May 18 2024

Saturday May 18

Borderline Christians

Joshua 1:12-15

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying,

13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.'

14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them,

15 until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

Life is full of challenges! No sooner than God called and commissioned Joshua to take the place of the great Moses and lead the people of Israel into the Promise Land, there was an issue with three of the tribes. We must face the reality that the Christian life is not a bed of roses but is a time of troubles, trials, temptations, testing, and tribulation. Jesus had warned His disciples in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

After Joshua personally been encouraged by the LORD in verses 1-9, and he had encouraged the leaders and officers of the people, he had a special word for the two and a half tribes that lived on the other side of Jordan and had already received their inheritance (Numbers 32). He reminded them of Moses' words of instruction and warning (Deut. 3:12-20) and urged them to keep the promise they had made.

Joshua was concerned that Israel be a united people in conquering the land and in worshiping the Lord. The two and a half tribes did keep their promise to help conquer the land, but they still created a problem for Joshua and Israel because they lived on the other side of the Jordan (Josh. 22).

In the nation of Israel, it was the able men twenty years and older who went out to war (Numbers 1:3); and the record shows that the two and a half tribes had 136,930 men available (Numbers 26:7, 18, 34). But only 40,000 men actually crossed the Jordan and fought in the Promised Land (Joshua 4:13). The rest of the recruits stayed to protect the women and children in the cities the tribes had taken in the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead (Numbers 32:1-5,16-19). When the soldiers returned home, they shared the spoils of war with their brothers (Joshua 22:6-8).

It was a concession on Moses' part to allow the two and a half tribes to live outside the Promised Land. The tribes liked the land there because it was "a place for cattle" (Numbers 32:1, 4, 16). Apparently their first concern was making a living, not making a life. They would rather have big flocks and herds than dwell with their brothers and sisters in the inheritance God had given them.

When Moses gave in to their request to stay on the east side of the Jordan, he had also warned them that if they didn’t keep their promise to send their men of war ahead the army into the Promise Land, God would hold them accountable. Numbers 32:23: “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.”

These three tribes were far from the place of worship and had to erect a special monument to remind their children that they were citizens of Israel (Joshua 22:10-34). They represent the many "borderline believers" in the church today who get close to the inheritance, but never quite claim it, no matter how successful they may seem to be. They are willing to serve the Lord and help their brethren for a time; but when their appointed job is finished, they head for home to do what they want to do.

May the Lord give us grace today not to be “borderline Christians” but be fully committed followers of Jesus Christ who are courageous enough to stand up for the truth in a corrupt and evil culture!

God bless!