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The Daily Word of Righteousness
God or Cattle?, #5
And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord hath given them? (Numbers 32:7).
Moses was concerned with the effect the request of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh would have on the remainder of the Israelites.
It requires every bit of dedication we can summon in order to keep pressing forward in the pursuit of the Kingdom of God. Whenever a believer chooses to be content with a partial entrance into the Kingdom of God, he influences those around him to also become content with a partial entrance into the Kingdom of God.
When we keep on giving ourselves wholly to the things of Christ, many people around us are encouraged and strengthened. If they see us grow careless their determination is weakened. The righteous are as a light that will increase in brightness until the fullness of the Day of the Lord is here. But one sinner destroys much good.
No fully dedicated saint marches alone. A great train of people are inspired to march along with him.
The fearfulness and unbelief of the ten spies who were sent from Kadesh-Barnea infected the entire camp of Israel. All became fearful and unbelieving and the judgment of God fell on the congregation as a result.
The attitude of living for ourselves without intense commitment to the worldwide work of the Kingdom of God affects everyone with whom we come in contact. Those who are striving to take the Kingdom are not supported by our attitude, while the careless and lukewarm take pleasure in knowing they are not the only ones who are taking their ease in the world.
Speaking to these cattle lovers Moses exclaimed:
And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord toward Israel. (Numbers 32:14)
We may have found exactly what we think we want in the Lord. But if we do not leave it for now and enter with a whole heart into the work of the Kingdom, into the battles of the Lord, we are committing sin, and our sin of rebellion against the Lord will be revealed in the Day of Christ.
But if ye will not do so [take part in the warfare with your brothers], behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)
One of the greatest sins any Christian can commit is the sin of neglecting to press into the inheritance, into the rest of God. If we neglect our salvation, if we are busy with marrying and buying and selling when the King needs us for His business, then we surely will be punished severely in the Day of the Lord.
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)
"How shall we escape?"
The Hebrew Christians had made an excellent start in the Lord. They had suffered persecution because they had associated themselves with the Apostles (Hebrews 10:32-34).
Now they were losing interest and were not pressing forward into the fullness of the inheritance. Evidently their "cattle" were demanding their attention.
To be continued.