LifeLink Devotions for Monday, November 25, 2024

As Moses addresses the nation of Israel prior to his death, he instructs all the tribes to be united in their possession of the Promised Land. But two tribes resist going in and want to have land provided for them on the east side of the Jordan River.  Moses agrees but challenges them to join in helping the other tribes conquer their land. Here’s how Moses explains it in Numbers 32:20-24.

Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this – if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, and if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out before him – then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free from your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the LORD. But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”

There are two primary lessons I want to share today and tomorrow from this story.   

First, as the Israelites drew closer to the place and time of their entrance into the Promised Land, several of the tribes decided together that they liked the land of the Midianites that they had just conquered. Based on the size of the flocks and herds that they captured in the conquest, this was obviously a productive land for raising sheep and cattle. These two-and-a-half tribes looked at their present situation and decided that what they had right now was the best they could ever hope for, and asked for permission to make this territory their land.

When they were confronted with the possibility that fear had overtaken them and that they were about to refuse God’s promise as their fathers had 40 years earlier, they proved their commitment to the nation and to God by volunteering to send their fighting men with the rest of the nation’s army to go and conquer Canaan. Not only that, they volunteered to be the front lines of the army in all of the conquest. Even though they were choosing to come back and live in the present reality no matter what the new land showed them, they wholeheartedly committed themselves to accomplishing God’s purpose for the sake of the whole nation.

That is the challenge for all of us in our church ministry.  Maybe you have trouble seeing the benefit to moving ahead by faith with a new ministry or a new building. You would prefer to stay right where you are until we have more sure evidence of God’s provision and plan. Maybe God is using you to help the rest of the people reevaluate their direction and decisions. But maybe you need a greater measure of faith to step out of your comfort zones and expand the spiritual sphere of influence of your church. Are you holding back others from conquering territory in your church, or are you joining them to expand the Kingdom of God. Are you prepared to come to the front of the line in support of where God may be taking you.

These are critical times for the church, and Jesus Christ our King does not call us to strengthen our comfort zones but rather to expand our influence. Are you holding back your church from new ministry because of your lack of faith in God’s promises, or are you volunteering to be on the front line of conquering new territory for the King?

Pastor John