Don't Let the Blessings Keep You Out

Numbers 32:1–5 (ESV) Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock. 2 So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the congregation, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the land that the Lord struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 5 And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.”

The slaves of Egypt have come a long way. They are no longer poverty stricken. They have experienced a few sizable victories over powerful peoples. They have seen God's blessings for obedience. Now they face a different temptation altogether. The temptation to stand pat where they are instead of following the Word of the Lord to fight and conquer for what He promised them. 

The chapter begins with the large increase of flocks being mentioned in the possession of Reuben and Gad. They had become wealthy and started to realize they could make a good living where they were. So they come to Moses to appeal for their own sake. They want to stay on the East side of the Jordan so that their industry can grow larger.

The quest to gain wealth is not necessarily a bad thing. But it becomes a terrible thing when it leads you to laziness and apathy. If we are seeking wealth so that all might go well with us while others struggle on in their own work, we are sinning before the Lord. Seeking our own comfort is completely counter to the calling and character of Christ. Here, Reuben and Gad have been caught allured by the very prosperity God enabled them to obtain.

Moses rebukes them forcibly. This is sin. They cannot sit idly by while their brothers fight for the Promised Land. This action would be worse than the unbelief of the earlier generation.
Numbers 32:14–15 (ESV) And behold, you have risen in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel! 15 For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people.”

You consider which might be worse. To disbelieve God is able to bless you OR to stop serving God because He has blessed you? I have a hard time not saying the later is far worse than the former.

In America, which is so prosperous, many do not realize that their great sin is not that of disbelief of the earlier generation. It is quiet apathy of the conquest generation. There is only one more tempting place than the low points of one's life. It is the high points. It is when blessings overflow. Moses can see what's in their heart and a stern rebuke comes quickly. 

Preachers should do this more often with the comfortable people of their congregations. I think of Paul's admonition to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17. Consider the strong words Paul gives him for the wealthy and comfortable in his congregation: "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share"  1 Timothy 6:17-18.

Charge the rich. In other words, sternly tell them not to let their temporary success lead to long-term recess. God does not bless people simply for their own benefit. The Abrahamic covenant was made so that all nations might be blessed THROUGH the Israelites. God blesses with purpose. 

Thankfully, after having received their rebuke, the tribes repent quickly and commit to go fight with their brothers for the land... 

Numbers 32:26–27 (ESV) Our little ones, our wives, our livestock, and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead, 27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord orders.”

There is a powerful lesson here for the Church. The Church is not about you. The Church is not simply here to make you comfortable and happy. You are the Church and you are here for the Church! You are here to fight for and with and on behalf of other members of God's family. 

What's interesting about Numbers 32 is that we often quote verse 23 from it but do not realize this context from which it comes:

Numbers 32:23 (ESV) But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.

This is not referring to some gross secret sin of the Gadites and Reubenites. It is referring to brotherly apathy. It is referring to NOT FIGHTING for those in the faith that you are connected to. The "sin" here mentioned is the sin of thinking only of one's wellbeing and believing that is okay with God. Moses says, you sin when you think only of yourself. That sin will find you out. The inference may very well mean they will be "out" of their blessings entirely. 

Christianity is a calling to be connected to God AS WELL as to be connected to His people. John will tell us we cannot say we love God and hate our brother. Gad and Reuben learned this fast and turned the right way. Ultimately, their sin and repentance lead to a larger portion of land for the people of Israel. We too may let earthly blessings get our eyes off the purposes of God. But if we will repent, He has a way of bringing much good out of the bad we intended.