Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Topic: The empty tomb 92
Reading: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15
Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)
Note: “Thus did your fathers when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.” (Num. 32:8)
The news of giants in the promised land was an evil report by all standards. The ten spies who brought the report were themselves already discouraged and disappointed. They did little to hide their disappointment and their demeanour, as the news began a wild fire of mourning, wailing and self-pity. This disgusting behaviour didn’t only end with a pity party. It succeeded in creating further problems for the leadership of Moses.
Moses had picked up the pieces after the wailing. Just when the dust seemed to be settling on the thorny issue of pursuing the promised land agenda, another spanner was thrown into the spokes of the wheel. The children of Reuben and Gad, who were mostly livestock farmers and had great possessions of cattle, felt that the temporary location where Israel found herself was a favourable territory for livestock and so would rather stay than risk moving further.
Seeing the business and economic sense of the current location, they had sought to impress upon Moses to allow them to settle where they had reached. That way, they would not have to risk their lives and livestock in joining the rest of the tribes in fighting the giants to evict them from the land before they could take possession.
This move by the two aforementioned tribes was in bad taste as it was motivated by selfishness, greed and an inward looking attitude that sought to weaken the hands of Israel in their biggest fight ever as a nation. It was also divisive and an ill-thought decision that wasn’t properly considered in the context of what God had said. Such a decision could have set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the tribes who might also start considering their individual interests at the expense of the larger national interest.
Food for thought: Reuben and Gad hadn’t learnt from the unfortunate decision by Lot to opt for the arable land of Sodom and Gomorrah, which was later destroyed by God. Whatever God has chosen for us shall abide forever, because He is the only one who sees the end from the beginning.
Declaration: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Rev 22:13)
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
