FAITH CAPSULE: Give yourself to pleasing God, be committed and remain connected.

Numbers 32

Commitment is to bind to law or to consign to a position. In life, every time we consigned to others negative opinion we withdraw our commitment to engage that which is positive. As an acclaimed believer do you compromise what God commanded or you are committed to His command?  The Israelites could not commit to God’s promise when they withdraw to that which they considered convenient.
The Children of Gad and Reuben were set to settle for East side of the Jordan when God wanted them to cross the Jordan and establish them. They wanted the convenience of East side of the Jordan.
Numbers 32: 1-7 documented, “Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock,  the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, the country which the Lord defeated before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.”  Therefore they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.” And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?  Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them?” God promised land that flows with milk and honey but they wanted to settle for land with milk. The bible stated it that the children of Gad had a great multitude of livestock and when they recognized that the region was good for livestock (the source of milk) their commitment to go forward and engage the full promise of God for the land with milk honey suffered.
The request of the children of Gad was a discouragement to their brethren from going forward. Moses compared the request to same as the spy’s report at Kadesh Barnea when the children of Israel were discouraged (except for Caleb and Joshua). The discouragement led to complaint and they were terminated in the wilderness. In that action God’s anger was provoked. (Numbers 32:10-12) One that is not committed cannot continue in the journey of life where challenges constantly challenge. Commitment is not convenient, it is a sacrifice. One that is not committed will compromise the word of God. Also, one that is not committed to the word of God will doubt, doubt breeds fear and fear relegates faith. The Bible says without faith God is not pleased. (Hebrews 11:6) Give yourself to pleasing God, be committed and remain connected.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be committed to God.