Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers chapter 32.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2032&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had an exceedingly large number of livestock.  So when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that it was indeed a place suitable for livestock, the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came and spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon, the land which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.”  They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan.”

But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?  Now why are you discouraging the sons of Israel from crossing over into the land which the LORD has given them?  This is what your fathers did 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 sons of Israel so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them.  …

Then they came near to him and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;  but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.  We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance.  For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.”

So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war, and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him, and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a 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.  Build yourselves cities for your little ones, and sheepfolds for your sheep, and do what you have promised.”

The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do just as my lord commands.  Our little ones, our wives, our livestock and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead;  while your servants, everyone who is armed for war, will cross over in the presence of the LORD to battle, just as my lord says.”  Numbers 32:1-9 and 16-27.

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As highlighted above, the lesson that we can learn from Moses is the importance of not discouraging others.  Instead, we need to encourage one another and build them up.

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11.