Good Morning Friends,
“Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the
Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh and said to them, ‘You have done all
that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in
everything I commanded. For a long time now -- to this very day -- you have not
deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave
you. Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as he promised,
return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on
the other side of the Jordan.’” (Joshua 22:1-4)
The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe
of Manasseh were given land on the east side of the Jordan River. They didn’t
have to cross the Jordan with the rest of the people of Israel when they moved
across to conquer Canaan. But they did!
They didn’t have to stay with the people of
Israel through all the battles that were required to conquer Canaan. But they
did!
They could have stayed on the east side of
the Jordan and enjoyed peace in their own land. But they didn’t rest in their
land until their brothers could rest in their own.
These tribes provide a good example of what
unity and brotherhood mean. They were unwilling to enjoy what God had given to
them until the rest of the people could enjoy their God-given land. They cast
their lots with their brothers and stayed with them to help.
Paul told the Romans to, “Rejoice with those
who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) The principle is that
we aren’t just to be interested in what is happening in our own lives. What is
happening in our brothers’ lives should affect us, too.
Paul told the Philippians, “Each of you
should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others.” (Philippians 2:4)
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were
concerned about the interests of all the people of Israel. How does your life
reflect your interest in what is happening in the lives of those around you?
His, by Grace,
Steve
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