To Stay or to Go

O. T. #361 "To Stay or to Go"
Sept. 10, 2014
Numbers 32-Part 3
We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan my be ours.   Numbers 32:32

LET IT GLOW

I may have already shared our dilemma-to stay in our home town and home church, near family, or go away to college for the ministry. My husband waited too long to make the decision to go and the fall semester began. Finally, I started packing, after enduring much stuff due to this waiting around. He agreed that we must step out on faith and follow God's leading to a particular Baptist college located 6 hours from our family. So we made the needed preparations, said our good byes, then moved our stuff and our two preschoolers with us. God was faithful in providing us a house to rent near campus, me a job, him with classes and work study. Then the end of the semester came and the final tuition payment had to be paid before my husband could take finals. God provided. We were so blessed and taken care of by our heavenly Father. We went to do His will and His will went before us. We experienced God's provisions and working in so many wonderful ways. Had we stayed instead of going, we would have missed out on them all. Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.
Two tribes of Israel had the same dilemma.

We have discussed how the two tribes of Gad and Reuben request permission for them to stay on the east side of the Jordan River and not cross over whenever the rest of the Israelites do.  Moses included some stipulations if they were going to stay instead of go. These were agree upon, with the warning that if they do not do so, they would be sinning against the LORD, and their sins would find them out. Moses was urging them to carefully and completely fulfill their obligations.

The two tribes committed themselves to provide their warriors for the conquest of the land. Non-participation would be sin and God would certainly find and judge the tribes for their sin. (MacArthur)

How seriously do we take our agreements we make with others? How about our commitments with God? Is it a lie if we don't do what we say we will do, keep our agreements, commitments? A lie is a sin. I have not considered this before now.


LET IT GROW

The tribe of Manasseh wasted no time in joining the two tribes of Gad and Reuben once their agreement was made. (2 Kings 17) All three joined together in seeking land in that territory. From the Amorites Manasseh took Gilead (verse 39).

Verses 39-42 indicate that Manasseh conquered cities not yet taken and settled in the northern area of Gilead. (MacArthur)

As I said before, the Assyrian invasion of Israel, in 732 B.C., began with the captivity of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (1 Chron. 5:26).

To stay or go. Are we often confronted with that dilemma? There are times that our heart may say one and the Lord says the other. To which will we listen?


LET IT GO

...of the things which hold me back from going where and when God leads me to fulfill His purpose.

Whenever God tells me to stay, then stay where He placed me; wherever He says to go, then go.

Keep my focus and eyes on Jesus and ears open to His voice.

Live by faith, not by sight.

Tell of the wonderful things God does for me and give Him the glory.