Shall Your Brethren Go To War
While You Sit Here?
Numbers 32:6 “But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here?”
Prior to Israel’s occupation of the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle in the land east of the Jordan. Their request and Moses’ response are found in Num 32:1-23, and have practical application to our service in the church today.
Let’s begin our study with a review of the historical account in Numbers 32. Ruben and Gad express their desire as they were two tribes with much livestock - Num 32:1a “Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock.” They saw that the land of Jazer and Gilead (the Transjordan) was good for livestock - Num 32:1b “And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.” So they requested to be given the land as their possession, and not taken over the Jordan river with the rest of Israel - Num 32:2-5 “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, "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, the land that the LORD struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock." 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."’
Moses responds, “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?” - Num 32:6. Shall they be at ease, while their brethren must fight? Was it not with their brethren’s help that the land they desire is now available? How Moses viewed their request.... They would discourage their brethren - Num 32:7 “Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?” They would be no different than the ten spies who discouraged Israel by their report - Num 32:8-9 “Your fathers did this, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land that the LORD had given them.” Who aroused God’s anger against them - Num 32:10-13 “And the LORD's anger was kindled on that day, and he swore, saying, 'Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.' And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone.” They would be a brood of sinful men, and increase God’s anger against Israel – Num 32:14 “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!” They would in essence destroy God’s people! - Num 32:15 “For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people."’
An agreement is reached. Reuben and Gad offer to send their soldiers to help possess the Promised Land - Num 32:16-19 “Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east."’ Moses agrees, but with a stern warning - Num 32:20-23 “So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.”’ The land they desire will be theirs if they carry through with their offer. But if they don’t keep their agreement they will have sinned against the Lord! To be sure their sin will find them out!
In 1 Co 10:11 we are told that what happened to Israel serves as examples to us, and were written for our admonition. With this in mind, let’s consider the following application for us today. Like Israel, we are at war. A spiritual war, to be sure - 2 Co 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” A war against Satan, and the spiritual forces of wickedness - Ep 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” The Lord’s army (the church) fights this battle as her members serve in such areas as evangelism, edification, and benevolence.
Much has been done up to the present. Many have stood for the truth in the past. Coming out of denominationalism. Standing firm against innovations which would lead to apostasy. Making it possible for us today to know the truth of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ and to worship God in spirit and truth. To enjoy the blessings of God’s family. But the war wages on! Every thought must be brought captive to Christ - 2 Co 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” We must continue to stand strong against the wiles of the devil - Ep 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Shall our brethren go to war while we sit here? By lettings others do the work of the Lord’s army? Shall we just sit, enjoying the efforts of others? The efforts of those who labored in the past? The efforts of those who labor now, making it possible for us to enjoy the blessings of fellowship and worship? -- If not actively involved in some phase of the Lord’s work, that is exactly what we are doing!
If we are sitting, what is the effect? We discourage our brethren! - Num 32:7 “Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?” We discourage our brethren who often must carry the burden alone; who easily get “burned out” trying to do it all. Lack of involvement is just as detrimental as active opposition! The slothful is a brother to him who destroys - Pro 18:9 “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” If we do not gather, then we scatter; there is no neutral ground! - Mt 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” -- Like just sitting in a wagon, instead of pulling or pushing, we hinder its progress!
What will be the end result? We will have sinned against the Lord! - Num 32:23a “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD,” For what one does or doesn’t do for the church, it affects Christ! As Paul learned when he persecuted the church - Ac 9:1-5 “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Yes, when we sin against the brethren, we sin against Christ! - 1 Co 8:12 “Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.” Be sure that our sin will find us out! It will come out in the growth of the congregation. Proper growth is possible only if ALL are doing their part - Ep 4:15-16 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Growth may occur with inactive members, but the growth will be stunted, retarded, handicapped! It will come out on the Day of Judgment! When we have to answer for our laziness! Remember the parable of The Talents? - cf. Mt 26:24-30.
When Reuben and Gad realized the effect of sitting while their brethren went to war, they immediately made arrangements to do their part.... Moses was even patient with them, allowing them time to care for their families - Num 32:24. They in turn promised to do their part in going to war - Num 32:25-27 -- Certainly we can be patient in helping our brethren prepare for “war”, if need be. But may we all determine not to rest until the work is done, by resolving to be more diligent in the spiritual battle we face! Resolving to be more active in whatever area of service for which we are best suited! Let your brethren know that you desire to serve, and not just sit while others work! Are you in the army of Christ, actively engaged in the service of His kingdom?
