusp of getting a home in a land “flowing with milk and honey”, they get cold feet. Moses responds by reminding them that it is behavior like that which caused their 40 year journey. You may remember that when he sent the spies out originally to see about this land, they came back and 10 of them said no go. Only Caleb and Joshua said they should proceed. The rest “took one look and quit”. God was angry and punished all that were alive with the reality that they would never make it to the goal. Moses is not interested in having any more punishment from God for disobedience to his plan.
He does explain why Caleb and Joshua found favor with God. Scripture tells us “they followed me – their hearts were in it”. That describes the kind of relationship God desires from us. Committed….willing to follow Him wherever He sends us…..wholehearted and totally sold out for Him. God is not interested in a half hearted believer. In fact His response to lukewarm believers is not friendly at all. In Revelations scripture says He will “spew them out”. Moses warns Gad and Reuben that “if you won’t follow Him, He’ll do it again” referring to the destruction that happened when they failed to follow Him last time. Moses goes so far as to call that kind of life, not being obedient and sold out to God and His plan, as sin. And he tells them that “your sin will track you down”. I don’t think we really understand just how seriously God takes our life and actions. How we live does matter to Him. How we follow is important. God is paying attention. The tribes of Gad and Reuben did finally get their way by first committing to do all that God expected in helping the people of Israel take the Promised Land as their own. They then still intend to go back to the other side of the Jordan to settle, outside the Promised Land. Makes no sense to me, but comfort seems to be their motivation more than receiving God’s gift. Are you missing what God intends for your life?
