FAITH CAPSULE: As your life journey continues by His grace be committed to His word.
Numbers 32
Giving self to a convenient location will dislocate commitment in the life of man from getting to the center of divine assignment.
The Israelites could not commit to God’s promise for their life when they considered to remain at a convenient location of their choice. 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. The children of Gad and children of Reuben’s choice of convenience was priority above their commitment to God’s promise for their life. Man’s priority above God’s promise can relocate man from outside of God’s divine assignment for man.
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 a land that flows with milk and honey, but the children of Gad and children of Reuben wanted to settle for land with milk.
The Bible stated that the children of Gad had a great multitude of livestock. 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 and honey was voided.
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) In life, man that is not committed to God will commit to complaint and not arrive at God’s promise.
Commitment is not convenient, it is a sacrifice. One that is not committed will compromise the word of God. Discipline lines with commitment while doubt lines against commitment. With doubt, fear rises to relegate faith. In the journey of life, be committed to God and remain connected to the promise of God.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of God for you to be committed to God’s word.