Day 69

Canaan, the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey, is now in sight. The Isreaelites have been wandering in the desert for roughly 80 years. Just when they are about to cross the Jordan River and overtake Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad approach Moses and request that they inhabit the land of Gilead instead!

First off, I would think Moses would be a little confused. And second, he has a great point in chapter 32 verse 6 and 7, "Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here? Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the Lord has given them?"

Moses is asking what about the rest of the tribes? Are you going to abandon them? If you stay here, other tribes might want to take the easy way out and just find somewhere else to go. But God promised them this land. By inhabiting somewhere else, it is like refusing the promise of God.

So the people of Reuben and Gad reply in verses 16 and 17, "We will build sheepfolds here four our livestock, and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the poeple of Israel, until we have brought them to their place."

They still provide their support for the rest of the tribes of Israel. I love Moses's response. He says if you do not cross the Jordan River and fight with us, "...be sure your sin will find you out." (Thanks Bert and Lisa) (verse 23) Or in other words, if you do not keep your promise, God will punish you.

I wonder how often I settle for something safe and easy, rather than hanging on for the next little while when God's great promise is just about given to us like the tribes of Reuben and Gad. I heard a saying that "the most amazing blessings come when you just hang on for the last half hour." Quite often, I fail to hang on that last half hour. I will pray for strength and faith to make it that last stretch until true blessings are given.