How can a Christian discern the purity of His motives when He feels God is leading him in a different direction from other Believers? After all, disunity among God’s people is never of the Lord. In Numbers 32, the tribes of Gad & Reuben had decided to settle with their families and livestock in Jazer & Gilead rather than crossing Jordan into the Promised Land. They had observed of the land that “behold, the place was a place for cattle”. Their next actions revealed to everyone that their intentions were pure and that God was pleased to bless them.
1. They sought godly counsel.
V2, 4-5 “The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.”
2. They supported the rest of God’s people.
V17-18 “we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.”
3. They remained faithful to the Lord.
V31-32 “And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do. We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.”
The Result - God blessed their request mightily!
V33 “And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.”
LESSON - If God gives you peace in your decision making, He will offer that same peace to your church’s leadership, as well as fellow Believers. Turmoil or even dissatisfaction is NEVER an indicator that it’s time to “move on”. If what you are about to do is of the Lord, it will be confirmed by others who are also walking with the Lord. Be careful that you are not simply hurt and making matters worse by walking away from the Lord.
~Mike