The people of Reuben and Gad decide that their land is not
on the other side of the Jordan with the rest of their brethren. They decided that the land they had already
conquered was a good place to raise livestock and that they were content with
this place. Moses requires them to go
before, at the head of the army, into the Land, to fight for the land of the
other tribes, and to secure the possession of it, before they can return and
settle the land they chose. They will
leave behind the women and children in this place after they have fortified the
cities, and they agree that it is indeed right to assist in the conquest of the
land.
Jesus excoriates the other rabbis of the day by saying that
they preach but don’t even practice their own preaching. He is no fan of the rabbis, who have replaced
the priestly class as the religious leaders in many ways. The priests remain important but the rabbis
have taken an increasing role among the people since the exile and return to
the Land. In the exile there were no
sacrifice, just as there is not today for sacrifices can only take place in the
Temple. During that time, the rabbinic
scribes arose to keep the people connected to God through the Word. The priests were more liturgists than teacher. The rabbis had the Word of God and so the
people clung to the Word and the hope it held out even when sacrifice was not
possible. Leaders must lead, they must
go first, just as Jesus did in all things, He didn’t simply teach, He practiced
what He taught. He also makes possible
the direct rabbinic relationship with God and the relationship of Father with
the giver of the Law, they need and should not have earthly masters.
Paul knows that the work of salvation, from beginning to
end, is a work of God. He knew us in
advance, called us, gave us His Spirit to save us, and continues to indwell
those whom He has chosen so that we might persevere in the work that He
began. The indwelling of the Spirit is
important, as it enables us to know Him and to follow Him, to see and hear Him,
and to cooperate with the divine will for our lives. Prayer, fasting, immersing ourselves in the
Word, and obedience to what He commands, are the methods by which we access the
Spirit in our lives. The more you go
with Him, the more you know Him and love Him.
It is important that Christians not become settlers in this life, that
we continue to work for the spread of the kingdom. We have been given a great gift but, like the
men of Reuben and Gad, we must continue to fight for those who have not yet
received their inheritance.
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