While You Sit Here?
Numbers 32:6 “But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here?”
Prior to Israel’s occupation of the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle in the land east of the Jordan. Their request and Moses’ response are found in Num 32:1-23, and have practical application to our service in the church today.
Let’s begin our study with a review of the historical account in Numbers 32. Ruben and Gad express their desire as they were two tribes with much livestock - Num 32:1a “Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock.” They saw that the land of Jazer and Gilead (the Transjordan) was good for livestock - Num 32:1b “And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.” So they requested to be given the land as their possession, and not taken over the Jordan river with the rest of Israel - Num 32:2-5 “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, "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, the land that the LORD struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock." 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."’
Moses responds, “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?” - Num 32:6. Shall they be at ease, while their brethren must fight? Was it not with their brethren’s help that the land they desire is now available? How Moses viewed their request.... They would discourage their brethren - Num 32:7 “Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?” They would be no different than the ten spies who discouraged Israel by their report - Num 32:8-9 “Your fathers did this, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land that the LORD had given them.” Who aroused God’s anger against them - Num 32:10-13 “And the LORD's anger was kindled on that day, and he swore, saying, 'Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.' And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone.” They would be a brood of sinful men, and increase God’s anger against Israel – Num 32:14 “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!” They would in essence destroy God’s people! - Num 32:15 “For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people."’
An agreement is reached. Reuben and Gad offer to send their soldiers to help possess the Promised Land - Num 32:16-19 “Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east."’ Moses agrees, but with a stern warning - Num 32:20-23 “So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.”’ The land they desire will be theirs if they carry through with their offer. But if they don’t keep their agreement they will have sinned against the Lord! To be sure their sin will find them out!
In 1 Co 10:11 we are told that what happened to Israel serves as examples to us, and were written for our admonition. With this in mind, let’s consider the following application for us today. Like Israel, we are at war. A spiritual war, to be sure - 2 Co 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” A war against Satan, and the spiritual forces of wickedness - Ep 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” The Lord’s army (the church) fights this battle as her members serve in such areas as evangelism, edification, and benevolence.
Much has been done up to the present. Many have stood for the truth in the past. Coming out of denominationalism. Standing firm against innovations which would lead to apostasy. Making it possible for us today to know the truth of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ and to worship God in spirit and truth. To enjoy the blessings of God’s family. But the war wages on! Every thought must be brought captive to Christ - 2 Co 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” We must continue to stand strong against the wiles of the devil - Ep 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Shall our brethren go to war while we sit here? By lettings others do the work of the Lord’s army? Shall we just sit, enjoying the efforts of others? The efforts of those who labored in the past? The efforts of those who labor now, making it possible for us to enjoy the blessings of fellowship and worship? -- If not actively involved in some phase of the Lord’s work, that is exactly what we are doing!
If we are sitting, what is the effect? We discourage our brethren! - Num 32:7 “Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?” We discourage our brethren who often must carry the burden alone; who easily get “burned out” trying to do it all. Lack of involvement is just as detrimental as active opposition! The slothful is a brother to him who destroys - Pro 18:9 “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” If we do not gather, then we scatter; there is no neutral ground! - Mt 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” -- Like just sitting in a wagon, instead of pulling or pushing, we hinder its progress!
What will be the end result? We will have sinned against the Lord! - Num 32:23a “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD,” For what one does or doesn’t do for the church, it affects Christ! As Paul learned when he persecuted the church - Ac 9:1-5 “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Yes, when we sin against the brethren, we sin against Christ! - 1 Co 8:12 “Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.” Be sure that our sin will find us out! It will come out in the growth of the congregation. Proper growth is possible only if ALL are doing their part - Ep 4:15-16 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Growth may occur with inactive members, but the growth will be stunted, retarded, handicapped! It will come out on the Day of Judgment! When we have to answer for our laziness! Remember the parable of The Talents? - cf. Mt 26:24-30.
When Reuben and Gad realized the effect of sitting while their brethren went to war, they immediately made arrangements to do their part.... Moses was even patient with them, allowing them time to care for their families - Num 32:24. They in turn promised to do their part in going to war - Num 32:25-27 -- Certainly we can be patient in helping our brethren prepare for “war”, if need be. But may we all determine not to rest until the work is done, by resolving to be more diligent in the spiritual battle we face! Resolving to be more active in whatever area of service for which we are best suited! Let your brethren know that you desire to serve, and not just sit while others work! Are you in the army of Christ, actively engaged in the service of His kingdom?
